Born in Taree, New South Wales, daughter of a Dutch father and an Australian mother, Julienne Van Loon grew up in Dubbo and received a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Hons)degree and a Master of Arts (Hons)degree at the University of Wollongong. She undertook a Doctor of Philosophy in Creative Writing at the University of Queensland.
Van Loon has taught creative writing at the University of Western Sydney, Griffith University and the University of Queensland. From 1997 she held a full time lecturing position in creative writing and communication skills with Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Western Australia.