Julie Suares completed her PhD at Deakin University. From 2002 to 2014, she worked as an electorate officer for the former member for Ripon who was the state Minister for Agriculture and Small Business in the Bracks and Brumby governments. She has been a consultant for Primary Skills Victoria, the industry training board for agriculture. She has also worked as a library technician, farm hand, shearers' cook, and teacher.