Women on the Line

This week, we turn to Western Sahara, often referred to as the last colony in Africa and one of the most overlooked frontlines of imperial power. In the wake of the UN Security Council’s 31 October resolution, which lends weight to Morocco’s autonomy plan and extends the MINURSO mandate (which has been extended annually since 1991), we examine what this means for Sahrawi self-determination. This m...

This week on the program we examine the distressing news that Queensland’s LNP State Government has doubled down on their ban on young people seeking access to gender affirming care. The ban on accessing puberty blockers and hormone treatment for new adolescent patients in the public health system was initially put in place in January this year, and on October 28 was immediately reinstated by the...

On this episode of Women on the Line we covering the latest update on Treaty in Victoria. We hear from Sue-Ann, Wurundjeri and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman,  who is the Deputy Chair And Commissioner of the Yoorrook Justice Commission. She delivered a speech at the Women’s Rights at Work Conference Held at Vic Trades Hall on Friday 5 September. Her speech covers how union members can play a vital rol...

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners are advised that the following program contains references to colonial violence. If you need to speak to someone about the issues covered in the show, you can contact:13 YARN on 13 92 76 - a dedicated 24/7 national crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PeoplesYarning Safe'n'Strong on 1800 959 563 - a free and confidential 24-h...

We are dedicating this special episode to the Shuhada, the martyrs of Gaza. On 7 October 2025, the Palestinian community in Victoria gathered to mourn and honour those killed by Israel, and to speak truth against silence and erasure. We take you to that vigil, the commemoration in honour of Gaza and Palestine in Naarm/Melbourne. We hear from women who hold that grief and resistance in their voices...

On this episode of Women on the Line we chat with Huong Truong and Lily Vu about their upcoming workshop for ViệtSpeak as well as the importance of Vietnamese language, bilingual education, language diversity and community organising tactics. Huong Truong is a grassroots organiser and former Greens MP. Lily Vu is part of the ViệtSpeak Committee.  The workshop will be held on Sunday 26 October in F...

On this week's episde we speak to Munanjahli and South Sea Islander woman, Professor Chelsea Watego, about her new book, Black Thoughts Matter: Essays on Black Love, Black Power and Black Joy. Providing critical context to some of the groundbreaking essays published across a range of digital platforms, ‘Black thoughts matter’ honours the Black thinkers that have shaped Watego’s intellectual and po...

On this episode of Women on the Line we hear from Emma Valente, one of the co-artistic directors of the RABBLE. Emma talks to us about their new Fringe Festival show, UNWOMAN (the protest), a durational artwork celebrating the multitude of experiences around birth, fertility and pregnancy. If you want to be a part of the show and share your experience, go here. Emma and the RABBLE will support you...

This week, we hear from researcher and activist Dr. Sadia Agsous-Bienstein, recorded at a teach-in hosted at the Institute of Postcolonial Studies in Naarm/Melbourne. Sadia speaks on the erased histories of Arab–Jewish solidarities and their meaning in the current moment of genocide in Gaza, perpetrated by Israel and its Zionist footsoldiers — including descendants of Jewish communities of North A...

Today we hear from Dr Samah Jabr, a Palestinian psychiatrist living in Jerusalem who recently visited Australia for the first time to tour her new book, Radiance in Pain and Resilience: The Global Reverberation of Palestinian Historical Trauma. We spoke with Dr Jabr shortly ahead of a lecture and panel discussion organised by the Shifa Project held at RMIT on August 17.The event was MCed by Nasser...

 On this episode of Women on the Line we chat with 44 Flats United (44FU) are a group of residents, former residents and supporters of public housing, organising against the Victorian State Government's decision to demolish the 44 high-rise commission flats and a growing number of walkups across Narrm (Melbourne). They are guided by the principle that not one person should be left worse off becaus...

On this week’s episode we look into big tech companies - their complicity in war, their pervasive use of surveillance and data, and the impacts this is having on us as individuals, as artists, and as communities. Our first conversation is with Cher Tan, an essayist and critic whose written work has been published widely. Cher delves into the dark side of Spotify; its ties to the military-industria...

Today we hear speeches from the Convergence on Canberra which took place from 20-22 July. More than a thousand people from across so-called Australia gathered outside Parliament House to demand that the Federal Government impose sanctions on Israel in response to the state’s ongoing genocide of Palestinians. There were over 24 speakers across the Convergence, today we hear from Amal Naser, Leah Ho...

