She Matters

Before she disappeared, someone drugged, raped and threatened to strangle her. Her social media was hacked and she was followed. On her last night, multiple gunshots and a woman's screams were heard. There was no indication she planned to end her own life. She bought a mobile phone, visited friends and withdrew money. Yet, police said she was a 'walk-off suicide'. Her name is Sandrine Jourdan. She...

Before she disappeared, someone drugged, raped and threatened to strangle her. Her social media was hacked and she was followed. On her last night, multiple gunshots and a woman's screams were heard. There was no indication she planned to end her own life. She bought a mobile phone, visited friends and withdrew money. Yet, police said she was a 'walk-off suicide'. Her name is Sandrine Jourdan. She...

CCTV. Crowds. Security guards. How can a woman simply disappear from a city shopping centre and there be no witnesses, no footage, no answers? Her name is Monique Clubb. She was only 24. Monique was a proud Aboriginal woman from Hervey Bay in Queensland. She went for a trip to Brisbane - and never came home. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are more likely to be deliberately disappeared...

CCTV. Crowds. Security guards. How can a woman simply disappear from a city shopping centre and there be no witnesses, no footage, no answers? Her name is Monique Clubb. She was only 24. Monique was a proud Aboriginal woman from Hervey Bay in Queensland. She went for a trip to Brisbane - and never came home. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are more likely to be deliberately disappeared...

On that spring evening, he broke into her home, placed photos of her recently deceased brother on the loungeroom floor and set them on fire. And then he watched the home burn from the town lookout. She, her partner and her dog were asleep. They never had a chance. He bought chocolate and flowers to comfort her family. Police refused to charge him until her family rattled their cage. Her name is Ka...

On that spring evening, he broke into her home, placed photos of her recently deceased brother on the loungeroom floor and set them on fire. And then he watched the home burn from the town lookout. She, her partner and her dog were asleep. They never had a chance. He bought chocolate and flowers to comfort her family. Police refused to charge him until her family rattled their cage. Her name is Ka...

In Australia, femicides are often mistaken for suicide and misadventure - her death is one of these. She had barely started living her life when she was found hanging from a tree in a park. Her name is Eden Jayde Westbrook. She was only 15. Eden's mum Amanda, dad Jason and siblings Bobby-Lee, Dontay and Sky talk about the long and arduous fight to have the findings into Eden's death overturned. Th...

In Australia, femicides are often mistaken for suicide and misadventure - her death is one of these. She had barely started living her life when she was found hanging from a tree in a park. Her name is Eden Jayde Westbrook. She was only 15. Eden's mum Amanda, dad Jason and siblings Bobby-Lee, Dontay and Sky talk about the long and arduous fight to have the findings into Eden's death overturned. Th...

He brutalised her to the brink of death - and when she passed away in hospital, they decided not to charge him. There were no marches, no vigils, no headlines. Her name is Sue. She was only 48. Justice will never come for Sue and her family. But Sue is helping re-frame how Australia responds to violence against women and children. Sue's niece is Micaela Cronin - the National Domestic, Family and S...

He brutalised her to the brink of death - and when she passed away in hospital, they decided not to charge him. There were no marches, no vigils, no headlines. Her name is Sue. She was only 48. Justice will never come for Sue and her family. But Sue is helping re-frame how Australia responds to violence against women and children. Sue's niece is Micaela Cronin - the National Domestic, Family and S...

Unless you've lived it, it's almost impossible to truly understand the insidious mechanisms of coercive control. And when you're watching a loved on from the outside, it's impossible to know how to help them break free. Michelle Sposito's eldest daughter had ambitions, hope and joy. But he trapped her in a cat and mouse game of emotional and psychological warfare. There was no way out - and on tha...

Unless you've lived it, it's almost impossible to truly understand the insidious mechanisms of coercive control. And when you're watching a loved on from the outside, it's impossible to know how to help them break free. Michelle Sposito's eldest daughter had ambitions, hope and joy. But he trapped her in a cat and mouse game of emotional and psychological warfare. There was no way out - and on tha...

