Spotlight on Shakiba Akbari

Shakiba Akbari highlights some of her work with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse families.  

What is your role at GenV and why did you get involved with GenV?

I’m a GenV Project Officer supporting and advocating for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) participants across the project. My work focuses on recruiting and engaging with CALD families. I also lead our work in translations and interpreting activities. For example, helping make information accessible to families in their preferred language. I also speak 5 additional languages! I love being able to talk to GenV families in Dari, Hazaraghi, Persian, Hindi and Urdu.

What excites you most about your role?

What excites me most about this role is being part of a project where inclusivity is at the heart. In research, we often see barriers that limit people from diverse backgrounds taking part. But GenV is different. I feel proud and privileged to be part of a team that is genuinely committed to breaking down those barriers and including as many non-English-speaking families as possible. Ensuring our cohort of families reflects the rich diversity of Victoria is not about equity – it’s essential. It means we can create meaningful and impactful research for everyone.

Tell us a little bit about your work in the Participant Advisory Panel.

One of the most rewarding parts of my role is helping develop our GenV’s Participant Advisory Panel in our Top 6 languages. This includes Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese and Vietnamese. For the first time, GenV families who read/speak these languages have a voice in shaping the future of GenV. The more families that join our Panel, the more we can design and run GenV to be meaningful for families like theirs. We hope our CALD families who read/speak these languages will join us.

Are there any other highlights from your work on GenV you’d like to share?

GenV is truly a special place to work. I love being part of such a diverse team where everyone brings their own skills, culture, and experiences – and all of that is genuinely valued and celebrated. One of my favourite moments was when the team came together to create a multilingual video to celebrate Cultural Diversity Week. It was a beautiful reflection of how much we value diversity – not just within our team but also in our wonderful, diverse cohort.

What would you like to say to GenV CALD families?

To our GenV CALD families, we want you to know how important your participation is. Research can only make a real difference when families from all backgrounds take part. We know there can be barriers. We are working hard to make it easier for everyone. Every survey you do helps researchers get closer to finding solutions to health issues that matter to families like yours. Together we are building a healthier future for all children and parents. If you have any thoughts or feedback, please share them with us. We are here to listen, to learn, and to take action together.

Interested in joining our Participant Advisory Panel? Read more here.

You can also check out our Cultural Diversity Week video on Instagram here.