AUTHOR / TEACHER /
STORYTELLER / DRAMATIST

Describing himself as a Storyteller, Writer, Teacher and Dramatist, Bernie has worked extensively in Education, Community and Theatrical groups. He has been writing for twenty years and submitted work for the National Playwrights Conference, The Age Short Story Competition and has had a number of theatre pieces performed.

BLUE GIRL, YELLA FELLA (2000 Lothian Books) the 'scary book', was his first Young Adult novel. He is currently working on his fifth book. He published a junior fiction title in 2001 called MONSTERED, which is both a bullying story and a tale of comic revenge. His two most recent young adult titles, HOT HITS (2002) and HOT HITS - THE REMIX (2003), explore the complex area of teen sexuality and sexual decision-making. In November 2000 he was awarded a grant from the Australia Council for the Arts to develop new work for young adults.

Over the last fifteen years, he has worked at Sacred Heart College - Kyneton. His role includes co-ordinating boy's welfare. 'At risk' students are encouraged to look at a range of issues in the quest to make them resilient and positively connected. He runs grief and loss groups as well as working individually with at risk students.

His work with boys and his novels, explore the notion that if you can positively connect anyone to their own stories, they stay connected to their lives. His adult workshop on Boys Books and Welfare is salutary and inspirational.

Bernie regularly runs workshops for teachers and writers. He frequently visits schools and talks to students in schools about writing stories and living stories. His own story is inspirational. A gifted communicator he never fails to engage and inspire his audience.

Bernie has also worked extensively with primary schools presenting his program Lets Get Boys Reading and Resilient in Primary Schools. The program entails Bernie runing workshops with students (sometimes boys only), Professional Development with staff and evenings with boys and their fathers. This co-ordinated approach raises the profile of books for boys by connecting them to their stories. The secret is to involve them in the telling. Staff PD's focus on how to reach the boys who disengage from stories, while the evening sessions celebrate the familail story, supporting literacy and resilience in boys.

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