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