Kicking goals in service and sport

Balancing service and sport 

Born in Ipswich and raised in a Defence family, Julia Robinson understands better than most what it takes to thrive in uniform.  

“Coming from a Defence family, we moved around a fair bit, but I didn’t mind – I got to meet heaps of new friends and play for a few netball teams, which I loved,” she recalls. 

“I always had that dream when I was growing up to be a professional athlete, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do after school, so I joined the Australian Defence Force (ADF) because I knew there were so many opportunities, and I knew the lifestyle and values that the Army had aligned with mine.” 

After enlisting in 2017, Julia became a Lance Corporal in the Army’s Royal Australian Corps of Transport. She was posted to Townsville in 2018 and started playing rugby league with the Defence Force team there to feed her sporting passion. Having never followed rugby league in childhood, her talent and passion for the sport came as a bit of a surprise. 

Julia Robinson ahead of the Brisbane Broncos v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs ANZAC Round clash in 2025. Photo credit: Scott Davis/NRL Imagery

“I didn’t know that girls were playing rugby league when I was growing up, so when I got my first taste of it playing for the ADF team, I loved it. The values align – hard work, discipline, resilience, teamwork – those are all the values I live by and work in both of these worlds,” Julia explains. 

Pursuing both careers had its challenging moments, but Julia’s passion and mental fortitude drove her to succeed in both fields. 

“When I first started playing, my mum (obviously being in the Army) was like, ‘you can’t play rugby league in Defence and do Defence!” But now she’s like, ‘wow, how cool that you’re able to play rugby league and still work for the Defence Force’,” Julia laughs. 

“Times can be hard since I’m not a full-time player yet. It can be long days of working a full-time job and then going to training in the afternoon, and still being able to put in 110%, but you make it work.  

“I’ve always been headstrong, so I feel like it came easy because I knew it was something I was so passionate about and loved.”

Thriving on and off the field 

Julia’s days playing for the Defence Force turned heads in the rugby league world. She has since become one of the game’s best, representing the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Maroons and Australian Jillaroos.  

She is the Brisbane Broncos’ first female Game Development Officer, and last year alone averaged more than 220 run metres per game, scored nine tries, recorded 93 tackle breaks and produced 15 line breaks in the Broncos’ premiership-winning season.  

In 2025, she was honoured with the International Rugby League Golden Boot award, named the Broncos’ Most Consistent Player, finished as Dally M Medal runner-up and was selected in the Dally M Team of the Year. Julia credits these achievements to her Army foundations. 

“The Defence Force has always been a massive support, and I’m very lucky to have that backing from them. They were able to post me back down to Brisbane in 2019 when I signed for the Brisbane Broncos, so I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for them,” Julia explains. 

“I feel very fortunate to represent both Australia in rugby league and serving as a Defence member – it has so much meaning to me and my family. Being able to wear the green and gold jersey with the Coat of Arms and also being able to put that Australian Army uniform on is pretty cool.” 

While Julia recently discharged from the Army after seven years of service to pursue rugby full-time, she continues to give back as an inactive Reservist advocating for veterans.  

Commenting on her motivation, Julia says, “the beauty of both the Army and sport is that you have so many people around you, so you can lean on your mates. Seeing the community come together as one to support veterans is very heartwarming.”  

“It's so good that there's opportunities for Defence members and veterans to access RSL Queensland services. There are so many people out there that need support. It can often be the little things that you can do for someone else that make such a big difference. 

“Finding your community post-Defence is so important because I guess when you're in the Defence Force, that's what you live by. I feel like some people can feel lost without that when they leave, so it's really cool that the RSL Sub Branches and community can give that support.” 

Reaching the next level 

Since discharging from the Army full-time, Julia has thrown herself head-first into life not only as a footy player, but also as a role model and advocate. It’s a life that she describes as surreal. 

“It’s so cool that I get to go play in front of thousands of people and sign autographs for young girls and boys that want to be like me when they’re older – it’s really special and I’ll never take it for granted,” Julia says. 

Reflecting on her journey, Julia is grateful for her Defence roots. 

“If I never joined the Defence Force and played rugby league there, I wouldn’t be sitting where I am today. Now I just want to keep getting bigger and better in anything I do. I feel like there’s never that finish line – I just want to keep growing as a person and a player,” she says. 

“My biggest advice would just be to have a go. Don’t be scared. Just keep believing in yourself and take any opportunity you get, because if you dream big, good things will come.”