Fierce Girls
Kids & Family
About
From athletes to aviators, scientists to spies. From the deep blue sea to the dark, black skies. Australia is full of girls who dare to do things differently. Adventurous girls. Brave women. Trailblazing women. Girls with guts and spirit. You know what they are? They're FIERCE. And these are their stories. Perfect for all kids 6-12.
Episodes
- INTRODUCING Wait... They Did What!?
This episode introduces "Wait... They Did What!?", a podcast where comedian Tilly Oddy-Black explores historical events and practices. It covers topics like historical norms around fireworks, bikinis, leeches, and seatbelts.
- Chloe Hayden – the girl who put autism in the spotlight
Chloe Hayden, who identifies as autistic, shares her journey of feeling like an outsider and how learning about her diagnosis led her to write about her experiences. Her advocacy, including a significant role on a teen TV show, aimed to in…
- Naomi Moran – the girl who came through for her community in a crisis
Naomi Moran, featured on Fierce Girls, became a headline herself by organizing community support during floods, ensuring shelter and food. This effort reflects her lifelong dedication to service, as narrated by 10-year-old Anouk Hockings.
- Jade Hameister – the girl who skied to the top and bottom of the world
The podcast episode "Jade Hameister – the girl who skied to the top and bottom of the world" on the show Fierce Girls details Jade Hameister's ambition to complete a Polar Hat Trick before she was 16. Despite not knowing how to ski at 14,…
- Allirra Jennings – the girl who ran in every major marathon
Allirra Jennings aims to be the first Indigenous woman to complete the six World Marathon Majors. Motivated by her grandmother's death from diabetes, she started running to improve her health and pursue this challenging goal.
- Donna Adams – the girl who became Tasmania’s first female police commissioner
Donna Adams rose from a police officer in a station lacking women's toilets to become Tasmania's first female police commissioner. She led the force with grit, compassion, and strength, notably during the Port Arthur Massacre, overseeing A…
- Marita Cheng — the girl who built robots, and helped other girls build them too
Marita Cheng, inspired by a childhood love for robots, founded Robogals to encourage girls' participation in robotics. Her initiative sparked a global movement.
- Michelle Payne — the girl who raced the Melbourne Cup and won
This episode tells the story of Michelle Payne, who pursued her dream of winning the Melbourne Cup despite facing personal tragedies and physical injuries. Narrated by 12-year-old Claire Lee, it highlights Payne's resilience in making raci…
- Taryn Brumfitt — the girl who broke social media's standards
13-year-old Josie Dicker narrates this Fierce Girls episode about Taryn Brumfitt, who advocates for body positivity online. Brumfitt aims to change the conversation around body image, encouraging acceptance of all bodies regardless of size.
- Elizabeth Kenny — the girl whose unlikely treatment helped people with polio
Fierce Girls features an episode on Elizabeth Kenny, who self-taught nursing and developed the Kenny Method to alleviate pain for polio patients. Despite being an outsider, her innovative approach helped many.
- Alma Mary Wang — the girl who spoke up for Chinese people in Australia
Alma Mary Wang, a Chinese Australian woman, became the first known to graduate university and championed the rights of Chinese migrant families. Despite her later diplomatic work and desire to return to Australia after WWII, she faced rest…
- INTRODUCING – Fierce Girls Season 10
Fierce Girls Season 10 features listener-submitted stories about diverse achievements, including those of a polar explorer, jockey, marathon runner, and robotics pioneer. More stories will be featured on International Day of The Girl.
- NAIDOC – Faith Thomas: the girl who became the first indigenous person to play cricket for Australia
The episode details the remarkable story of Faith Thomas, the first Aboriginal person to represent Australia in cricket. It highlights her rapid rise in the sport and her subsequent dedication to a career as a nurse.
- NAIDOC – Yukultji Napangati: the girl who made her world shimmer
Yukultji Napangati lived in isolation, learning survival skills and becoming a hunter. Upon encountering the outside world, she discovered a talent for painting, developing a unique style that made her art shimmer, gaining international re…
- NAIDOC – Queenie McKenzie: the girl who became a living treasure
The episode tells the story of Queenie McKenzie, who grew up on a cattle station, became a community leader, and began painting in her 70s, becoming the first woman in her community to do so.
