Her Story

As the Founder and Chair of Bravehearts and a child protection lobbyist, Hetty Johnston aims to make Australia the safest country to raise a child by 2020.

Hetty’s journey had a heartbreaking start. In 1996, she received a shattering call from her husband, informing her that their seven-year-old daughter had been sexually abused. A year later, she founded Bravehearts and the organisation has since become Australia’s leading child protection advocate.

Hetty has worked passionately to dismantle the taboo around what she calls ‘the ugly truth’ of Australian society. Bravehearts, which began out of the spare room of her family home, today employs more than 70 employees who educate survivors and their families.

“How many times have you heard that overnight success usually takes decades? It’s true. It’s hard work, so make sure your ‘WHY’ is worth it. Do no harm. Be prepared to be challenged across all aspects of your life in bringing your ‘WHY?’ to life. There are so many sacrifices, but it’s all worth it if your ‘WHY?’ is something that adds to the proud legacy that is your life.”

Hetty’s work has been widely acknowledged, and she has been recognised both nationally and internationally in her efforts to end child abuse. She was awarded the title of the 2015 Queensland Australian of the Year, inducted into 2015 Logan’s Wall of Acclaim, and recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2014. She is a member of the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and the Queensland Family and Child Commission Advisory Council.

She has also written an autobiography, ‘In the Best Interests of the Child,’ and contributed to various books, including ‘Crime on my Mind’ and ‘Women on Top’.

Having worked with government and non-government agencies on legislative reform to increase child protection and political accountability in Australian society, Hetty is ready to take this mission to the next level.

Strategies for Success

• Have a fire in your belly –  believe in yourself, trust yourself, and know what you want to achieve and why.
• Do your research – prove to yourself (and be prepared to prove to others) that your vision is doable. Search for answers to the standard test questions- who, what, when, where, WHY and how?
• Your response to WHY? Should then be framed in one short sentence – a few words. Put these words somewhere (or everywhere), clearly visible. This is your touchstone statement – your mantra! When you start to doubt yourself, when you are tempted to cut corners or get sidetracked – check in with this statement and plug back into the passion that drove you in the first place. It must be your motivator.
• Go for it. Never give up – ever! Believe in yourself always, your abilities, your passion, your determination and in your vision (your WHY?) – you can do anything, but respect yourself and the people who share your life along the way. Remember always that the best things in life aren’t ‘things’.
• Touchstone. Always check in with your conscience and your ethics. Achievements are only valuable when achieved honestly and with integrity.