Sistas, Let's Talk

It’s hard to think of anything more exciting but also nerve wracking than being pregnant for the first time.   Each stage is a new experience and a lesson in letting go of plans and control, and just trying to go along with what life delivers.  Every woman is different and so is every pregnancy.  This week on Sistas Let’s Talk, Natasha Meten explores first time pregnancy with a woman who’s experie...

Fiji has the world's fastest growing rate of HIV transmission and it's not only high-risk groups being impacted.   Babies are being born with HIV through a process now called vertical transmission - where they get it during pregnancy or birth or breastfeeding.  However, vertical transmission is very avoidable.   The key is getting tested early and getting that lifesaving treatment, but to do that,...

Gender-based violence is happening throughout the Pacific but one thing that seems to be changing is how people react when they see it.  While some people still stand by, afraid to get involved, others are speaking up and saying the violence is unacceptable.  So how can you be a positive bystander without risking your own safety?  Sistas Let’s Talk speaks to three women about stepping in and defen...

Gender‑based violence remains a major issue across the Pacific, and while crisis support services exist, long‑term trauma care for survivors varies widely.  So what happens after the immediate danger has passed? What does effective, culturally informed trauma support look like in places where health services are stretched? And how should care change to meet the needs of survivors from different ba...

What does it mean to have a best friend?   For Vaimo'oi'a Ripley and Julia Meredith it has meant having someone to laugh with, make mischief with and someone to turn to in the absolute best and worst moments of life.   The pair have been best friends since primary school in Samoa and while they no longer live in the same city, they always know how to pick up where they left off.   This week on Sis...

While there’s no shortage of Pacific women in sport, the arts and business to look up to, what about women in science?  Globally, women make up less than a third of the STEM workforce, and Pacific women are even more underrepresented. Yet many are leading groundbreaking research that’s improving the health and wellbeing of their communities.  In this episode of Sistas Let’s Talk, Natasha Meten spe...

Music and singing weave through everyday life across the Pacific, shaping our stories, celebrations and connections. For many, it’s more than just an expression; it's a source of joy.   But what is it about lifting our voice in song that makes us feel so good?   On Sistas Let’s Talk, Natasha Meten sits down with Papua New Guinean-Australian opera singer Heru Pinkasova and choir director and ethnom...

People in the Pacific are raising the alarm about elder abuse in the region.  Worldwide one in six people over 60 have been abused, according to startling statistics from the World Health organisation.  In Fiji last year, around 2000 cases of abuse were reported to the police, including physical, emotional and financial abuse.  On Sistas Let’s Talk Natasha Meten spoke to three women trying to comb...

When the average woman stretches her income across food, bills, and family responsibilities, is there anything left to save for the future?  Across the Pacific region, organisations are proving the answer can be “yes”. With the right tools and a little financial literacy, women are learning how to grow their savings, build confidence and take control of their financial independence.  On Sistas Let...

You've probably heard of post-natal depression, but it’s just one of several mental illnesses that can affect women during or after pregnancy.  Depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and even psychosis can affect women at what should be one of the happiest times of their life.  And in the Pacific, stigma and a lack of services can stop women from getting the help they need.  On Sistas...

Getting vaccinated is a simple step that prevents illnesses like measles, polio-virus and even cervical cancer. But in parts of the Pacific, not everyone is able or willing to access vaccines.  Whether it's combating hesitation or limited access, health authorities are working hard to vaccinate as many people in the Pacific for as many preventable diseases as possible.  What can women do to suppor...

Community and family are two of the most universal values in the Pacific, so it's almost impossible to imagine that anyone could feel lonely.   However, people can be surrounded by family and still feel a sense of loneliness, and with so many people moving overseas or to the city for work, not everyone has family around anymore.   So what should you do if you feel lonely, and if it goes on for too...

Somewhere in the world, a girl is married every three seconds. The rates vary in the Pacific, however in Papua New Guinea 27 per cent of women aged 20 to 24 were married before they turned 18. And in some countries, like Solomon Islands, the legal age of marriage is 15 with parental or judicial consent.   The organisation Girls Not Brides works around the world to put an end to child marriages. It...

The rate of women who die during childbirth is alarmingly high in parts of the Pacific.   According to World Population Review, the rate of maternal mortality in Papua New Guinea is 192 deaths in every 100,000 live births.   That’s compared with a country like Australia, which is just three in every 100,000 births.  The reasons for these deaths vary from geographic barriers and lack of medical ser...

Understanding autism, ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions for kids in the Pacific can be a challenge for parents and their wider communities.   These conditions are on a spectrum, meaning symptoms vary from mild to severe depending on the individual and the challenges they face.   Children who can’t read social cues or become overwhelmed by their surroundings can be mistaken for being naughty...

Sistas, Let’s Talk is Sabina Moce is only 24, but for the past decade the young Fijian woman has been a passionate advocate for people with disability.   Sabina was born with albinism and growing up in Fiji with the condition led to bullying and exclusion from her community.  This inspired her to speak up for those who aren't always given a voice.  ABC Radio Australia’s Sistas Let’s Talk celebrate...

A controversial by-law banning women in a Vanuatu province from handling or selling food during menstruation has led to shock and community outrage.  The law, passed by Shefa Provincial Government Council, threatened hefty fines and the loss of food stall permits for women who broke it.  However, after Prime Minister Jotham Napat called on the council to revoke the by-law, the council apologised a...

Many women and girls in the Pacific don’t have access to pads, clean water or even the knowledge they need to practice proper menstrual hygiene.   Poor menstrual hygiene can lead to urinary tract infections and the stigma and shame around periods is stopping girls from attending school.   However, there are organisations trying to address the issue and improve women’s health.  On ABC Radio Austral...

For musician Rosie Delmah, fame has been a double-edged sword.   Rosie has been experiencing cyber bullying and sexual harassment for several years.   In 2025, explicit deep fake images of her were created and spread across the internet, causing her to bravely speak out.    And Rosie is not alone. Cyber abuse, particularly against women is rife and many countries, including Rosie’s home Solomon Is...

Like many women, Ruth Cross Kwansing spent a lot of time talking herself out of politics before eventually running in the Kiribati elections.  She is now Minister for Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs.  “It really is a better conversation when we have more balance in the voices available in developing solutions,” Ms Cross Kwansing says.   While the number of female politicians in the Pacific...

How Pacific men and boys are joining the fight against gender-based violence

Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic may be gaining popularity in Western countries, but in the Pacific, they’re not a viable solution, and experts say they’re not the right one either.  High costs and limited availability make these medications inaccessible for many Pacific communities. Instead, health leaders are calling for a grassroots approach focused on education and lifestyle change.  Countries s...

When Tongan woman Alisi Jack-Kaufusi was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at just 24-years-old, she was in disbelief. The subsequent surgeries and treatments have taken their toll, but, after seven years living with the disease, Alisi is passionate about sharing her story to help raise awareness of ovarian cancer and ensure it gets more resources into research, treatment and prevention.   This week's...

Women are the backbone of society in Papua New Guinea, but when it comes to who has the power to make big decisions, particularly around resources, it's the men who dominate this space. Women are often excluded, dismissed or told to focus on domestic chores. But more and more organisations are actively working with women to empower them with leadership skills to help address climate change. This w...

For arts scholar and curator, Aunty Sana Reana Balai, living as part of the Pacific Island diaspora in Australia offered her new opportunities – and challenges. Carving out a new life abroad where she rarely saw other Pacific Islanders, Aunty shares stories on how she kept herself grounded and connected to culture, whilst removed from her beloved homeland of Buka Island, in Bougainville. And how h...