Bernadette Black
.jpg)
Bernadette Black AM is an Australian author, social entrepreneur, and advocate. She founded the Brave Foundation in 2009 and SEED Futures in 2024, and has worked on social policy frameworks regarding primary prevention and support for young parents in Australia.
Education and qualifications
Black holds a Bachelor of Nursing and a Graduate Diploma in Perioperative Nursing from La Trobe University.[1] She holds an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard Kennedy School,[2] and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Career
In 2006, Black published her memoir, Brave Little Bear, detailing her experience as a teenage mother.[3]
In 2009, she founded the Brave Foundation, a non-profit organisation created to provide support, resources, and educational pathways for expectant and parenting teens, based from her own story as a young mother, which she spoke about on ABC radio[4] and in other interviews.[5][6][7][8] Under her leadership as CEO, the foundation expanded its programs nationwide[9] and secured national funding to assist young families.[10] In a 2022 LinkedIn article, Black reflected on the transition from leading Brave Foundation to her subsequent policy and systems-reform work.[11]
In 2024, Black established SEED Futures, an initiative focused on primary prevention policy and systemic family support.[12] She co-authored Establishing a National Primary Prevention Framework in collaboration with policy research bodies and designed the Incremental Reform Catalogue policy tool.[13]
National and international advisory roles
Black serves on policy and advisory bodies related to social framework development:
- Advisory member with the Sydney Policy Lab at the University of Sydney[14]
- Advisory member on the National Prevention Strategies Advisory Group with the NYU Center on International Cooperation[15]
- Presenter at the 2026 Global Caregiver Forum in Madrid, co-hosted by UNICEF and the World Health Organization. Government of Spain[16]
Honours and recognition
- 2024: Awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship[17]
- 2021: In the 2021 Australia Day Honours, Black was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to youth, to local government and to the community.[18]
- 2019: Tasmanian Australian of the Year[19][20]
- 2016: Telstra Tasmanian Businesswoman of the Year[21]
- 2009: Barnardos Australian Mother of the Year[22]
Selected publications
- Black published Brave Little Bear: The Inspirational Story of a Teenage Mother in 2006.[23]
- In 2025, SEED Futures partnered with the University of Sydney's Sydney Policy Lab to develop the National Primary Preventive Framework, which focuses on systemic primary prevention for families during a child's first 1,000 days.[13]
- In 2026, The Winston Churchill Trust published Black's Churchill fellowship report. "Prevention Nation: The Strategy"[24]
Personal life
Black lives in Tasmania with her husband, Steven, and is a mother of three and a grandmother of two.
References
- ↑ "10 non-profit change-makers who studied at La Trobe". La Trobe University. La Trobe University. 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "Policy Bites – Towards a national primary preventative framework". Humanitix. Sydney Policy Lab, University of Sydney. 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "Bernadette Black". National Museum of Australia. National Museum of Australia. 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "Bernadette Black: struggles and rewards of young motherhood". ABC Listen. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ Faase, Karl (16 March 2023). Karl Faase interviews Bernadette Black for Faith Runs Deep (YouTube video). Olive Tree Media. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "Bernadette Black and the bravery of teenage mothers". Women's Agenda. 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ Martinez, Maridel (13 December 2017). "Support for Teen Parents". SBS Filipino. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ Whiting, Lily. "Bernadette Black". The Hobart Magazine. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "Tasmania's Brave Foundation young mum support program goes Australia-wide". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ Anderson, Dana (22 May 2021). "Scott Morrison announces Brave Foundation will receive $6m of federal funding". The Examiner. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ Black, Bernadette (2022). "What happens between the chapters". LinkedIn. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "From Brave to SEED: 'Our country needs healthy families'". Philanthropy Australia. Philanthropy Australia. 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- 1 2 "New plan to address growing number of Australian children growing up in poverty". Sydney Policy Lab. University of Sydney. 23 February 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "Our people". The University of Sydney. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
- ↑ "Policy Guidance for Effective National Prevention Strategies". NYU Center on International Cooperation. New York University. 23 June 2026. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- ↑ "Program". Global Caregiver Forum 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
- ↑ "Bernadette Black AM". Churchill Trust. Churchill Trust. 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "Mrs Bernadette Black". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ "Bernadette Black AM". Australian of the Year Awards. National Australia Day Council. 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "Here are 9 incredible women leading the way for younger generations". The CEO Magazine. 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ 2016 Telstra Tasmanian Business Woman of the Year Award Winner – Bernadette Black (YouTube video). Telstra Business. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "Tassie mum Bernadette Black named Mother of the Year". The Australian. 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ Black, Bernadette (2006). Brave Little Bear: The Inspirational Story of a Teenage Mother. Inspire Publishing. ISBN 9780975231586.
- ↑ "Bernadette Black AM". The Churchill Trust. Retrieved 26 August 2026.