Helen Hodgman lived in Colchester, Essex and arrived in Tasmania with her family in 1958 as part of the Rotary Club's 'Bring Out a Briton' campaign. She attended Teachers' College in Hobart and during the 1960s worked as a bank teller and teacher in Tasmania. As an adult she lived and worked in London at a variety of odd jobs and spent much time writing.
In 1977, Hodgman and her family moved to Canada where she was involved with theatre, writing plays and promoting the work of women in theatre, before returning to live in Sydney. She has written for theatre, film and television both in Australia and abroad. Among her works are 'The Right Hand Man' (screenplay, Australia UAA Films 1984/85) 'Eden's Lost' and 'Giant Freesias' (television adaptation of three Elizabeth Jolley short stories, Zowie Films, 1989/90).
In 1985 she was awarded a writer's fellowship by the Literature Board of the Australia Council.