Sistas, Let's Talk

Debbie Kaore was a well-known athlete in Papua New Guinea, but behind the scenes she was one of the many women in her country going through domestic violence. When her partner hit her with a hot iron she let her friends share a video of her injuries. Debbie tells Natasha Meten on Sistas Let's Talk why she wanted the world to know what she was going through.

Getting to the Olympics is no easy feat. Especially when you're from Pacific Island nations that don't always have the professional sporting facilities and funding to support you in your training. We meet three women who dedicated their time and efforts to achieve excellence in sport and at the same time, have pushed the boundaries and narratives of the role of women in their countries. Hear from Yuri Hosei, a swimmer from Palau, Ellie Enock a parathlete shot-putter from Vanuatu and Leonie Beu a sprinter from Papua New Guinea.

Growing up in the Pacific Island culture, one of the many commandments we have to live by is to respect our elders. At times this means dealing with certain members of family that we just have to tolerate for the rest of our lives - - our overbearing aunties.But, of course, we do more than just, tolerate them. We adore them, we look up to them, and we love them. And most of all, we obey them. ABC broadcasters Seiuli Salamasina von Reiche and Agnes Tupou share what made their aunties so special and how being an aunty has shaped them.

The internet and social media have changed our lives in so many ways. It's connected us to communities and family, helped us express ourselves and share our stories. But there’s also a dark side to using social media that can be unsafe for women. Hear how we can use the internet to grow and connect and at the same time tackle online abuse.

This week we’ve selected some of our favourite episodes that celebrate women taking the lead and doing amazing things for themselves and their communities.

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.

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.

We discuss the power of self care and community support to help you escape violence and create a path that's healthier and safer.

Women face many challenges, but there are many across the Pacific making it in business and leadership

Florence Swamy's job is to build peace, ranging from working with relocated climate-affected communities to dealing with violence in villages and working with Fiji's military.

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.

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

This edition of Sista's Let's Talk was a repeat of the program broadcast on 28th September 2023 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 brain drain and there are the personal costs too. We hear anecdotally of women being abandoned by their husbands – or those husbands finding another partner overseas. In Fiji and Vanuatu, there are reports of children being abandoned. So while there may be money flowing in, what are the societal and economic impacts at home? And what are communities doing to ensure the PALM scheme doesn’t drive families apart or leave communities and local businesses in the lurch?

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

Facing stigma can be one of the hardest battles for single mothers, along with financial hardship and lack of family support. Being accepted by their family or community can make a huge difference for single mothers. On Sistas Let's Talk, Natasha Meten speaks to mothers who have raised their children without a partner and want to share their stories so that women like them don't have to feel so alone.

When the Bougainville conflict erupted in 1988, Rose Pihei was living away from her village on the south of the island. After the crisis – which led to killed 20000 people and saw many more displaced – Rose saw the crucial role women played in rebuilding their communities. Inspired to create lasting change, she co-founded the Bougainville Women's Federation, empowering women and fostering peace in the region. Rose speaks to Natasha Meten on Sistas Let's Talk about the future for women in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

Child protection workers in the Pacific are seeing increased reports of child abuse including sexual abuse. According to a recent study by Save the Children, more than, 80% of the child protection workers who were surveyed in Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Fiji said emotional, physical and sexual violence had increased or significantly increased in their country. When it comes to sexual violence in the Pacific, the majority of reported victims under 16 are girls, and the perpetrator is someone they know. When atrocities happen too often in a community, people don't feel that they have the power to stop them. Sistas Let's Talk examines what it will take for communities to work together to bring an end to child abuse?

The Pacific corporate world still has a long way to go when it comes to being inclusive and supportive of both neurodivergence and mental health. It's an issue Samoan sisters Olisana Mariner-Hughes and Okalani-Mariner are addressing through their business Onelook Studio: a social enterprise helping companies with their digital transformation. But they're also addressing inclusion on a more personal level. They're sharing their own lived experiences with a touch of island humour on Instagram and TikTok, to connect with the neurodiverse community and raise awareness.