- NAIDOC – Oodgeroo Noonuccal: the girl who fought for the rights of her people
This episode tells the story of Oodgeroo Noonuccal, born Kath Ruska, who used her poetry to advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights. She changed her name to Oodgeroo Noonuccal and dedicated herself to teaching Indigenous…
- NAIDOC – Mary Ann Bugg: the girl who became a fierce bushranger
Mary Ann Bugg was an Aboriginal bushranger and accomplice to Captain Thunderbolt, acting as a spy and using her bushcraft and education to avoid troopers. The episode is narrated by Thelma Plum.
- NAIDOC — Molly Kelly: the girl who followed the rabbit-proof fence home
Molly Kelly was taken from her Aboriginal mother by her white father as a child. She escaped a settlement and walked 1000 miles home using the rabbit-proof fence. This episode is written and narrated by Ruby Macheda.
- NAIDOC – Daisy Bindi: the girl who fought for more
Fierce Girls features Daisy Bindi, who protested unequal wages in 1946. She co-led a three-year strike that resulted in improved pay and conditions for Aboriginal workers. The episode is narrated by Christine Anu.
- INTRODUCING — Fierce Girls Celebrates NAIDOC Week
In celebration of NAIDOC Week, the Fierce Girls podcast highlights seven Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who Get Up! Stand Up! and Show Up!
- Mum Shirl – the girl who became a mum to thousands
This episode tells the story of Mum Shirl (Coleen Shirley Perry), a Wiradjuri woman who became a mother figure to thousands. She provided compassion and support to prisoners, the homeless, children, and Indigenous Australians, establishing…
- Meru Sheel — the girl who is a disease detective
Dr. Meru Sheel is a disease detective, also known as a field epidemiologist, who works to stop infectious disease outbreaks. Growing up in India, she was inspired to help those affected by illnesses like polio and tuberculosis. Her work on…
- Melanie Perkins — The girl who created a unicorn
Melanie Perkins, narrator Rae Johnston explains, founded the billion-dollar graphic design company Canva after noticing the complexity of existing software. She developed an easier solution, facing significant rejection in Silicon Valley b…
- Daphne Hilton (Ceeney) — the girl who dominated the Paralympics
Daphne Ceeney, left paraplegic after a horse-riding accident, defied doctors' predictions to become the first Australian woman at the Paralympics, winning numerous medals. Narrated by Jessica Gallagher.
- Valerie Taylor — the girl who swam with sharks
This episode of Fierce Girls features Valerie Taylor, a pioneering shark conservationist and adventurer who swam with sharks to change public perception and protect them. Narrated by freediver Amber Bourke, the story includes her work on t…
- INTRODUCING — Fierce Girls Season 8
Fierce Girls is launching Season 8 on International Women's Day. This season will feature new stories and narrators highlighting adventurous and innovative Australian girls.
- Nora Heysen – the girl who never stopped painting
This episode discusses Nora Heysen, a talented young artist whose painting skills were initially overshadowed by her father. She moved to London to forge her own artistic identity but faced criticism from male teachers and critics.
- Mirka Mora – the girl who painted the town red
Mirka Mora, an artist who narrowly escaped a death camp as a child, was forever haunted by the faces of those she left behind. Her experiences profoundly influenced her artistic expression.
- Yukultji Napangati – the girl who made her world shimmer
Yukultji Napangati is featured for her upbringing in isolation with her family on a salt lake. She learned essential survival skills for living on Country, including finding food, water, and shelter, and excelled as a hunter.
- Marion Mahony Griffin – the girl who designed her dream city
The episode discusses Marion Mahony Griffin, who was raised in a natural environment and went on to design her ideal city.
- Queenie McKenzie – the girl who became a living treasure
Queenie McKenzie grew up on a cattle station, avoiding authorities who were known to take Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. She became recognized as a living treasure.
- INTRODUCING – Fierce Girls Season 7
Fierce Girls Season 7 features stories of five extraordinary Australian women artists. This season focuses on women in the art world, coinciding with International Day Of The Girl Child on October 11.
- Jean Robertson and Kathleen Howell — the girls who drove into the history books
Jean Robertson and Kathleen Howell learned to drive and taught each other when it was uncommon for women to do so. They later drove across Australia and set land speed records. The episode is narrated by Pia Miranda.
