Kirstie Parker is a Yuwallarai woman. She has worked as a journalist in print, radio and corporate television. Parker has also been media advisor to Robert Tickner when he was Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, director of public affairs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, and communications manager at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.
Since July 2006, she has been the Editor of the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander newspaper, the Koori Mail. In 2010, Parker was appointed to the Board of Directors of Reconciliation Australia.
In 2017, Parker became the first Aboriginal person to be appointed to the Australian Press Council.
In 2018, she won the David Unaipon Award for her manuscript The Making of Ruby Champion.