williams trained as a nurse at the adelaide children's hospital between 1904 and 1907. she was appointed sister in charge of the thomas elder laboratory in 1907, and worked there for two years as an assistant to pathologist dr thomas borthwick. in december 1909, williams took up a position as nurse inspector with the unley local board of health for which she undertook home visits and tested patients for diphtheria, measles, and other notifiable diseases.