After spending almost 7 years as an Intensive Care/Burns Nurse, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), serving for more than 11 years. During his military service, he deployed three times to the Middle East including a deployment to a NATO Combat Trauma Hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan as an Intensive Care Nurse. He is one of only few RAAF personnel to be awarded a United States Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for the care he provided to combatants and civilians while serving in Afghanistan. 

In late 2017, Bernie was diagnosed with PTSD and was medically discharged from the Australian Defence Force in January 2020. He has since worked in the Mental Health and Neuroscience area and is an advocate for Veteran Health.

In 2022, he was called to be a witness for the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. He shared with the Commissioners that Medical Professionals in the Australian Defence Force find the medical transition process difficult to navigate both as a person exiting the defence force, and as a medical professional supporting an individual exiting the defence force. He provided suggestions on how this can be strengthened, including a greater understanding by all medical professionals on the Department of Veteran Affairs system and how this could integrate with the existing health services provided by the Australian Defence Force.

Bernie also extends his experience to other Defence Force members and veterans who seek support at Brain & Mind Hub through our Lived Experience Peer Work services.