A brilliant attacking centre half, Dianne Gorman represented Australia 72 times between 1972 and 1981, and was a member of every New South Wales and Australian team during that period. Strong and fast and with outstanding ball control, she was always up with the play, in attack or defence, and earned a reputation of leadership by example.

Gorman was vice-captain of the Australian team against Holland in 1977 and New Zealand in 1978. She then captained the Australian team that toured New Zealand in 1979, drawing the Test series. They finished fourth in the world titles in Vancouver.

Gorman was chosen as captain of the International Federation of Women’s Hockey Associations world team after the 1979 world titles. The world team competed at a golden jubilee tournament in Scotland in 1980 commemorating 100 years of hockey in the United Kingdom.

In 1980, she captained the Australian team that toured the United States undefeated and was selected as captain of the Australian team for the 1980 Moscow Olympics. However, the team did not compete due to the political boycott.

In 1981 Gorman captained the Australian team to the World Cup in Argentina and again the team finished fourth. She retired from hockey soon after and became involved in the coaching and selection of junior hockey players.

Gorman received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1986 for services to hockey.