Margaret Maher was educated at Genazzano, Kew, Victoria. After leaving school she was a registered nurse for several years. She then studied theology and was awarded a B.Th. from the Yarra Theological Union, Melbourne, in 1986. Maher has been Mission Integration Officer at Cabrini Hospital, Malvern, Victoria. since 1992 and in that capacity wrote three plays on the Cabrini order and other orders of nuns.