Coleman was born on 27 September 1931 in Collie, Western Australia, the daughter of Alice Beatrice (née Boulden) and Vincent Huckstep.

She later trained as a telephonist and found work as a secretary, then moved into "publishing, advertising and copywriting, and eventually public relations".

[2] Before her election to parliament, Coleman served as treasurer of the Mount Lawley branch of the ALP and was a member of the state executive.

She was also interested in Aboriginal affairs but was "most remembered for her passionate opposition to the threat of nuclear warfare and to uranium mining, and for her defence of civil liberties".

In 1983 she was threatened with expulsion from the ALP if she crossed the floor to vote against the Hawke government's approval of the Olympic Dam mine.

[1] While serving as a temporary chairman of committees, Coleman remarked "I have no sex in this position" in response to Michael Townley expressing confusion over the correct form of address for a woman in the chair.

Her husband served as the secretary of the Trades and Labour Council of Western Australia and was later appointed to the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission.