AIVL Awards 2025 Nominations Open Now

About Jenny

Jenny Kelsall was a dedicated community leader who, before her passing, was the Executive Officer of Harm Reduction Victoria. Prior to this Jenny demonstrated to the harm reduction sector that people who use drugs are integral and necessary in our responses, working in world leading programs and organisations including the Centre for Harm Reduction and Turning Point. She was a generous and caring friend, colleague and mentor to many, as well as a fierce advocate for our community: an unapologetic woman who injected drugs, cared for a family, contributed to the arts, and worked to improve the lives of people who use drugs. Jenny left a legacy of leadership, peer-based research and education initiatives across Australia and Asia in the areas of HIV, viral hepatitis & injecting drug use spanning over nearly three decades.

Criteria for award nomination 

The winner of the Jenny Kelsall Lifetime Achievement Award is a member of the community who has shown longstanding dedication to evidence-based harm reduction and the holistic wellbeing of people who use drugs. Someone who throughout their life and career, has been a strong advocate, collaborative, empowered and nurtured others and driven community-led responses.

About Jude

Jude Byrne was a mighty and fearless advocate in the Australian and International Drug User Movement. In Australia, Jude was present throughout the harm reduction and hepatitis C research and advocacy space. Jude held various positions in Australian Drug User Organisations, including AIVL, her influence was also felt internationally. Her unapologetic advocacy impacted people who inject drugs, people living with hepatitis C, people in prison, people on opioid dependence treatment and older people who use drugs. Jude was a founding member of INPUD and a mentor to many people who use drugs throughout the world. She was admired for her skills driving committees and social change, fiercely representing the community and elevating the voice of people who use drugs in multiple spaces including policy, research, health and human rights.

Criteria for award nomination

The winner of the Jude Byrne Peer Advocate of the Year Award is a member of the community who has shown extraordinary advocacy skills in the last 12 months. Examples of this can be individual advocacy on behalf of others or system advocacy in relation to cultural change, policies or laws.

About Kerrie

Kerrie Dare was the Vice President of TUHSL, a proud advocate, activist and narcofeminist! Before living with disability, and starting a career in advocacy and Peer Leadership, she was a professional Florist who owned Fiori, a successful Floristry business in Tasmania. Kerrie was a true creative and multidisciplinary artist who also loved poetry and music, she weaved and breathed creativity into everything she did, including her advocacy and peer work. Her last creative offering to her Tasmanian peers and the people who love them, was the design and landscaping of an official memorial garden for Tasmanians who have died from Drug Overdose, in Glenorchy, August 2024.

When Kerrie found out she had terminal cancer in 2025, she never resigned from the TUHSL board and was Vice President until she died in late August of 2025. Kerrie was an active and contributing board member throughout her treatment and she never stopped practicing advocacy; in fact, she never advocated harder than at the end of her life. Part of her legacy work involves ensuring that peers in palliative care receive the highest attainable standard of healthcare and treatment at the end of our lives. Kerrie had one message to leave the peer artists out there “don’t hold back”.

Criteria for award nomination

The Kerrie Dare Peer Artist Award honours a peer artist whose creative work has contributed to the drug user movement. Through their creative expression they have made a meaningful and positive impact on the community.

Criteria for award nomination

The Peer Worker of the Year Award recognises the outstanding work of an individual peer worker. The winner of the Peer Worker of the Year award is someone who has profoundly, positively impacted the community in the last 12 months.

Criteria for award nomination

This award recognises the outstanding work of an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peer worker. The winner of this award is someone who has profoundly positively impacted their community in the last 12 months.

Criteria for award nomination

The Harm Reduction Program of the Year Award recognises the outstanding work of a team or individual driving. a program, service or initiative that has profoundly positively impacted the community in the last 12 months.

Criteria for award nomination

The Peer Researcher Award honours a person with living-lived experience working in a research role who has contributed meaningfully to the drug user movement. They centre peer voices in their work and drive positive change for the community.