Career highlights

• In 1985, Michael founded the world's first national teenage cancer patients' support group, CanTeen - The Australian Teenage Cancer Patient's Society
• Recipient of the Australian Jaycees Outstanding Young Australian of the Year Award in 1987
• Made a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International in 1997, in recognition of his work in the prevention of youth suicide
• In 2003, co-founded NCAB and continues to be a national spokesperson
• Chair of the Cybersafety Committee
• Official ambassador for the National Depression Initiative 'beyondblue', as well as Mindmatters, a suicide prevention program run by the Federal Government
• Has been a Consultant Psychologist to the Victorian Secondary Schools Principal's Association, Australian Boarding Staff Association, Australian Ballet School, St Catherine's School, and Melbourne Girls' College
• Served on the advisory committee for the Federal Government's Boys' Education Lighthouse School Programme
• Worked in private practice as a family therapist, child psychologist and clinical psychologist, as an academic, researcher and spent four years working as a political lobbyist
• Held a variety of appointments including Executive Director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation and Director of the Centre for Social Health at the University of Melbourne
• Appointed Associate Professor Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne 1993-2000
• Worked at the Albert Road Centre for Health in Melbourne 2000-2006
• Parenting Expert Channel Seven's Sunrise breakfast program, Weekend Sunrise program, the Morning Show and on Neil Mitchell's morning program on 3AW radio.
• For the past three years, Michael has been employed as a consultant to the Queensland Government on Bullying, Cybersafety and Resilience

• One of nine Directors of the Young and Well Co-operative Research Centre, established in 2011.

Question and answer

• Why is the issue of bullying of particular interest to you?

When I was 10 years old, I was punched in the stomach in the playground by a year 12 boy while living in the United Kingdom. I spent three days in intensive care and no one came forward to identify the boy. Later in my life as a psychologist, I saw how bullying was a key driver of anxiety and depression and saw how serious the short, medium and long term impact of bullying could be.

• Where do you believe you have made a difference in your field?

I wrote my PhD on teenagers with cancer and founded CanTeen in 1984. I headed up the Coalition Against Tobacco Advertising and Promotion in New Zealand which resulted in the toughest anti-tobacco legislation in the world. I also developed the Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health at the University of Melbourne. 

• How has your area of expertise helped you to contribute to NCAB over the years?

Belonging to NCAB and having a media profile, allows me to advocate for effective harm minimisation strategies and counter some of the prevailing myths that still remain in Australian society, such as bullying builds character.