[1] Chadwick served as a Member of the Liberal Party State Executive before being elected to the NSW Legislative Council in 1978.

Although a Member of the Upper House, Chadwick was viewed by many as an obvious successor to Greiner; but when approached to take the leadership, she declined.

[11] After learning of reports of homophobic bullying and violence at NSW schools,[13][14][15][16] Chadwick met Williams and lobbyist Carole Ruthchild with some of the affected GaLTaS students at the New South Wales Parliament.

[21] These measures were also intended to reverse the escalation of homophobic student invective into serious crime such as assault and homicide, that had life-changing consequences also for children who were perpetrators.

[22] After GaLTaS was awarded a Federal National Youth Grant of $30,000 (=c.$68,400 equivalent in 2023)[23] by the Federal Department of Employment, Education and Training[24] to establish a toll-free hotline for victimised gay and lesbian students, the research obtained was compiled by GaLTaS co-convener Ms Jacqui Griffin while she wrote The SchoolWatch Report.

[25] The report was officially launched by Chadwick in March 1995 at Randwick Boys High School[12] where Derek Williams taught.

[16] Following her launch of The SchoolWatch Report, Chadwick continued her reforms of departmental policy on gay related education issues[26][21] until the defeat of the Liberal government at the 1995 New South Wales state election.

The Labor Government's nominee for the position was Hon Helen Sham-Ho who had suddenly defected from the Liberal Party days before the ballot.

[30] Soon after her retirement from State politics, Federal Environment Minister Robert Hill appointed Chadwick as Chairperson and CEO of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA).

[citation needed] She subsequently led an Australian delegation to the United Nations on International Law of the Sea.

The citation was "For service to conservation and the environment through management of the environmental, heritage and economic sustainability issues affecting the Great Barrier Reef, and to the New South Wales Parliament, particularly in the areas of child welfare and education.

[35][36][37] Following her death, the Virginia Chadwick Memorial Foundation [38] was established and operated from 2010 to 2020 to carry on Virginia Chadwick's work and build on her achievements especially in regard to the Great Barrier Reef and through environmental activities, including environmental education, environmental partnerships, Indigenous engagement, networking and knowledge sharing around the world [39] The Foundation was Chaired by Fay Barker who succeeded Mrs Chadwick as CEO of GBRMA and membership included Hon Catherine Cusack MLC.