From 2006 until 2018, Michael was appointed South Australia’s (and Australia’s) first Commissioner for Victims’; Rights. Prior, Michael was SA’s first Victims of Crime Co-ordinator and, before that, while serving as a police officer, he became the State’s first Victim Impact Statement Co-ordinator.  He is a Life Member and also the current Secretary-General of the World Society of Victimology; a Vice President of the NGO Alliance on Crime Prevention & Criminal Justice (@Vienna) and a member of Alliance (@New York); the Victim Advocate for Second Chances SA; Member of the International Network of Services for Victims of Terrorism; and Foundation & Board Member of Victim Support Asia. For over a decade, Michael was a White Ribbon Ambassador; and is the Patron, Love Hope and Gratitude Foundation. 

Although retired, Michael is an Independent Decision Maker for Australia’s National Redress Scheme for adult survivors of child sexual abuse in institutions.  He is also a volunteer expert on crime victims’, rights for the United Nations. He is assisting with the revision of the UN Handbook on Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power as well as the drafting both guidelines on assisting victims of terrorism in Asia-Pacific and model legislation covering victims of terrorism in general. 

Michael strives to ensure victims have a voice and attain voice recognition (i.e., they are heard, and their views respected). He lectures and writes in the field of victimology and holds degrees in social science and public policy and administration. In 1995 he was awarded the Australia Police Medal for his work to advance responses to the needs of victims of crime. In 2017 he became a Member of the Order of Australia. 

In 2004 and 2018 he was a nominee-finalist for South Australia’s Australian of the Year.