On this episode of Women on the Line we hear from Thaan, founder of Wholistik Permaculture, a social enterprise based in Chiang Mai, Thailand that aims to connect people with nature and create an alternative to living within capitalism. Thaan talks to us about the importance of permaculture, building sustainably, creating safe queer spaces in nature, educating children and families about sustainab...

In the first half of the show, we bring you speeches from the “Future Fund Invests in Genocide” rally held on June 26 in Naarm/Melbourne. We hear from Jaimie Jeffrey, who is a member of the No Aukus Vic and Elbit Out of Vic campaigns, as well as Romina Beitseen, an Iranian unionist and peace campaigner with the Campaign for International Cooperation and Disarmament. In the second half, sound artis...

On this episode of Women on the Line we chat with scholar Carolyn D’Cruz and librarian and archivist Clare O’Hanlon, who are speaking at the Researching Our Culture talk as part of Q-Lit, Victoria's premier LGBTQIA+ literature festival. We chat about gender in academia and the archives as well as transphobia and the manosphere.  The Researching our Culture talk will bring together leading research...

On this episode of Women on the Line we chat with Maxine Chi (Chai) who is a contributor to the Our Story: Aboriginal – Chinese people in Australia, an exhibition that has been curated by Zhou Xiaoping and held at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra until 27 January 2026. Maxine is a Bardi Aboriginal woman who has Chinese, Japanese and Scottish ancestry. She was born in Broome, Western Au...

On this week’s program we speak to Genevieve Grieves and Wejdan Shamala about their project, Motherhood in the Colony. Genevieve is a proud Worimi woman and respected artist, educator, field builder, film director and oral historian. She is also the co-Creator and Creative Director of GARUWA, First-Nations owned and led storytelling agency. Wejdan is a Palestinian woman, whose family is from Gaza...

On this episode of Women on the Line, we speak to Burmese artist Yim about her book The Story of Rice, a colouring book that preserves traditional Burmese farming methods. We also speak with Lisa, Yim's friend, translator and founder and owner of Free Bird Cafe in Chiang Mai, Thailand, about her work supporting Burmese refugees. Follow Yim's work on Instagram: @littlebrightcnx - you can also DM he...

On this week’s program, we hear from Bee and Rory about the targeting of Asian-migrant sex workers, increased raids committed by Australian Border Force through Operation Inglenook, and the ongoing violence and surveillance of street-based sex workers. First, we’ll hear a conversation with Bee on 3CR’s Tuesday Breakfast. Bee is a migrant sex worker, outreach peer support worker for women of cultur...

On this episode of Women on the Line, we speak with Thinzar Shunlei Yi, an award winning Myanmar Democracy Activist well-known for her public advocacy against Military supremacism and oppressive systems for ethnic and religious minorities. Shunlei tells us about military rule in Myanmar, the devastating impacts of the recent earthquake, the added threats of being a feminist activist, and her work...

In this episode, we speak with Jeju-based peace activist Sung-Hee Choi, who has spent more than 15 years resisting U.S. militarism, weapons manufacturing, and the construction of a naval base on Jeju Island, South Korea. Sung-Hee is a board member of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space and a participant in the Pacific Peace Network. She speaks with us about the long legac...

On today’s show we are marking Trans Day of Visibility (31st of March). We will be hearing snippets of a rich conversation between 3CR’s Sally Goldner and Aisya Zaharin. Aisya is a trans advocate from Meanjin Brisbane and is currently in Narrm as a special guest for the Women’s Iftar hosted by Queer Muslim Narrm and Trans Sisters United. She has also been a strong advocate for trans youth in Queen...

On this week’s episode, we bring you speeches from the snap action for Poccum’s Law - Bail Saves Lives that took place outside Parliament House in Narrm on Tuesday 18th March 2025. We hear from Nina, a member of Formerly Incarcerated Girls Justice Advocates Melbourne (FIGJAM) and then from Sarah Schwartz, Legal Director of the Democratic Freedoms team at the Human Rights Law Centre. Later in the e...

Avika is a regenerative farmer in Chiang Mai, Thailand, passionate about regenerating soil. She works with farmers across the country to make regenerative farming tools and techniques more accessible. In this episode of Women on the Line we hear from Avika about combating the climate crisis through regenerative farming, the role of women in sustainable farming, the links between corporate farming...