 His five-year term saw the establishment of the role as an independent public advocate for children, based initially on the Norwegian model.Following his term as Commissioner, Hassall continued in public and private roles as a children's advocate convening, with Robin Fancourt and Claire Hurst, the 12th International Congress in Auckland in 1998 of the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN).In 1998-99 he was international fellow at the Chapin Hall Center for Children, University of Chicago.