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

Apr 4, 2019 · 7 min
Turia Pitt – the girl who had everything to live for
Turia Pitt was running a 100 kilometre ultra-marathon in the outback when she was caught in a bushfire. Turia was really badly burnt, spent months in hospital, and was told she would never run again. But she was determined to prove the doctors wrong, because Turia knew that she could do anything if she just believed in herself. Written and narrated by thirteen-year-old Donna Peari.
Mar 28, 2019 · 7 min
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 cont
Mar 21, 2019 · 6 min
Irene Szoeke – the girl who was born in a prison
Irene Szoeke had an incredibly tough start to life — she was born in a prison camp during World War II. She was one of the lucky ones — Irene and her family survived the war and later found a home in Australia. As she grew, Irene worked hard and asked big questions. So when an amazing new invention came to her work — a computer — Irene was the perfect person for the job. Written and narrated by eight-year-old Ariana Szoeke-Campbell.
Mar 14, 2019 · 9 min
Andrea Hah – the girl who climbed big rocks
Andrea Hah started to climb some of the biggest, toughest rocks in Australia better and faster than the boys. And that’s when she knew rock climbing was the sport for her. But when Ninja Warrior came to Australia, she just had to put her strength to the ultimate test. Written and narrated by thirteen-year-old Lily Geach.
Mar 8, 2019 · 8 min
Sam Kerr – the girl who became a football superstar
When Sam Kerr was a kid she spent hours upon hours kicking a soccer ball in the back yard of her suburban Perth house, dreaming of becoming an international football superstar. But how does an average kid from Australia make it big on the international stage? Practice. And more practice. Sam did so much practice she became the youngest person to ever represent Australia in football. Written and narrated by nine-year-old Maia Kelly.
Feb 26, 2019 · 1 min
INTRODUCING – Fierce Girls Series 3
We asked you to send us your stories of Fierce Girls, and woah did you deliver! Next week, on International Women’s Day, you’ll hear the first of five amazing stories written by Fierce Girl listeners just like you.
Nov 28, 2018 · 13 min
Margaret Olley — the girl who painted masterpieces
Margaret Olley was a bit of a rebel who was often in trouble at school. But she loved to paint and found beauty in the everyday things around her. Margaret became one of Australia’s most loved artists and her paintings are famous around the world. Narrated by actor and producer Deborra-lee Furness.
Nov 21, 2018 · 22 min
Julia Gillard — the girl who became Australian Prime Minister
At school Julia Gillard’s least favourite subject was Home Economics. The teachers told her she’d need it one day, but Julia wasn’t so sure. She had her mind firmly set on a career. First she was a lawyer, then a politician and later she became Australia’s first female Prime Minister. Narrated by author and journalist Tracey Spicer.
Nov 15, 2018 · 21 min
Helen Reddy — the girl who roared
I am woman hear me roar in numbers too big to ignore! Singer Helen Reddy was tired of hearing women sing about boyfriends and husbands, so she wrote a song about strong, independent women. Her song, I Am Woman, struck a chord and became an anthem for women around the world. Narrated by conservationist Madison Stewart, aka Shark Girl.
Nov 7, 2018 · 15 min
Veena Sahajwalla — the girl who turned trash into treasure
As a girl growing up in Mumbai, Veena Sahajwalla loved seeing how people reused all the rubbish. When she grew up, she became an engineer and a waste warrior determined to find new ways of turning mountains of trash into treasure. Narrated by the host of Behind The News Amelia Moseley.
Oct 31, 2018 · 15 min
Pam O’Neill — the girl who broke through horse racing barriers
Pam O’Neill grew up loving horse racing. There was just one problem — girls weren’t allowed to be jockeys. Pam thought that was ridiculous, so wrote hundreds of letters to racing bosses until she was allowed to become Australia’s first female licensed jockey. Narrated by Olympic swimmer Cate Campbell.
Oct 24, 2018 · 15 min
Gabi Hollows — the girl who helped others see
When she was a kid Gabi Hollows needed an operation to fix her crossed eyes. As a grown up she kept fixing eyes — just not her own. So far Gabi has helped more than two million people across the world regain their sight. Narrated by Australian ballet dancer, Ella Havelka.
Oct 17, 2018
Susan Alberti — the girl who kicked the biggest goal
Susan Alberti loved playing AFL when she was a kid, but had to hang up her footy boots when her dad told her it was too rough to play with the boys. She didn’t think it was fair that girls were relegated to the sidelines. So she made it her mission to start a national Women’s AFL competition and get girls off the bench and onto the field where they belonged. Narrated by journalist, TV and radio presenter and founder of the Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer Foundation, Carrie Bickmore.
Oct 10, 2018 · 16 min
Layne Beachley — the girl who ruled the waves
Surfer Layne Beachley grew up when girls were expected to sit on the beach and mind the boy’s towels. Layne ignored that ridiculous rule and became the best female surfer in the world — seven times! Narrated by Olympic gold medal winning hurdler and World Champion Sally Pearson.
Oct 10, 2018 · 21 min
Evonne Goolagong Cawley — the girl who conquered Wimbledon
Evonne Goolagong Cawley's first tennis racquet was a broomstick. Her second was a wooden paddle. It didn't hold her back. Evonne became the best tennis player in the world winning 14 grand slams and Wimbledon twice. Narrated by actor, writer and director Leah Purcell. Archival audio: BBC.
Oct 10, 2018 · 7 min
Lillian Armfield — the girl who fought the baddies
When Lillian Armfield became a police officer in 1915, do you know what her bosses armed her with? A handbag! She caught plenty of crooks with it though. Lillian became Australia’s first female detective and paved the way for thousands of women to follow her into the force. Narrated by comedian, writer and singer Em Rusciano.
Oct 1, 2018 · 2 min
INTRODUCING — new episodes of Fierce Girls
Fierce Girls is back for another season next week. All new stories, all new narrators, all still totally fierce.
Apr 30, 2018 · 14 min
Ruby Payne-Scott — the girl who listened to the stars
In the 1940s when Ruby Payne Scott went to university she was the only girl in her class. Back then, you could count the number of female physicists in the entire country on one hand. Ruby was super smart but she struggled to get a job because blokes thought women belonged at home. Not Ruby — she once used a bent coat hanger, some plugs and a few bits and bobs to tune in to the noises of the galaxy — something nobody had ever done before. It’s no wonder she went on to become one of Australia’s m
Apr 23, 2018 · 10 min
Edith Cowan — the girl who changed the rules
When Edith Cowan was a girl, her mum died and her father was sentenced to death for murder. She knew hardship ... and it drove her to get a better deal for women and children who were then treated like second class citizens. She took her fight all the way to Parliament House in Perth when she became the very first woman in Australia to be elected. If you turn over a 50 dollar note, you’ll see Edith’s strong and determined face staring right back at you. Narrated by the mighty journalist Leig
Apr 16, 2018 · 16 min
Nancy Bird-Walton — the girl who loved to fly
When she was just four years old, Nancy Bird-Walton already knew what she wanted to do with her life — fly. She saved her pocket money to pay for lessons and her own aeroplane ... and before long people were paying her to fly them across the country. Nancy was the first woman in Australia to get paid to be a pilot. Today, the A380 is the biggest passenger plane in the world — and if you look into the sky you might just see one that’s called Nancy Bird-Walton. Narrated by singer and producer