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Dr Heena Akbar
Dr

Heena Akbar

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 64920
Mobile: 
0423460211

Overview

Background

Dr Akbar is a Pacific Fijian academic and researcher with extensive experience in community development research and teaching and has contributed to the Australian and International higher education sectors. Dr Akbar’s teaching and research are shaping how Indigenous knowledge is used to address the health inequities and social determinants of health of First Nations Peoples, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori & Pasifika (Pacific Islander) communities through co-designed solutions with the communities, and integrating community participatory action research and Indigenous perspectives and knowledge systems with social justice principles to promote equitable health and wellbeing. Heena's research addresses the social, cultural and economic burden of chronic conditions through a strength-based approach and impacts policy development that translates to better health outcomes for First Nations peoples, particularly Māori & Pasifika peoples in Australia and Internationally.

Availability

Dr Heena Akbar is:
Not available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours), Queensland University of Technology
  • Masters (Research) of Public Health, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology

Research interests

  • Health and Wellbeing of Māori and Pasifika communities

    We are currently working with Māori and Pasifika communities to co-design and co-develop programs and initiatives that promote holistic health and wellbeing.

  • Women’s health with a particular focus on chronic condition prevention and management

    We are currently piloting the Pasifika Women's Wellness Program for Maori and Pasifika women living with type 2 diabetes. This program was co-developed with the Pasifika communities in Southeast Queensland.

  • Community- based participatory action research

    We use Pacific Indigenous frameworks (Pacific Health Models) and methodologies and approaches embedded within emancipatory and social justice principles.

  • Cultural and social determinants of health

    Health inequities and cultural and social determinants of health are foundational in my teaching and research. My teaching focuses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Public Health and Social Determinants of Health to address health inequities. I use my research and community development experiences with First Nations communities and share these in the teaching & learning space with my students.

  • Indigenous methodologies (Pacific Indigenous approaches)

  • First Nations Health and Wellbeing

Research impacts

Dr Akbar's work frames Pacific knowledge systems, Pacific Health models and Indigenous methodology to develop participatory co-designed solutions with First Nations, Maori and Pacific communities to address health inequities. As a Pacific researcher, Heena works with Maori and Pacific communities in Australia and internationally to promote health and wellness as well as bringing the Pacific researchers to lead Māori and Pacific research in Australia.

Works

Search Professor Heena Akbar’s works on UQ eSpace

32 works between 2003 and 2024

1 - 20 of 32 works

Featured

2024

Journal Article

Correction: Effectiveness of the Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program (PWDWP): Protocol for a Pilot Intervention and Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

Akbar, Heena, Contor, Madison, Niumata, Winnie, Anderson, Debra and Gallegos, Danielle (2024). Correction: Effectiveness of the Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program (PWDWP): Protocol for a Pilot Intervention and Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 13 e65322, e65322. doi: 10.2196/65322

Correction: Effectiveness of the Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program (PWDWP): Protocol for a Pilot Intervention and Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

Featured

2023

Journal Article

Effectiveness of a Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program (PWDWP): Protocol for a pilot intervention and feasibility RCT study

Akbar, Heena, Contor, Madison, Niumata, Winnie, Anderson, Debra and Gallegos, Danielle (2023). Effectiveness of a Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program (PWDWP): Protocol for a pilot intervention and feasibility RCT study. JMIR Research Protocols, 13 (1) e55435, 1-14. doi: 10.2196/55435

Effectiveness of a Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program (PWDWP): Protocol for a pilot intervention and feasibility RCT study

Featured

2023

Journal Article

The political and legal determinants of CALD communities: an unhealthy (modern) healthcare paradigm

Al-Kassimi, Khaled, Kwan, Angela T.H., Portnoff, Jacob S. and Akbar, Heena (2023). The political and legal determinants of CALD communities: an unhealthy (modern) healthcare paradigm. Baltic Journal of Law and Politics, 16 (3), 1046-1055. doi: 10.2478/bjlp-2023-0000083

The political and legal determinants of CALD communities: an unhealthy (modern) healthcare paradigm

Featured

2023

Journal Article

Towards collective community education: Pasifika diabetes health forums in Southeast Queensland, Australia

Akbar, Heena G., Gallegos, Danielle, Aunty Wynn Te Kani of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou decent, Anderson, Debra and Windsor, Carol (2023). Towards collective community education: Pasifika diabetes health forums in Southeast Queensland, Australia. AlterNative, 19 (4), 933-944. doi: 10.1177/11771801231196777

Towards collective community education: Pasifika diabetes health forums in Southeast Queensland, Australia

Featured

2022

Book

Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program

Akbar, Heena, Niumata, Winnie and Te Kani, Aunty Wynn (2022). Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Community Mentors International.

Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program

Featured

2022

Journal Article

“Food Is Our Love Language”: Using talanoa to conceptualize food security for the Māori and Pasifika diaspora in South-East Queensland, Australia

Akbar, Heena, Radclyffe, Charles J. T., Santos, Daphne, Mopio-Jane, Maureen and Gallegos, Danielle (2022). “Food Is Our Love Language”: Using talanoa to conceptualize food security for the Māori and Pasifika diaspora in South-East Queensland, Australia. Nutrients, 14 (10) 2020, 2020. doi: 10.3390/nu14102020

“Food Is Our Love Language”: Using talanoa to conceptualize food security for the Māori and Pasifika diaspora in South-East Queensland, Australia

Featured

2022

Journal Article

Using Talanoa in community-based participatory research with Australian Pacific Islander women with type 2 diabetes

Akbar, Heena, Windsor, Carol, Gallegos, Danielle, Manu-Sione, Inez and Anderson, Debra (2022). Using Talanoa in community-based participatory research with Australian Pacific Islander women with type 2 diabetes. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 16 (1), 119-128. doi: 10.1353/cpr.2022.0011

Using Talanoa in community-based participatory research with Australian Pacific Islander women with type 2 diabetes

Featured

2021

Journal Article

Deconstructing type 2 diabetes self-management of Australian Pacific Islander women: Using a community participatory research and talanoa approach

Akbar, Heena, Gallegos, Danielle, Anderson, Debra and Windsor, Carol (2021). Deconstructing type 2 diabetes self-management of Australian Pacific Islander women: Using a community participatory research and talanoa approach. Health and Social Care in the Community, 30 (5), 1988-1999. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13580

Deconstructing type 2 diabetes self-management of Australian Pacific Islander women: Using a community participatory research and talanoa approach

Featured

2015

Journal Article

Predicting intentions and behaviours in populations with or at-risk of diabetes: A systematic review

Akbar, Heena, Anderson, Debra and Gallegos, Danielle (2015). Predicting intentions and behaviours in populations with or at-risk of diabetes: A systematic review. Preventive Medicine Reports, 2, 270-282. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2015.04.006

Predicting intentions and behaviours in populations with or at-risk of diabetes: A systematic review

Featured

2005

Journal Article

Identifying competencies for Australian health professionals working in international health

Akbar, H., Hill, P. S., Rotem, A., Riley, I. D., Zwi, A. B., Marks, G. C. and Mark, T. (2005). Identifying competencies for Australian health professionals working in international health. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health., 17 (2), 99-103. doi: 10.1177/101053950501700207

Identifying competencies for Australian health professionals working in international health

2024

Other Outputs

Pasifika Diabetes Wellness Program Satisfaction Survey (Version 1).

Akbar, Heena (2024). Pasifika Diabetes Wellness Program Satisfaction Survey (Version 1).. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/af15519

Pasifika Diabetes Wellness Program Satisfaction Survey (Version 1).

2024

Conference Publication

The stories of our women: Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program

Akbar, Heena, Niumata, W., Hoori, R., Akbar, R. A., Pio, M., Syme, H. and Hussein, Z. (2024). The stories of our women: Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program. Oceania Pacific Health Association (OPHA) Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 18-19 October 2024. Gold Coast, QLD Australia: Oceania Pacific Health Association (OPHA).

The stories of our women: Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program

2024

Conference Publication

Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program (PWDWP): The stories of our women

Akbar, Heena and Niumata, Winnie (2024). Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program (PWDWP): The stories of our women. QLD Women’s Health Forum 2024, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 11 -12 July 2024. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Queensland Women's Health Forum.

Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program (PWDWP): The stories of our women

2024

Conference Publication

Perceptions of South Asian Australians Towards Genetic Testing for Cardiovascular Disease

Nathan, V., Gilroy, D., Naresh, R., Akbar, H., Shah, S. and Yanes, T. (2024). Perceptions of South Asian Australians Towards Genetic Testing for Cardiovascular Disease. 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, Perth, WA Australia, 1-4 August 2024. Chatswood, NSW Australia: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2024.04.199

Perceptions of South Asian Australians Towards Genetic Testing for Cardiovascular Disease

2024

Conference Publication

Feeding our mana': Solutions for food security for Maori and Pasifika communities in Australia

Akbar, Heena, Gallegos, Danielle and FOM Steering Committee (2024). Feeding our mana': Solutions for food security for Maori and Pasifika communities in Australia. World Public Health Nutrition Congress, London, United Kingdom, 10-13 June 2024. London, United Kingdom: World Public Health Nutrition Association.

