Former La Trobe student honoured

Distinguished La Trobe University alumnus Professor Paul Yip has been honoured at the 11th Australia China Alumni Awards for his work in suicide prevention in Hong Kong.

Professor Yip, who completed his PhD in Maths and Information Sciences at La Trobe in 1989, received the Alumni Award for Research and Science. His work advocating a public health approach for suicide prevention has helped contribute to reducing the number of suicides in Hong Kong by 30 per cent.

La Trobe Vice Chancellor Professor John Dewar congratulated Professor Yip on the accolade.

“Professor Yip has made a real impact through his work in addressing such a major and devastating social problem,” Professor Dewar said.

“We greatly admire Professor Yip’s commitment to public health and wellbeing in Hong Kong and throughout the world. La Trobe is incredibly proud to have been a part of his journey.”

Professor Yip is Chair Professor (Population Health) at the Department of Social Work and Social Administration and the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). He is also Foundation Director of the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at HKU.

This is the latest of many awards Professor Yip has received throughout his career. He was awarded the Medal of Honour from the Hong Kong Government in 2017 for his service to the community, and the Stengel Research award by the International Association of Suicide Prevention in 2011.

His work was recognised with a Distinguished Alumni Award from La Trobe in 2008.

The Australia China Alumni Association aims to build stronger connections with Australian alumni in China.

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