Creative, artistic, adventurous, fun, gregarious - she was many things to those who loved her. To her kids, she was their dedicated mum who just wanted the best for them. Her name is Sherry Joy Bulman. She was only 40 years old. He murdered her because she wanted a new life away from him. She was pregnant with her seventh child. Some 36 years after her murder, Sherry's daughter Tarna and her best...

Creative, artistic, adventurous, fun, gregarious - she was many things to those who loved her. To her kids, she was their dedicated mum who just wanted the best for them. Her name is Sherry Joy Bulman. She was only 40 years old. He murdered her because she wanted a new life away from him. She was pregnant with her seventh child. Some 36 years after her murder, Sherry's daughter Tarna and her best...

She wanted to control her own life - for this, he murdered her - in front of the children. Her name is Alison Doreen Perfect. She was only 39. When they took him to jail, Alison's children were placed in the foster care system. Her daughter Donna-Leigh Perfect endured deeply traumatic violence while in care - and when the killer was released from jail, she was given an impossible choice. Today, Do...

She wanted to control her own life - for this, he murdered her - in front of the children. Her name is Alison Doreen Perfect. She was only 39. When they took him to jail, Alison's children were placed in the foster care system. Her daughter Donna-Leigh Perfect endured deeply traumatic violence while in care - and when the killer was released from jail, she was given an impossible choice. Today, Do...

At the start of the She Matters Podcast, I interviewed Nikkita Azzopardi's brother Shaun, sister Farrah and cousin Priya. At the time, Nikkita's killer was going through the legal process. Today, I speak again to Shaun and also Nikkita's parents Mary and Edward. They have, in many ways found some solace following the death of the man who ended Nikkita's life. This is part two of Nikkita's story -...

Today, we are replaying Nikkita’s story because next week, Sherele sits down with her parents, Mary, Edward and her brother, Shaun, for an update. Listen to today's replay to remember Nikkita's story, share it and get ready for next week’s incredibly raw update with her family. She lived her life to the fullest, skydiving, travelling, food, fun. She was the glue that held her family together. On h...

We are re-releasing this episode, Kelly's sister Paula and Sherele Moody are actively fighting to secure a coronial inquest into Kelly's death. To make this happen, they need to present compelling evidence to the coroner. We are putting Kelly’s story back at the top of your feed because the truth cannot be buried. We need eyes on this case, we need voices raised, and most importantly, we need anyo...

There's a moment in her story when you understand how cold and calculating a killer can be. There's a moment in her dad's story that will madden and frustrate you. There's a moment in her sister's story when you will understand how brave and empathetic families can be in the wake of violence and murder. Her name is Jacinta Louise Bush. She was only 19. Four months after her partner ended Jacinta's...

There's a moment in her story when you understand how cold and calculating a killer can be. There's a moment in her dad's story that will madden and frustrate you. There's a moment in her sister's story when you will understand how brave and empathetic families can be in the wake of violence and murder. Her name is Jacinta Louise Bush. She was only 19. Four months after her partner ended Jacinta's...

It's the waiting for answers that tires her the most. A loving aunt to a little girl stolen from her bed in the deep of night. Margaret Thomas was 29 years old when her first-born niece was abducted. The little girl's name is Eloise Anne Worledge. She was only eight years old. It's been 50 years since that day and Margaret is now a woman in her twilight years. Despite the passage of time and the i...

His abuse of her was relentless and brutal. When she died, she was treated as nothing more than a footnote in the legal system. Her name is Kiara Ferguson. She was only 27. A single bullet killed Kiara. She was pregnant with her third child. Her daughters were in the room nearby. Everything that happened to Kiara - before and after her death - is stark evidence of how badly Australian women a...

His abuse of her was relentless and brutal. When she died, she was treated as nothing more than a footnote in the legal system. Her name is Kiara Ferguson. She was only 27. A single bullet killed Kiara. She was pregnant with her third child. Her daughters were in the room nearby. Everything that happened to Kiara - before and after her death - is stark evidence of how badly Australian women a...

He brutalised her for years and when the police came, they charged her with violence. When he killed her, they let him get away with murder. Her name is Alicia Little. She was only 41. Alicia's mum Lee Little has dedicated almost every waking hour to changing the story for other women. It's been horrific knowing Alicia's killer is on dating apps and roaming the country, barely having suf...