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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89 episodes
Updated Oct 10, 2023

Episodes89

Newest first

Mar 7, 2021 · 14 min
Oodgeroo Noonuccal — the girl who fought for the rights of Indigenous Australians
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
Sep 27, 2020 · 8 min
Ash Barty — the girl who became number one
Whack! Ash Barty was four years old when she hit a powerful shot at the head of her tennis coach. He said she wasn’t old enough to play but he saw how determined she was. Since then, she’s whacked millions of tennis balls and travelled away from home for months at a time to practice and play. Until, finally, she became the number one female tennis player in the whole world. Written and narrated by 11-year-old Ciara Whitehouse.
Sep 27, 2020 · 8 min
Catherine Hamlin — the girl who helped the women that no one else would
When a woman has a baby, sometimes things can go wrong. When you are in a poor country, those things often don't get fixed. Dr Catherine Hamlin saw these women needed help and decided to do something about it. She devoted her life to working in the poorest villages in Ethiopia saving thousands of women's lives. She did it all with kindness and determination. Written and narrated by eight-year-old Eliza Naftzger.
Sep 27, 2020 · 8 min
Nova Peris — the girl who won gold in two sports then got elected to parliament
You know those girls who are great at sport? That was Nova. She practised hockey endlessly in her backyard until one day she became the first Indigenous woman to win an Olympic gold medal but she wasn't finished. She went on to win a gold medal in sprinting, and then took her courage and energy into politics, becoming Australia's first Indigenous woman to be elected to Federal Parliament. Written and narrated by 10-year-old Sibella Collins.
Sep 27, 2020 · 7 min
Dorothea MacKellar — the girl who wrote poems and broke all the rules
Dorothea loved to write. So much, that she would write stories and poems in her own secret code. She had a passion for the beauty of the Australian landscape, and her poetry was so good that people all over the world read it. Dorothea wrote one of Australia's most famous poems — My Country. Written and narrated by nine-year-old Amalia MacKellar.
Sep 27, 2020 · 11 min
Rhiannan Iffland — the girl who overcame her fears and became a world champion cliff diver
Have you ever stood on a 10m diving board and peered down? It's a long way. Rhiannan Iffland, world champion cliff diver, leaps off at least double that! That's taller than a telephone pole and as big as a Brachiosaurus. But it's not easy. She had to conquer her fears to become the best. Written and narrated by 10-year-old Evie Bond.
Sep 27, 2020 · 7 min
Adelaide Miethke — the girl who used radio to teach kids from the bush
Asthma stopped Adelaide Miethke from playing outside with other kids. She felt alone and trapped. So when she grew up and became a teacher, she had an idea. Adelaide realised that outback kids were isolated just like she was. She invented the School of the Air to teach kids from the bush using a two-way radio! Then she fought boldly for female teachers to get the same pay as male teachers. Written and narrated by nine-year-old Ellua Boyd.
Sep 20, 2020 · 1 min
INTRODUCING — Fierce Girls Series 5
We asked you to send us stories of your Fierce Girls, and a mountain of magnificent stories hit our inbox! So this International Day of the Girl Child, October 11, you’ll hear six inspiring stories written by Fierce listeners just like you.
Mar 7, 2020 · 2 min
PRESENTS — The Fierce Girls competition is back!
Would you like to be part of Fierce Girls? Well...get writing! We're running a competition for our Fierce listeners and we're on the hunt for amazing stories about Australian Fierce Girls!
Dec 5, 2019 · 17 min
Bindi Irwin — the girl who is fighting to save the planet
Bindi was only eight-years-old when she said goodbye to her hero, her dad — Steve Irwin. She did it in front of millions of people all over the world who were watching his funeral. Even though it was the saddest time of her life, Bindi decided that she would carry on her dad’s dream. To "save one, save the species" and help all the animals of the world. Narrated by Australia’s first female Governor-General, Dame Quentin Bryce.
Nov 28, 2019 · 14 min
Fanny Finch — the girl who voted
