Garvey had guest roles in several drama series in his early part of his acting career. Some of his early roles include shows like Medivac (this was his first role, in 1998), Water Rats (in 2000), Young Lions (in 2002) and in the children's drama Cybergirl (in 2001).
Garvey appeared on McLeod's Daughters, in a recurring role from 2001 until 2007. He then had a role in season one of Sea Patrol, also in 2007.
In 2008 and 2009, he appeared on ABC1's drama East of Everything. In 2010, was in Channel Nine's Underbelly: The Golden Mile, in which won him an AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama in 2010.
In 2011, had a role in the American sci-fi series Terra Nova, playing the role of Tom Boylan.
In 2012, he returned to Australia to take a recurring role in Rake. He also appeared in the two Jack Irish TV films.
