Personal profile
Biography
Cal Volks' research uncovers how digital platforms shape donor reproductive practices, kinship and identity formation in donor assisted reproduction. Cal's research has shown how in online spaces Australian egg and sperm donors and recipients who meet online negotiate relationships, early contact and co-construct moral and ethical norms within donor * recipient * donor- conceived childrden triads. Her studies reveal how digital infrastructures uncover new forms of reproductive citizenship. Cal worked previously at the HIV/AIDS & Inclusivity Unit at the University of Cape Town (HAICU) conducting research; teaching students and developing & evaluating sexual and reproductive health interventions. Cal currently works as a research fellow at Monash University with Prof. Andrea Whittaker (CI) on an ARC grant on oocyte mobilities in Southern African as well as an ARC grant on uterus transplants. Cal has delivered/ is engaged with a range of policy and education interventions for University students and fertility stakeholders (recipient parents of donor conception; donors and donor-conceived people) in Australia and with fertility clinicians and counsellors in Australia; South Africa; Vietnam and Japan, ensuring her research has a real world impact.
Education/Academic qualification
Masters, Arts, Rhodes University
Award Date: 1 Jan 1994
Research area keywords
- egg donation;
- spem donation
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Consequences for Australian recipients of cross border oocyte donation in South Africa: double embryo transfer and donor anonymity
Volks, C., Hammarberg, K. & Whittaker, A., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access2 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
From clicks to creating kin: how Australian online egg donors craft relationships with recipients and donor-conceived children
Volks, C., Goedeke, S., Griffin, L. & Kelly, F., 2025, In: Human Fertility. 28, 1, 11 p., 2585670.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
Life in transit: the work of hyper-mobile gamete couriers in vital mobility infrastructures
Whittaker, A. & Volks, C., Jun 2025, In: Mobilities. 20, 3, p. 345-360 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
A scoping review of the psychosocial aspects of infertility in African countries
Roomaney, R., Salie, M., Jenkins, D., Eder, C., Mutumba-Nakalembe, M. J., Volks, C., Holland, N. & Silingile, K., 2024, In: Reproductive Health. 21, 1, 12 p., 123.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile14 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Providing implications counselling to SA anonymous oocyte donors donating to Australian recipients raising Australian DCC in an open- donor-identity context?
Volks, C., Hammarberg, K. & Whittaker, A., Jul 2024, In: Human Reproduction. 39, Supplement 1, p. i423-i424 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Meeting Abstract › peer-review
Open Access
Prizes
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Mellon grant for the HERS women in higher education leadership training programme, Wellesley College.
Volks, C. (Recipient), 1 Apr 2002
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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SASH grant from Brown University and The University of Cape Town
Volks, C. (Recipient), Alves, S. (Recipient), Musungu, S. (Recipient), Reddy , L. (Recipient) & Vallie, Z. (Recipient), 1 Jan 2016
Prize: Other distinction
Activities
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Submission to the Australian Law Reform Commision Review of Surrogacy Laws in Australia
Whittaker, A. (Chair/ Co-Chair), Molas, A. (Contributor) & Volks, C. (Contributor)
Jul 2025Activity: External Academic Engagement › Submissions to industry or govt committees, commissions and inquiries
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Monash Rountable on Surrogacy
Whittaker, A. (Organiser), Molas, A. (Member of programme committee) & Volks, C. (Member of programme committee)
29 May 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Third Party Reproduction: Governance, Relatedness & Globalization 2024
Volks, C. (Organiser)
19 Oct 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Human Fertility (Journal)
Volks, C. (Peer reviewer)
28 Nov 2024Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review responsibility
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Re-worlding Reproduction 2024
Volks, C. (Speaker)
19 Sept 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
Press/Media
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Victoria's Reproduction Treatment Austhority to face the Axe
3/07/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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The HIV Unit hosted discussions about freedom in South Africa on the University of Cape town Health Sciences campus
5/05/16
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Intergenrational trauma in apartheid South Africa
8/08/14
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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C.Volks co-edited a special issues on HIV/AIDS and Higher Education in south Africa
9/03/14
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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