As a Yuin woman, Narelle has a deep personal commitment to researching areas where the law impacts First Nations peoples and to advocating for law reform. 

Due to her interest in government accountability, Narelle teaches Administrative Law and Canadian Administrative Law. She joined Bond University after teaching at the University of Queensland and the National University of Samoa. Narelle has a Masters of Law (specialising in public law) from ANU and undergraduate qualifications in Economics and Law from Macquarie University. She is currently completing her PhD, for which she received the Sir Anthony Mason Award at the confirmation stage. 

Prior to academia, Narelle was employed by the Australian Attorney-General's Department in the Administrative Law and National Security units. Narelle was also an Executive Officer for the Migration and Refugee Review Tribunals. Narelle was formerly an Australian diplomat, serving in both Australia and Malaysia for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She was an Associate to the Hon. Justice Moore, formerly of the Federal Court of Australia.