Bernie has a Masters degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice (MSc) and over 13 years experience working within the community safety and criminal justice field. Her goal is to deliver gender-informed services to improve the lives of women who are stigmatised by, or invisible to the rest of society.
This group includes sex workers, prostitutes, substance users, street homeless, victims of domestic or sexual violence, victims of sexual exploitation or trafficking, women involved with the criminal justice system and those who fall into more than one of these categories i.e. serious and multiple need, and who also may have mental health needs. She believes that these women can access support better in community settings, not in the prison environment.
