Josephine Emery is an acclaimed Australian writer, screenwriter, and former media strategist whose storied career spans literature, film, and advocacy. Born on a coconut plantation in New Guinea and raised on a sheep farm in South Australia, she brings a rich, grounded perspective to her work, both artistic and personal. She has served in prominent roles such as Director of Literature at the Australia Council for the Arts and Head of Screenwriting at the Australian Film, TV, and Radio School. Her film credits include Freedom (1982), Fever (1988), and The Coming (1981), and she has contributed extensively as a features journalist and script editor. Josephine is the author of The Real Possibility of Joy: A Personal Journey from Man to Woman (2009), a deeply personal memoir that was shortlisted for the 2010 Nita Kibble Award. In this groundbreaking work, she sought to normalize the transgender experience and offer readers insight into the inner world of gender transition.
Now living a quiet life in a rural village of 1,200 people, Josephine grows her own vegetables, plays blues guitar, and crafts bespoke furniture from reclaimed timber. Though no longer active in the publishing or film industries, she continues to create, write, and reflect, finding joy and peace in her surroundings.
A late-in-life transitioner, Josephine began her gender journey in her late 50s, facing immense challenges but ultimately embracing authenticity. With wit, resilience, and wisdom, she remains a powerful voice on identity, creativity, and the soulful art of becoming oneself.
