Dr Rochford has researched and written extensively on civil law matters, particularly in relation to the law of torts and the law of contracts. Her particular contextual interests are the law of higher education and the law and policy relating to water allocation. She has been a Visiting Researcher, Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, University of Dundee, Scotland, a Visiting Scholar, University of Limerick School of Law and an International Visiting Environmental Law Scholar at Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland Oregon, 2010. She is currently involved in the funded project: Improving the Sustainability of Community Sport via Better Risk Management - pilot project from Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Research Focus Area at La Trobe University, and was previously involved in a grant headed by the University of Melbourne, Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research project, 'Governance models for adaptation and natural disaster risk management'. In addition to a great number of conference presentations Dr Rochford has an extensive body of published research.

Dr Rochford has been involved in the delivery of a wide range of subjects, including the core subjects Contract Law A and Contract Law B and Principles of Tort Law, in all of which she was principal co-ordinator, and the online subjects Water Law and Policy and Education Law and Policy. She has also contributed to teaching in a wide range of other subjects.