- Julia Gillard — the girl who became Australian Prime Minister
This episode of Fierce Girls celebrates trailblazing women in Australian politics, focusing on Julia Gillard. It covers her journey from being a student to becoming Australia's first female Prime Minister.
- Edith Cowan — the girl who changed the rules
This episode celebrates Edith Cowan, the first woman elected to Australian Parliament 100 years ago. Driven by personal hardship, she championed better treatment for women and children, and her face now appears on the Australian 50 dollar…
- Andrea Boyd — the girl who became the voice of space
Andrea Boyd, inspired by Star Trek and a love for the sky, became the sole Australian flight controller for the International Space Station. She later championed the creation of the Australian Space Agency.
- Caroline Buchanan — the story of the girl who became a world champion BMX bandit
The podcast episode details the journey of Caroline Buchanan, a BMX and mountain biking world champion. Despite facing significant challenges, including her brother's severe injury and Olympic setbacks, she persevered to achieve her goals…
- Faith Thomas — the girl who became the first Indigenous person to play cricket for Australia
The episode tells the story of Faith Thomas, the first Aboriginal person to represent Australia in cricket. Despite her quick rise to fame and phenomenal stats, she later left the sport to pursue a career as a nurse.
- Nyadol Nyuon — the girl who gave refugees a voice
Nyadol Nyuon, born in a refugee camp, overcame doubters to become a lawyer in Australia. She now uses her voice to advocate for refugees, particularly when the media unfairly targets African youths.
- Madeline Stuart — the girl who conquered the modelling world
This episode of Fierce Girls follows the story of Madeline Stuart, a model with Down Syndrome who pursued a career in the fashion industry. Narrated by Kate Mulvany, the episode explores her journey to walking in runways across the world.
- Celeste Barber — the girl whose photos took the world by storm
Celeste Barber pursued comedy and acting before finding international fame on Instagram. During the 2019-20 bushfires, she launched a successful fundraiser, raising $50 million for the New South Wales RFS Brigades Donation Fund.
- Oodgeroo Noonuccal — the girl who fought for the rights of Indigenous Australians
Oodgeroo Noonuccal, formerly Kath Ruska, used poetry to advocate for Indigenous Australian rights. She addressed Parliament and later taught Indigenous culture to children of all backgrounds on Minjerribah.
- Ash Barty — the girl who became number one
This episode tells the story of Ash Barty, who started playing tennis at age four and became the world's number one female tennis player. The story is written and narrated by 11-year-old Ciara Whitehouse.
- Catherine Hamlin — the girl who helped the women that no one else would
Dr. Catherine Hamlin dedicated her life to assisting women in Ethiopia facing complications from childbirth, especially in impoverished regions. Her work, driven by kindness and determination, saved thousands of lives. The episode is writt…
- Nova Peris — the girl who won gold in two sports then got elected to parliament
Nova Peris achieved historic milestones by becoming the first Indigenous Australian woman to win an Olympic gold medal in hockey, followed by a gold in sprinting. She transitioned her dedication to politics, serving as the first Indigenous…
- Dorothea MacKellar — the girl who wrote poems and broke all the rules
Dorothea MacKellar, featured in this episode of Fierce Girls, was a passionate writer who penned poetry in a secret code. Her verses celebrated the Australian landscape, earning her global recognition and inspiring one of Australia's most…
- Rhiannan Iffland — the girl who overcame her fears and became a world champion cliff diver
Rhiannan Iffland, a world champion cliff diver, achieved success by overcoming her fears. She dives from heights of at least 10 meters, a feat narrated by 10-year-old Evie Bond.
- Adelaide Miethke — the girl who used radio to teach kids from the bush
Adelaide Miethke, facing isolation due to asthma, invented the School of the Air using two-way radio to teach isolated children in the Australian bush. She also advocated for equal pay for female teachers.
- INTRODUCING — Fierce Girls Series 5
This episode of Fierce Girls, Series 5, shares six inspiring stories submitted by listeners to celebrate International Day of the Girl Child on October 11.
- PRESENTS — The Fierce Girls competition is back!
Fierce Girls is launching a competition inviting listeners to write and submit stories about Australian Fierce Girls.