Mrs Collins emigrated from the UK in 2013 with her engineering husband, for the rebuild of Christchurch after the earthquakes.
With over 16 years of working and volunteering in the Deaf world in NZ and the UK, Julie is passionate about sign language and Deaf culture and breaking down barriers, so everyone has equal access to important information and employment. Julie is hard of hearing herself.
Julie qualified as an intern interpreter in the UK and was employed by the largest Deaf school in the UK, she also worked at Van Asch here in Christchurch.
She and her husband love living in New Zealand! She enjoys swimming, walking and teaches singing and acting classes.
She’s excited to be teaching New Zealand Sign Language again this year!