She was born in Australia in 1948. She lived in South Africa for 40 years, departing in 2010 to her birthplace. She studied art, practising silversmith and ceramicist. She participated to film training in Johannesburg, South Africa with Ateliers Varan, in 1983 at the University of Witwatersrand, Continuing Education Department. Between 1992 and 1993, she also studied Community Development in the University of Witwatersrand. Julie Henderson was a member of the Direct Cinema Workshop from 1983 to 2000. She also worked in community development for the N.G.O. Women for Peace. The director used the knowledge gained from Varan training by creating informal backyard township video centres. She trained unemployed township youth in video production and job creation for 20 years. Nowadays, as a retired director, she returned to Australia to open a rural art gallery specializing in textiles.