Bernardine has a Fine Arts Degree (hons) from Charles Darwin University and has completed Masters subjects in Letters (Arts) through Swinburne University. Bernadine lived and worked in North Australia for most of her adult life and has worked extensively with Aboriginal people.

In 1999, she was seconded from Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation to work with the newly formed Cape York Partnerships (CYP) project where she joined a small team led by Noel Pearson. Bernadine worked on researching and trialing family participation in culture, education and technology activities.

From 2000 through 2003 Bernadine worked closely with Aboriginal leaders and their families in Cape York to design the Every Child Is Special project. She was appointed Project Director in 2002. In 2004 she was selected for the Vincent Fairfax Fellowship by the St James Ethics Centre. Currently, Bernadine is completing a Masters in Public Policy through Griffith University and the Cape York Institute for Policy and Research.