Richard was the Chief Executive Officer, of the Intellectual Disability Services Council (IDSC) from 1984 until 2006. On retirement he was appointed as Professorial Fellow in the Disability and Community Inclusion Unit of Flinders University where he developed and ran the Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies (Leadership). From 2013 to 2018, he was appointed as South Australia’s senior practitioner to reduce the use of restrictive practices in South Australia. In 2020, he was appointed as Authorising Officer under the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020 to consider applications to detain people who lack capacity and whose actions were putting themselves or other at risk of infection.