Mum, wife, cook, singer and public speaker, Julie Goodwin is the epitome of a busy Australian mum.
Born and raised in Sydney, she started a degree in education but left to pursue a career in youth work. After working for several years presenting workshops in schools across Australia, she moved to the Central Coast where she married her long-time partner, Michael. She continued her youth work holding a position in a juvenile detention centre, and as a singer performed at many functions around the area.
In 1995 Julie and Michael's first son Joe was born, followed quickly by Tom and then Paddy. With three boys under the age of three, life was incredibly active for Julie but far from slowing down, in 2002 she and Michael took the plunge and started their own IT consulting company. Hard work and commitment paid off, the business grew and soon they moved their office from the corner of their lounge room to their own premises in North Gosford and built up a team of dedicated employees. Today the company, active in many local charities, enjoys a great reputation as one of the most well-respected small businesses on the Central Coast.
In December 2008 Julie applied for the first series of MasterChef Australia. Little did she realise how much her life would change.
The TV series put 20 amateur cooks through their paces, with just one to be crowned 'MasterChef'. So it was on July 10, 2009 that Julie took out the title as the first-ever winner of MasterChef Australia.
In a whirlwind of activity since her win, Julie has written her first book with Random House, the much-anticipated Our Family Table . Julie is also a regular columnist for The Australian Women's Weekly, a resident cook on Channel 9's TODAY Show and hosts her own cooking show Home Cooked!.
Along with the many charities Julie supports such her local Community Chest, St Vincent de Paul, Red Nose Day, Australia's Biggest Morning Tea and McGrath Foundation. Julie has recently taken on the privilege of becoming an official ambassador for the McGrath Foundation.
