AustLit

Julie Ireland was educated at St Hugh's College, Oxford (BA Hons, Italian and French) 1958-61 and the London School of Economics (Social Administration) 1962. While studying, she travelled in Europe and worked "au pair" in Italy and Spain. She was employed as a social worker in the UK before emigrating to SA in 1970 to marry a SA schoolteacher she had met while travelling overland from London to Katmandu.

Seeing her two children enjoying books, and enjoying reading with them, Ireland promised herself that she would one day "have a go" at writing for children. She returned to part-time social work in 1984, but in 1989 she gave up paid employment in order to write. She had a grant from the Department for the Arts and Cultural Heritage in 1993, and Literature Board Grants 1993-1994 and 1995-1996. She belongs to several writers' groups and has also been involved in many other activities, such as researching local history, helping migrant women learn English, tutoring in French and growing Trees for Life.