Julie McCrossin AM

Julie McCrossin is a veteran radio and television broadcaster who spent over 20 years with ABC Radio National, ABC TV and Network Ten. Julie spent five years as the presenter of Life Matters on ABC Radio National and five years leading a team on the comedy quiz show Good News Week on ABC TV and Network Ten. Julie has worked as a TV reporter for both the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and the Anzac Day Parade. She is proud to live in a country where it is possible to do both. Her favourite media experience was appearing as a Silent Clown called Plain Jane on ABC TV’s Play School.

Julie was treated for stage four, HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer in 2013. Julie is an Ambassador for Targeting Cancer and TROG Cancer Research. She is a member of the advocacy group, Cancer Voices SA.

Julie has co-produced and presented a range of educational videos in partnership with cancer clinicians and advocates. Julie’s recent video series include Talking To Doctors for Cancer Voices SA;  the Head and Neck Cancer Video Series 2020/2021 with St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, St Vincent’s Private Hospital and the Kinghorn Cancer Centre; and How Can We Improve the Patient and Family Experience of Radiation Therapy? in 2020/2021 with SAHMRI, the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.

Julie became active in Gay Liberation at Sydney University in 1974. She attended countless demonstrations and was arrested many times. Julie remembers the gay activism of the 1970s and early 80s as a time of trauma, but also of comradeship and cathartic release. She says it was a joy to fight against the gross discrimination of that era before homosexuality was decriminalised in NSW in 1984.

Julie is a long-term advocate for marriage equality. When she was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer in 2013, Julie asked her partner of over 20 years, Melissa Gibson to marry her. In 2014, Julie and Melissa married in Manhattan in the presence of their two adult children, Luke and Amelia. Julie and Melissa are now happy grandmothers to their granddaughter Billie and grandson Jude.

Julie has qualifications in the arts, education and law. In 2019, she was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community, particularly through LGBTIQ advocacy roles and to the broadcast media.

Julie gets people talking. After 20 years as a presenter with ABC Radio National, ABC TV and Network Ten, she is now a freelance broadcaster, podcaster and MC.