A descendant of the Tanganekald and Ramindjeri peoples through her grandmother, and of the Barkindji peoples through her grandfather, Deanne also has family connections to the Narungga and Kaurna people. Deanne's mother's family are descendants of the Prussian Weinerts who arrived in the hills in 1841 and settled in Lobethal.

Deanne works as a consultant for Aboriginal employment and development at UniSA. She was a writer of the 2014 Reconciliation Action Plan and instrumental in establishing a Kaurna Welcome for the new Vice Chancellor in 2013.

She is a recipient of the Vice Chancellor's Professional Staff Excellence Award, for reconciliation and working across boundaries, as well as a Gladys Elphick Award, for influencing positive change for Aboriginal people in the workforce.

Deanne is also a Hills Treasure.