Fierce Girls

ABC Australia

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.

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20 episodes
Updated Oct 10, 2023

Episodes20

Newest first

Oct 10, 2023 · 12 min
Chloe Hayden – the girl who put autism in the spotlight
Chloe had always felt like a bit of an alien. She just didn't really get most other kids, and they didn't get her either. When she learned she was autistic, she started writing about the world through her eyes, and she found lots of fans who had similar brains. But when she took on a role never seen before on a teen TV show, she helped autistic people feel seen for who they really are. Written and narrated by 14-year-old Eva Tigten-Knott.
Oct 10, 2023 · 9 min
Naomi Moran – the girl who came through for her community in a crisis
What would you do if your town was flooded? Newspaper boss Naomi Moran didn't just chase the story, she made headlines herself! She rallied together a workforce to keep her community sheltered and fed after some major floods. But this was nothing new for Naomi, she's been giving back her whole life. Written and narrated by 10-year-old Anouk Hockings.
Oct 10, 2023 · 7 min
Jade Hameister – the girl who skied to the top and bottom of the world
Jade Hameister's thirst for adventure in the toughest environments was unquenchable — while other girls were playing with dolls, Jade was scaling mountains! When she was 14, she dreamt of completing a Polar Hat Trick – a title won by skiing to the North Pole, South Pole, and across Greenland. No one her age had done it before, but Jade was not deterred. Even if she couldn't yet ski, she would find a way to make history. Written and narrated by 12-year-old Amelia Phillips
Oct 10, 2023 · 7 min
Allirra Jennings – the girl who ran in every major marathon
When her grandmother lost her life to diabetes, Allirra was determined not to let the same thing happen to her. She picked up her running shoes and hit the pavement. While she started running to get healthy, she quickly set her sights on the ultimate challenge — becoming the first Indigenous woman to finish all six of the World Marathon Majors. Narrated by 14-year-old Maddie Dixon.
Oct 10, 2023 · 10 min
Donna Adams – the girl who became Tasmania’s first female police commissioner
When Donna started working as a police officer, her station didn't even have women's toilets. Now, she runs the whole force! How did one of the very few women in Tasmania Police end up leading the most gender-equal police force in Australia? Donna showed grit, compassion and strength in the face of the state's toughest tragedy, the Port Arthur Massacre. Narrated by 10-year-old Olivia Lai.
Jul 9, 2023 · 6 min
Marita Cheng — the girl who built robots, and helped other girls build them too
When Marita was little, she thought robots could change the world, or at least do the dishes for her! But not many other girls thought the same. So, Marita started Robogals, a club to show girls they could work in robotics when they grew up. It started a global revolution. Written and narrated by 11-year-old Yashica Chauhan.
Jul 9, 2023 · 6 min
Michelle Payne — the girl who raced the Melbourne Cup and won
Tragedy followed Michelle Payne around, but she never gave up on her dream of winning the race that stops the nation — the Melbourne Cup. Every time she fell off her horse, she got back on. Every broken bone and family loss pushed Michelle to pick up the reins. Until one Tuesday in November, she made history. Written and narrated by 12-year-old Claire Lee.
Jul 9, 2023 · 6 min
Taryn Brumfitt — the girl who broke social media's standards
Scrolling on social media might make you feel like you need to have the perfect body, and Taryn Brumfitt was sick of the pressure! After becoming a champion bodybuilder didn't make her love her body, she decided to change the conversation about body image online and help every person to embrace every body at every size. Written and narrated by 13-year-old Josie Dicker.
Jul 9, 2023 · 7 min
Elizabeth Kenny — the girl whose unlikely treatment helped people with polio
Elizabeth Kenny grew up in a time when women were rarely educated, so naturally, she trained herself to be a nurse. When her patients with polio were struggling with the pain of their treatment, she thought outside the box and came up with a new way to help them – The Kenny Method. Doctors saw her as an outsider, but Elizabeth stuck to her guns and eased the pain of people in need. Written and narrated by nine-year-old Josie Davies.
Jul 9, 2023 · 8 min
Alma Mary Wang — the girl who spoke up for Chinese people in Australia
Growing up Chinese Australian under the White Australia Policy was tough, but Mary wouldn't be underestimated. She became the first-known Chinese Australian to get a university degree and used her smarts to speak up for Chinese migrant families who were being kept apart by the government. She moved to China to work as a journalist and diplomat, but when she wanted to come back to Australia after World War 2, she wasn't allowed to bring her family back home. This wasn't good enough, so she pushed
Jul 2, 2023 · 1 min
INTRODUCING – Fierce Girls Season 10
