Sistas, Let's Talk

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...

Matilda Sweman thinks deeply about education. Particularly for girls in Papua New Guinea. That's because she went to school just after her country gained independence, at a time when very few girls were being educated. She went on to become a primary school teacher in the East Sepik region for almost two decades, and now she's an author and a lecturer in teaching at the Papua New Guinea Education...

Women are increasingly becoming targets in sorcery accusation-related violence, and one woman has made it her life's mission to stamp it out.  This week's episode of Sistas, Let's Talk is a repeat of the show broadcast on 28th September 2022

When you educate a woman you educate a nation, however, in many parts of the Pacific it's still difficult to access a good education, because of distance, or the cost, or even family obligations. And when parents have to choose whether their sons or daughters will go to school, girls are still missing out. Fortunately, that is changing as more young parents are graduating from high school and univ...

Having time off after giving birth not only gives new mums time to physically recover and bond with their baby, but it has significant health, economic and community impacts. This week's episode of Sistas, Let's Talk is a repeat of the show broadcast on 27th February 2025

Our Pacific cultures are based on the community – and when it comes to meting out justice, customary law is often recognised within the legal system. This is where the whole family or village takes collective responsibility for an offender's actions and seeks to right the wrong directly with the victim and the victim's family. In fact, it's from these traditions that restorative justice has grown...

Are more and more Pacific women getting off the sidelines and into the game? What drives them? How is sport an escape from the challenges they face as women? How important is it for girls in the Pacific to get involved in sport? We meet women from a range of countries, clubs and initiatives to learn about the opportunities created by sport, the barriers women and girls face in participation and th...

The urohs – a skirt with intricate embroidery – has cultural and economic significance to the women of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. This passion is shared by many of us women across the Pacific, whether it's a mu'u mu'u, a meri blouse, a puletasi or an island dress. This clothing was introduced by missionaries for so-called modesty, but since then women have embraced it and made...

The Pacific region, has some of the highest rates of gender-based abuse in the world. Far too many women suffer physical and sexual violence at the hands of a family member or a former spouse. But domestic abuse is not just physical. It can come in the form of emotional abuse — like controlling behaviour, isolation, and insults intended to damage a woman's state of mind. This week on Sistas Let's...

Grandmothers are not only a great source of wisdom and traditional knowledge, they also play a nurturing and vital role in our lives. This week's episode of Sistas, Let's Talk is a repeat of the show broadcast on 6th February 2025

When the only social security available is the extended family, women can be left financially vulnerable with the death or divorce of their husband.  This week's episode of Sistas, Let's Talk is a repeat of the show broadcast on 16th November 2022

While the film industry is notoriously difficult for women and people of colour to break into, there are female filmmakers from the Pacific using the medium to tell important and beautiful Pacific stories. This week's episode of Sistas, Let's Talk is a repeat of the show broadcast on 16th January 2025

Most women suffer from period pain, but the majority simply push through it. How different would women’s lives be if they gave period pain the care and treatment it deserves.  This week's episode of Sistas, Let's Talk is a repeat of the show broadcast on 7th September 2023

In the Marshall Islands, a baby turning one is a big celebration. It’s known as the kemem. The occasion is usually marked with a big gathering with lots of food and entertainment, perhaps a live band or a DJ along with traditional singing. There can be themes, rides and t-shirts bearing the baby’s face plus gifts for all the guests. But this tradition comes from an important place. Sistas, Let’s T...

Hilda Wayne explores why fewer Pacific Island women are using birth control today. This week's episode of Sistas, Let's Talk is a repeat of the show broadcast on 6th April 2022