Fanny Finch was an orphan who ended up in Castlemaine during the Victorian goldrush. She was a single mother of four, and a savvy businesswoman who ran a successful restaurant feeding the hungry fossickers. Fanny thought it was unfair that only men got to vote for who would be in charge, so one day, she cast her own vote. Narrated by teacher, historian, and Fanny’s great, great, great granddaughter, Alice Garner.
Nov 21, 2019 · 16 min
Jackie French — the girl with dyslexia who became a famous author
Jackie French could read entire novels by the time she was three years old. But when she arrived at school, letters appeared back to front, and maths equations were gobbledegook. Jackie was confused, but it didn't stop her from reading, writing, or coming up with astonishingly creative tales. Jackie read everything in sight, and then decided to write her own stories. Now, she has written more than 200 books, sold millions of copies, has spread the joy of reading far and wide, and she never plans
Nov 14, 2019 · 14 min
Dr Abigail Allwood — the girl who looks for life on Mars
Abigail Allwood never thought she'd be a scientist. In fact, she was terrible at science when she was at school. Now, she is searching for life on Mars! She’s the boss of a whole team of NASA scientists who are sending a robot she designed into space. How did she do it? Turns out there’s a universe of possibilities out there ... as long as you reach for the stars. Narrated by Australia’s first female foreign minister Julie Bishop
Nov 7, 2019 · 18 min
Dame Nellie Melba — the girl who became the world’s most famous singer
Nellie's singing and humming around the house used to drive her dad crazy. But she always wanted to be a professional performer. She sailed to Europe to chase her dream and became the greatest opera singer in the world. She demanded to be paid exactly what a world-famous opera singer was worth — lots — and raised enormous amounts of money for charity. Narrated by singer-songwriter Dami Im.
Oct 31, 2019 · 12 min
Mary MacKillop — the girl who became a saint
Mary MacKillop is Australia's first saint. She had a dream to educate poor kids and she fiercely stood up against powerful priests for what she thought was right. Narrated by star of Little Lunch and Home and Away actor Olivia Deeble.
Oct 24, 2019 · 15 min
Alyssa Azar — the girl who climbed the world’s highest mountains
When Alyssa Azar was eight-years-old, she decided she wanted to climb Mt Everest. She trained for years and years, through wind, cold, rain, and snow. And finally, at 19-years-old, she was ready. She faced an avalanche, an earthquake, and the world’s most dangerous place — the "death zone". But still, Alyssa didn’t let anything stop her in her quest to be on top of the world. Narrated by gold-medal winning Paralympic swimmer, Ellie Cole.
Oct 17, 2019 · 13 min
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. Mary Ann was the bushranger's spy, riding ahead into towns to check for police. She 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.
Oct 10, 2019 · 14 min
Tayla Harris — the girl who kicked goals against internet trolls
As a young girl, Tayla Harris was the only girl on the football field. It didn't stop her though, she kicked butt and fought hard for her place. Now, she's a star AFLW player and a champion boxer. But her most important fight of all was against internet trolls. When Tayla was bullied savagely online for doing her job, she took a brave stand — one that will go down in history. Narrated by musician and singer, Amy Shark.
Sep 19, 2019 · 18 min
Sabre Norris — the girl who shreds waves and skate parks
Sabre Norris was just nine years old when she landed a skateboard trick no other Australian girl had ever done — the 540. She's not just a fierce skateboarder though — Sabre is also a brilliant surfer. She's refusing to let ill health stand in her way of being the best in the world — so keep your eye out for her in the skateboarding at the 2020 Olympics! Narrated by actor Claudia Karvan.
Sep 12, 2019 · 3 min
Introducing — Fierce Girls series four
What do rad surfer and skater, Sabre Norris, world-famous opera singer Dame Nellie Melba and star AFL player Tayla Harris have in common? They're FIERCE! And their stories are going to be told in a brand-new series of Fierce Girls. Fierce Girls tells the stories of extraordinary Australian women read by other fierce ones like actors Yael Stone and Claudia Karvan, singer Amy Shark and Australia's first-ever female Governor-General Dame Quentin Bryce. Subscribe now to hear new Fierce Girls from S