Robbie Coburn was born in June 1994 in Melbourne and grew up on his family’s farm in the semi-rural locality of Woodstock, Victoria. He was educated at Whittlesea Primary School and Assumption College, Kilmore. He began writing poetry at the age of 14.

While still in high school, Coburn’s first published poem appeared in legendary, anarchist poet П. O.’s literary magazine Unusual Work. His work has since appeared in many national and overseas publications such as Poetry, Meanjin, Island, Westerly, Overland and Cordite. His poems have also been represented in notable anthologies including Writing to the Wire (UWA, 2016) and To End All Wars (Puncher & Wattman, 2018).

Coburn’s first poetry collection, Rain Season, was published by Picaro Press in 2013. A second collection, The Other Flesh, is forthcoming.

Coburn’s poetry is known for its highly personal, sometimes confronting nature, as well as his use of evocative, visceral imagery, always executed using a carefully refined poetic craft. From the beginning of his professional career, his work has consistently addressed topics such as childhood, relationships, isolation, trauma, mental illness and addiction.