Eileen Perkins is a descendant of one of Adelaide's prominent German Lutheran families. She met Charles Perkins in January 1961 at a soccer dance and they married in September that year. Soon after, the couple moved to Sydney, where Charles had been awarded a scholarship to study political science at Sydney University. They had two daughters, Hetti and Rachel, and a son, Adam. Eileen worked part-time to supplement the family income and supported Charles during his career in the public service and work as an Indigenous rights campaigner.