Congratulations to Professor Manjula Datta O’Connor who has won the prestigious Premier’s Award for Victorian Senior of the Year for her tireless work in raising awareness about dowry abuse and family violence in Victoria. 

With more than 25 years of experience as a psychiatrist, Professor O’Connor co-founded the AustralAsian Centre for Human Rights and Health, spearheading research projects and community initiatives that have broken the silence on dowry abuse in Australia.  

Professor O’Connor is the author of the bestselling book Daughters of Durga, which exposes the patriarchal structures and dowry abuse faced by women in Victoria’s South Asian community.  

Her advocacy was instrumental in the successful petition to have dowry abuse recognised in the Family Violence Protection Act 2012, leading to law changes in Victoria and triggering a Senate Hearing into dowry abuse in 2017. 

Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt acknowledged Professor O’Connor and 14 other recipients at Government House on Thursday 24 October 2024. 

To read the profiles of 2024 Victorian Senior of the year Awards recipients visit the Seniors Online website.