in queensland, miller worked as a gentlemen's shirt maker and seamstress. along with may jordan mcconnel, she formed the first women's union in brisbane, the brisbane women's union, in september 1890 supported by a campaign by william lane in the brisbane "worker" newspaper. as a seamstress she gave evidence at the 1891 royal commission into shops, factories and workshops, that highlighted the existence of many sweatshops that exploited women workers. through this period miller was an active participant in the early closing association.