We asked for your Fierce Girls stories, and wow, you delivered! You'll hear inspiring stories by Fierce listeners just like you about a polar explorer, a jockey, a marathon runner, and a robotics pioneer just to name a few! You'll hear five of the best stories spun by listeners on July 10, and another five on October 11, for International Day of The Girl.
Jun 29, 2022 · 11 min
NAIDOC – Faith Thomas: the girl who became the first indigenous person to play cricket for Australia
Faith Thomas grew up throwing rocks at galahs. She'd only been playing proper cricket for a couple of weeks before she was picked to represent South Australia. Her phenomenal stats made headlines. So, it was no great surprise when Faith got called up to represent Australia against England in Brisbane. When she stepped onto the Gabba cricket ground, she became the first Aboriginal person to play on any Australian team… not just cricket. But cricket was just a game to Faith. So, not long after t
Jun 29, 2022 · 15 min
NAIDOC – Yukultji Napangati: the girl who made her world shimmer
Yukultji Napangati grew up with no contact with the outside world. Just her and her family, living on a shimmery salt lake. She learned how to live on Country, how to find food, water, and shelter. She was a particularly great hunter. When she turned 14, everything changed. She saw her first other humans, and saw a car for the first time. She had been brought to live with other people from her mob, and here she found out she was really good at something else too, painting. It used to be men’s on
Jun 29, 2022 · 14 min
NAIDOC – Queenie McKenzie: the girl who became a living treasure
Queenie McKenzie grew up on a cattle station, staying away from the grasps of the authorities, who would take Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids like her from their families at will. As she grew up, she solved problems everywhere she saw them. From building schools and teaching kids in her community, to saving a man’s life by repairing his scalp stitch by stitch. But deep down, she wanted to tell the stories of her Country. To preserve their importance. She started painting in her 70
Jun 29, 2022 · 13 min
NAIDOC – Oodgeroo Noonuccal: the girl who fought for the rights of her people
When Kath Ruska's dad told her white people would never recognise Aboriginal culture, she hoped he was wrong. She became a famous poet, using her pen as a weapon to fight for Indigenous rights. Her words took her all the way to Parliament House, where she demanded the Prime Minister do more to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. But she still had an English name, so she changed it to Aboriginal language -Oodgeroo, meaning paper bark, and Noonuccal, the name of her tr
Jun 29, 2022 · 12 min
NAIDOC – Mary Ann Bugg: the girl who became a fierce bushranger
Mary Ann Bugg was an Aboriginal woman who became a savvy bushranger and accomplice to Captain Thunderbolt. She was the bushranger's spy, riding ahead into towns to check for police. She also used her bush skills to gather and hunt food for the group of bushrangers she rode with. Mary Ann used her first-class education and stunning beauty to fool the troopers and avoid being caught. Narrated by singer-songwriter Thelma Plum.
Jun 29, 2022 · 8 min
NAIDOC — Molly Kelly: the girl who followed the rabbit-proof fence home
Molly Kelly had a white father and an Aboriginal mother and was just a young girl when she was taken from her home. She was stolen from her family and taken to a settlement where white people hoped to stamp out her Aboriginality. But Molly escaped and walked one thousand miles home to her family, using a rabbit-proof fence as her guide. Written and narrated by twelve-year-old Ruby Macheda. If you’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, we want to let you know that this episode
Jun 29, 2022 · 15 min
NAIDOC – Daisy Bindi: the girl who fought for more
Daisy Bindi couldn't understand why her boss paid wages to the white workers, but not to her. She was no different to them. And neither were all the other Aboriginal workers who were being treated like slaves. In 1946 Daisy decided enough was enough. She helped lead a three-year strike which won Aboriginal workers fairer pay and better working conditions. Narrated by singer, actor and radio presenter Christine Anu. Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners are advised that
Jun 24, 2022 · 3 min
INTRODUCING — Fierce Girls Celebrates NAIDOC Week
Fierce Girls is celebrating First Nations women who Get Up! Stand Up and Show Up! As Australia celebrates NAIDOC week in July, we're putting the spotlight on seven fierce Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
Apr 4, 2022 · 18 min
Mum Shirl – the girl who became a mum to thousands
Coleen Shirley Perry had a heart of gold. So when she went to visit her brother in jail, she saw something that few people saw. Instead of seeing baddies, she saw people who needed compassion, and someone to listen to their problems. Soon she was visiting lots of other prisoners. And every time the prison authorities stopped her, or questioned her, she said the same thing: 'I'm his mum.' She became known as Mum Shirl. Word spread about how she could help, and this prominent Wiradjuri woman beca