In April 2016 she began her role as secretary of the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.
She was appointed as director-general of the NSW Department of Education and Training in July 2011 and commenced on 7 September 2011.
[2] From 2012 to 2015 Bruniges was also an honorary adjunct professor of education in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales.
[3] In March 2016, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced Bruniges' appointment as the secretary of the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.
Bruniges finished her tenure on 4 April 2023 and was replaced by Tony Cook.