Bradley Burns is an Aboriginal Kamilaroi man and a postdoctoral researcher with a professional background spanning the out-of-home care sector, where he has worked across frontline practice, senior advisory and leadership roles and policy. Over his career, he has supported Aboriginal children and young people, families and communities, with a particular focus on maintaining and strengthening connections to culture, family and community for Aboriginal children in care.

His professional experience also includes supporting organisational approaches to reconciliation and strengthening culturally responsive practice. Bradley’s research is grounded in his extensive practice experience and a commitment to research that is meaningful, culturally responsive and connected to the experiences of Aboriginal children, young people, families and communities.

Bradley’s research focuses on improving outcomes for Aboriginal children and young people involved in out-of-home care (OOHC), with a particular focus on centring their voices, experiences and aspirations in the design and transformation of the systems that affect their lives.

His research explores a fundamental question: if Aboriginal young people could design the system, what would it look like? This work moves beyond simply listening to Aboriginal children and young people, towards creating meaningful opportunities for their knowledge, experiences and perspectives to shape policy, practice and systems.

A key focus of Bradley’s research is the translation of voice into practice through co-design. His work examines how Aboriginal children and young people can be supported to participate meaningfully in designing the services and systems intended to support them, while recognising the importance of Aboriginal self-determination, culture, family and community.

Drawing on his professional experience in the OOHC sector, Bradley’s research seeks to bridge the gap between research, policy and frontline practice. His broader research interests include Aboriginal child and family wellbeing, out-of-home care, Aboriginal self-determination, participation and voice, co-design, culturally responsive practice, and the transformation of systems affecting Aboriginal children and young people.