Sistas, Let's Talk

From Nafanua, the Samoan goddess of war, to ending a civil war in Bougainville – the power of women is without a doubt embedded in Pacific history. But when you hear the word ‘chief’, do you still think of a man? Let’s blow the stereotype out of the water and meet the women across the Pacific who hold this rank and those who have stood in their traditional power, despite the impacts of colonisatio...

What do you know about perimenopause? I would guess not very much. And that’s because we never speak about it – and that’s not just in the Pacific. It’s worldwide. But Sistas, Let’s Talk is going to break it down for you and find out everything you need to know about the changes our bodies can go through in the lead up to menopause…. As well as why it’s so important to know about them.

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...

When Moemoana Schwenke took to the stage for her talent at Miss Samoa 2023, she had the crowd roaring. Not only did she perform the siva afi – a fire knife dance normally performed by men – but she did it to The Prodigy’s Fire Starter – and she told the legend of Nafanua, the Goddess of War. This is what you call breaking stereotypes. But she’s not the only young Pacific woman doing this on the pa...

Changes to Australia’s PALM scheme have been life-changing to many families across the Pacific. We’ve heard from women who have made the sacrifice for their families, signing up to contracts that can be as long as three years. For those in Australia, it is often a culture shock, lonely and isolating. But what is it like for those left behind? Pacific governments have raised concerns about the brai...

Work programs like the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme promise opportunities that can be really appealing.

As more people move away from their villages, from their extended families, from their elders, what happens to that special relationship between a grandmother and grandchild? 

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. 

Sistas, Let’s Talk is a show for women across the Pacific region.

Dame Meg Taylor and the artist inspired by her legacy 

Sistas, Let’s Talk is a show for women across the Pacific region.

Sistas, Let’s Talk is a show for women across the Pacific region.

Sistas, Let’s Talk is a show for women across the Pacific region.

In the Pacific, talking about sex is a big taboo topic – but clear and open discussions can benefit everyone. 

Sistas, Let’s Talk is a show for women across the Pacific region.

Sistas, Let’s Talk is a show for women across the Pacific region.

From giving up a corporate gig to making a personal brand international to growing vanilla: social media has helped these Pacific women do it all

Sistas, Let’s Talk is a show for women across the Pacific region.

The best chance of survival from breast cancer is with early diagnosis, so you can receive life-saving treatment, but this doesn't happen for many Pacific women. 

Sistas, Let’s Talk is a show for women across the Pacific region.

It's easier than ever to test for the virus that causes cervical cancer and more screening programs means fewer women will die from this preventable cancer.

Over 87 episodes of Sistas, Let's Talk, women across the Pacific have shared their stories about health, lifestyle and culture.

Financial literacy is something many of us grapple with, but meet the Pacific women meeting this head on and changing their lives 

Women now make up almost half of the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia since the church began ordaining women in the 1970s.  

Giving birth isn't always straightforward, and sometimes things can go wrong.  But a growing movement of pregnant women and midwives across Papua New Guinea are educating themselves via social media to reduce the rates of birth trauma.