Cal Volks

Cal Volks completed her BA Hons and Masters degrees at Rhodes University in 1994 majoring in Psychology. Cal worked as the Director of the HIV AIDS and Inclusivity Unit at the University of Cape Town in South Africa for 22 years where she focused on Strategic Direction, Research, Counselling and Psycho Education around Reproductive Sexual Health and People who feel stigmatised due to a diagnosis. 

 

In 2010 Cal completed the British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA) Course in Infertility Counselling. Cal then completed an internship focusing on infertility counselling with couples and singletons under registered psychologist Andrew Carlyle (with experience in the field) in 2012. 

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Cal set up Assisted Reproduction Information, Support and Education (ARISE) to provide continuing professional development for infertility counsellors as well as public education. Cal was appointed a non executive board member of the Infertility Awareness Association of South Africa (IFAASA).

 

In 2017 Cal moved to Melbourne, Australia and registered with the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellor's Association (ANZICA). She was appointed the Senior Infertility Counsellor at Adora Fertility, Melbourne. Cal is on the executive of ANZICA and works on the membership portfolio. Cal is also chairs the Victoria group of infertility counsellors. 

 

In October 2018, Cal was awarded a La Trobe University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (LTUPRS) and a La Trobe University Full Fee Research Scholarship (LTUFFRS) at La Trobe University, commencing in 2019. Cal's research is on the experiences of egg and sperm donors who have post birth contact with recipient parents and donor conceived children. 

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From September 2020 to August 2021 Cal worked as Donor Linking Counsellour at The Victorian Assisted Reproduction Treatment Authority (VARTA).

Cal currently provides counselling supervision to the VARTA counsellors. 

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Awards

Cal has received the following awards:

2018  La Trobe University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (LTUPRS) and a La Trobe University Full Fee Research Scholarship (LTUFFRS)

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2016 SASH Research grant from Brown University and the University of Cape Town Public Health Department 

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2013    Erasmus Mundus Award

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2012    Erasmus Mundus Award

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2011    Awarded South African National Research Fund Scholarship (Unable to accept due to full time employment).

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2001    Selected for Mellon Foundation sponsored course for women leaders in Higher Education at Wellesley College, Boston.

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2000    Awarded two Rotary Foundation Scholarships