Michelle practices in Government, Public and Administrative Law, with a particular focus on proceedings involving children, health, and people with a disability or mental illness.
Michelle has a broad practice which focusses on litigation in various courts and tribunals, including superior and appellant courts, including:
Supreme Court of Victoria
- Appeals from the Children’s Court of Victoria, Family Division on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services (Child Protection).
- Matters arising under the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997, including those before the County Court of Victoria.
Coroner’s Court of Victoria
§ Inquest into the death of Luke Batty on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services.
- Inquest into the death of disability client, LM.
§ Inquest into the death of a child. Finding into the death of Felix Hua
Children’s Court of Victoria
§ Final and interim hearings in the Family Division concerning Child Protection proceedings arising under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.
§ Conciliation Conferences (mediations) in the Family Division.
Family Court of Australia
§ Matters arising under The Hague Convention (International Child Abduction) Regulations 1986.
§ Parenting orders.
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)
§ Guardianship proceedings.
§ The Residential Tenancies List on behalf of the Director of Housing.
§ Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights List matters.
Disciplinary Tribunals
§ Suitability Panel – proceedings regarding allegations of abuse by registered out of home carers established under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2006.
Magistrates’ Court of Victoria
§ Criminal proceedings for Local Government authorities arising under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, and various infringements.
§ Intervention Orders.
In 2017 Michelle was selected to participate in the annual Women Barristers’ Association moot before the Court of Appeal.
Michelle has also taught Administrative Law at Leo Cussen Centre for Law as part of their Trainee program.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Michelle was a Senior Solicitor (Senior Associate level) at the Department of Human Services, Victoria where she regularly appeared and advised in relation to:
§ Inquests before the Coroner’s Court of Victoria
§ Matters arising under the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997 in the County and Supreme Courts
§ Tort claims in negligence received from former Wards of the State
§ Matters arising from the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006
§ Hague Convention (International Child Abduction) matters in the Family Court
§ Residential Tenancies Act 1997 proceedings before VCAT
§ Discrimination proceedings in the Victorian and Federal jurisdictions
§ Guardianship and Administration matters before VCAT
Michelle was an Associate at Elliott Stafford and Associates, and completed her Articles with the firm. She regularly appeared for Local Councils prosecuting criminal matters in the Magistrates Court for planning, building, animal and traffic related offences. Michelle also regularly advised in relation to Conveyancing, Wills and Probate and Family Law.
Michelle read with Erin Gardner.
