Patricia works in the Monash Science Centre at Monash University as an Emerita Professor and the Director of PrimeSCI!, a group that provides science education to primary and early secondary students as well as preschools, as well as developing curriculum and providing training for teachers. She also travels to exhibitions that highlight cutting edge research (Dinosaurs: Dawn to Extinction; Wildlife of Gondwana; Dinosaurs of Darkness; the Flow on Effect of Peter Trusler's Paleoreconstruction Art, etc.) which generates funding for university students and underwrites expeditionary work.

She is an elected member of the NY Explorers Club, and elected member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, an Honorary Researcher of Museum Victoria and the Paleontological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and has gained more than 30 National Geographic Grants for field research in southern Africa, Siberia, Argentina, China, Australia and Saudi Arabia.

Patricia has written a number of research and popular books which have won awards including the Premier of Victoria's Science book of the year, the Eureka awards for science writing, and has published more than 200 scientific publications, including several in Science over the years.

She still teaches at undergraduate level, mentors graduate student projects and is involved in early childhood education projects in Afghanistan, Timor-Leste, Namibia and Argentina.