Sistas, Let's Talk

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 Institute.

On Sistas Let's Talk, Natasha Meten speaks to Matilda Sweman about educating girls, working with limited resources and thanking her father for sending her to school.

This week's episode of Sistas, Let's Talk is a repeat of the show broadcast on 28th November 2024

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 her yearning to see other Black people led her to an Olympic legend.

This week's episode of Sistas, Let's Talk is a repeat of the show broadcast on 5th December 2024

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. 

But the better people understand neurodivergence and accept the behaviours that come with the conditions, the easier life will be for families.  

Join Sistas Let’s Talk host Natasha Meten on ABC Radio Australia, as she speaks to three women about neurodivergence.  

Mother Betty Kolose-Pulefolau, whose adult son has autism, Fijian psychiatrist Violet Esarito and special education teacher Paulia Wingi.

This edition of Sistas Let's Talk was a repeat of the program broadcast on 4th December 2025

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 to. The one who holds the family together, carries traditions, settles disputes and offers wisdom when it's needed most.  

So what does it mean to be seen as a matriarch, what responsibilities come with that role and what does it cost the women who carry it? 

On Sistas Let's Talk, Natasha Meten talks to three women from across the Pacific and the diaspora about what being a matriarch means to them.  

They are Teaote Davies from Kiribati, Mele Sisi Finefeuiaki from Tonga and Papua New Guinean Moale James Proud.  

Listen on ABC Radio Australia.

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 Talk, Natasha Meten explores the shared sense of connection, respect and belonging that couples have despite their cultural differences.  

She speaks to Pauline Dorney from Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands Māori woman Mari Unuia Sanga and Fijian Finau Vulivuli about how bringing together different cultures can come with its own unique joys, challenges and lessons along the way. 

Listen on ABC Radio Australia. 

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 perspectives on relationships, health, family and identity. 

On Sistas Let’s Talk Natasha Meten speaks with three women about the realities of midlife – what excites them, what challenges them and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.    

She’s joined by Berthadene Keki Ale, 46, Emilihter Kihleng, 44, and Arah Ecke, who is in her 50s, for a candid discussion about aging, resilience and embracing new chapters. 

Listen on ABC Radio Australia.

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 traditional Pacific dishes that our guests have been making since childhood.  

Natasha Meten speaks to Aunty Rangi Mitaera-Johnson from Cook Islands and Tongan-born 'Ana Seini Ma'ilei Savio from Aotearoa, while Faleagafulu Inga Stünzner and her daughter Stella Matauiau prepare a bowl of oka.  

Listen on ABC Radio Australia.

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 stories career ambitions, family responsibilities, self-discovery and the realities of adulthood.  

From learning to let go of the need for external validation to embracing failure as an opportunity for growth, their experiences highlight the confidence and clarity that often comes with age.  

Host Natasha Meten speaks to Dolores Kamang, 39, an agricultural worker; Estelle Walters, 34, an entrepreneur; and Maureen “Moe” Orea, 32, a radio executive, about the lessons they’ve learned and the perspectives they’ve gained along the way.  

Listen on ABC Radio Australia. 

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 Gubba Juru woman Professor Jackie Huggins, an historian, author and lifelong advocate for Indigenous rights. As a child, Jackie questioned why her people’s history was left out of the classroom. Today, she is one of Australia’s first Indigenous historians, dedicated to telling the truth of First Nations history. 

Listen on ABC Radio Australia 

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 Sistas Let’s Talk, Natasha Meten meets three women navigating this journey, exploring what they’ve achieved, their hopes for the future, and how cultural expectations have evolved since becoming adults.  

They are Papua New Guinea Young Professional Women Network founder Shivonnie Sakme, Aotearoa-based writer Taualofa Totua, and Fijian Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion Officer Sabina Moce.  

Listen on ABC Radio Australia.