Sistas, Let's Talk

How do you improve communication in Pacific families with the aim of preventing domestic violence? Carol Kuisma and her daughter Jessica are Tongan women living in Australia. They have developed a set of cards aimed at...

For Indonesian human rights lawyer and activist Veronica Koman, exile from her home country isn't enough to stop her from speaking out about Indonesia's rule over West Papua. Veronica received a humanitarian award for...

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...

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...

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...

Many women across the Pacific would not necessarily call themselves a matriarch. But their children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or community might. A matriarch is often the eldest daughter. The person everyone turns...

Love doesn't follow rules or boundaries. In a diverse society, it often brings together people from different cultural backgrounds, creating relationships that can be as enriching as they are complex. On Sistas Let's...

For many Pacific women, their 40s and 50s can be a transformative time marked by wisdom, confidence and self-discovery. With lived experience comes a clearer understanding of what truly matters, bringing fresh...

For many Pacific women, traditional dishes are more than just food, they are a connection to family, culture and identity. From island trevally to oka to the classic chop suey, Sistas Let’s Talk is celebrating the...

Turning 30 can feel like standing at a crossroads, caught between who you were and who you want to become. In this episode of Sistas Let's Talk, three Papua New Guinean women reflect on life in their 30s, sharing candid...

Sistas Let’s Talk usually celebrates remarkable women from across the Pacific, but this NAIDOC Week, the focus turns to one of Australia’s most respected Aboriginal elders. Natasha Meten sits down with Bidjara and Birri...

The transition to adulthood is an exciting time of life, shaped by both opportunity and expectation. From planning careers to taking on new responsibilities, life in your 20s can bring big changes and challenges. On...

Theonila Roka Matbob grew up surrounded by the toxic legacy of Panguna mine in central Bougainville. Now a politician and human rights advocate, she refused to accept the damage left behind. Mobilising her community...

Adoption in the Pacific is very different from the way it’s done in other countries. If children aren’t being raised by their birth parents, there are aunties, uncles or grandparents who will take them in. But for...

For many communities across the Pacific, the impact of Cyclone Maila is still being felt long after the winds and rain have passed. At least 25 people lost their lives, but behind that number are families trying to...