Feeding our mana': Solutions for food security for Maori and Pasifika communities in Australia

2024

Conference Publication

Indigenous approach to resilient food systems for Māori and Pasifika communities in Australia

Akbar, Heena, Gallegos, Danielle and FOM Steering Committee (2024). Indigenous approach to resilient food systems for Māori and Pasifika communities in Australia. World Public Health Nutrition Congress, London, United Kingdom, 10-13 June 2024. Westminster, London: World Public Health Nutrition Association.

Indigenous approach to resilient food systems for Māori and Pasifika communities in Australia

2023

Other Outputs

The stories of our women: Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program

Akbar, Heena, Niumata, Winnie, Hoori, Reo, Akbar, Ramiza A, Pio, Maria, Syme, Harata and Hussein, Ziya (2023). The stories of our women: Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Community Mentors International.

The stories of our women: Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program

2022

Conference Publication

Gender lens and Talanoa Indigenous perspective in diabetes research with Pacific women

Akbar, Heena (2022). Gender lens and Talanoa Indigenous perspective in diabetes research with Pacific women. IDF World Diabetes Congress, Lisbon, Portugal, 5 - 8 December 2022. Lisbon, Portugal: International Diabetes Federation.

Gender lens and Talanoa Indigenous perspective in diabetes research with Pacific women

2022

Conference Publication

Keynote Address & Talanoa Panel: Pacific health and wellbeing: Life course and trans-generational perspectives

Dewes, Ofa, Bay, Jacquie and Akbar, Heena (2022). Keynote Address & Talanoa Panel: Pacific health and wellbeing: Life course and trans-generational perspectives. Development of Health and Disease (DoHAD), Adelaide, SA Australia, 10 - 11 November 2022. Adelaide, SA, Australia: DoHAD.

Keynote Address & Talanoa Panel: Pacific health and wellbeing: Life course and trans-generational perspectives

2022

Conference Publication

Socio-cultural and lifestyle factors influencing health of Māori and Pasifika women: findings from Pasifika diabetes health forums

Akbar, Heena (2022). Socio-cultural and lifestyle factors influencing health of Māori and Pasifika women: findings from Pasifika diabetes health forums. QLD Women's Health Forum , Toowoomba, QLD Australia, 12 - 13 September 2022. Women's Health Research Translational Research (WHRTN) .

Socio-cultural and lifestyle factors influencing health of Māori and Pasifika women: findings from Pasifika diabetes health forums

Funding

Current funding

  • 2022 - 2025
    Preparing Australia for use of genomics in prevention of heart-disease: Focus on South Asian Australians
    NHMRC MRFF Genomics Health Futures Mission
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr Heena Akbar is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Exploring the psychological impact of type 2 diabetes among Kiribati women living in Queensland, Australia

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Exploring the psychological impact of type 2 diabetes among Kiribati women living in Queensland, Australia

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Towards Social Justice for the Hijra Community

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Dorothee Hölscher, Dr Kathy Ellem

  • Master Philosophy

    Exploring teaching practices as a pathways to promoting engagement with food security and climate action.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Severine van Bommel

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Smallholder agriculture and food and nutrition security: strategies to empower farming families in Solomon Islands

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Natalie Jones, Associate Professor Severine van Bommel

  • Master Philosophy

    Teacher perspectives on school gardens in educational contexts

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Severine van Bommel

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Exploration and evaluation of Sexual and Reproductive Health service uptake for refugee and migrant women in Queensland

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Yibeltal Alemu, Associate Professor Judith Dean

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Towards Social Justice for the Hijra Community

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Dorothee Hölscher, Dr Kathy Ellem

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Dr Heena Akbar directly for media enquiries about:

  • Chronic Conditions prevention & management
  • cultural safety practice
  • culturally responsive healthcare and research
  • Decolonising research methods
  • Food Security
  • Food Sovereignty approach
  • health equity
  • health equity for cultually and linguistically diverse populations
  • health equity health care
  • Indigenising curriculum
  • Indigenous knowledge systems
  • Indigensou knowledge systems
  • Maori & Pasifika Peoples in Queensland
  • Pacific Indentity
  • Pacific Methods
  • Pacific talanoa
  • Pasifika Wellness Program
  • Women's Wellness

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au