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Awards and scholarships

The Dorabjee Award

Jimmy Dorabjee was a pioneer in international harm reduction policy and practice, a major figure of the movement in Asia. Before moving to Melbourne Jimmy was the Program Manager for Harm Reduction at the Sharan Society NGO in Delhi and the driving force behind the formation of the Asian Harm Reduction Network.

“Jimmy was a globally respected visionary leader. He was brave and was one of the few courageous people who openly identified as a person who uses drugs,” said members of the Network of Asian People who Use Drugs (NAPUD).

Dorabjee Award 426X538

Jimmy Dorabjee

Jimmy was associated with Burnet’s Centre for Harm Reduction from its inception in the early 2000s. He received the prestigious National Rolleston Award in 2001 for his profound impact on international harm reduction policy and practice.

“Jimmy mentored and inspired many, and he epitomised lived experience and peer education,” Burnet Senior Fellow Associate Professor Higgs said.

Jimmy Dorabjee died in 2019. His life and legacy as a former Burnet Institute senior staff member, researcher, and passionate advocate for harm reduction, is acknowledged with two awards sponsored by Burnet: The Dorabjee Award International, and The Dorabjee Award Asia.

“Jimmy was an inspirational leader in harm reduction and these awards will ensure that Jimmy’s legacy to harm reduction and the rights of people who use drugs is remembered and acknowledged."

–Associate Professor Peter Higgs, Burnet Senior Fellow

About the award

In recognition of Jimmy Dorabjee's major achievements in the sector, particularly in the Asian region, Burnet Institute has committed to funding conference attendance scholarships to support two people with lived/living experience who are working in the harm reduction field to attend a conference on drug use and related harms and/or related concepts of their choice:

  • The Dorabjee Award International - open to people working in the sector from any country.
  • The Dorabjee Award Asia - open to people working specifically in the Asian Region.

The Award covers conference attendance costs (airfares, accommodation, conference registration) and limited living costs for the duration of the conference-related travel.

An application form will be made available on this page when applications open. Please note that all responses must be in English.

Eligibility criteria

  1. Awardees must be actively working in Harm Reduction policy, practice or research.
  2. Awardees must provide evidence that they have submitted an abstract to a suitable conference focused on Harm Reduction.
  3. If applicable, awardees must provide evidence that their attendance is supported by their employer or connected organisation.

Application criteria

    • Has made significant contribution to harm reduction policy and practice.
    • Has demonstrated significant positive impact on the health and wellbeing of people who use drugs.
    • Has demonstrated leadership in the sector.
    • Has ensured involvement of community of people who use drugs in their policy and practice work.
    • Has demonstrated commitment to ongoing sharing and development of knowledge and skills for the community and/or for others working in the sector.

    Selection process

    Applications are reviewed by a judging panel that includes representation from Burnet Institute, the International Network of People who use Drugs (INPUD), the Network of Asian People who Use Drugs (NAPUD), Professor Nick Crofts and Del Aulich.

    Applications are judged in response to the selection criteria.

    More information

    To find out more about the award, contact DorabjeeAward@burnet.edu.au.

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