Walter Nkemfack was born in Southern Cameroons.  He is the founder and organiser of the African Diaspora Sunshine Coast and is a member of the Sunshine Coast Council Multicultural Advisory Group. His vision is to create more programs and opportunities that support the Multicultural community on the Sunshine Coast. In the podcast, Walter discusses his experiences of racism, including the psychological impacts.  Walter stresses the importance of raising awareness of the prevalence of racism and helping community members to build skills through “Active Bystander Training” to address racist attitudes and behaviours.   This project is proudly supported by the Sunshine Coast Council’s grants program

David Hollinsworth is an Adjunct Professor in the Indigenous Studies at the University of the Sunshine Coast.  David taught Indigenous studies and anti-racism at the University of South Australia from 1979 - 1997 and at the University of the Sunshine Coast from 2003 - 2019.  David is a member of the Sunshine Coast Multicultural Advisory Group. In the podcast David discusses his book Race and Racism in Australia and systemic racism. David speaks about facilitating Active Bystander Training to prevent racism, in collaboration with Nambour Community Centre, ways to discuss racism with friends, family and colleagues and how to speak up when confronted with racism.  David also talks about the importance of creating a more inclusive and welcoming Sunshine Coast.   This project is proudly supported by the Sunshine Coast Council’s grants program.

Sachiko is from Japan, and her journey to Australia started in 1987. She worked in Victoria teaching Japanese in a school. Eventually, she met her Australian husband and got married. She ensured that her children are bilingual and able to converse in English and Japanese when she returned to Japan, where she stayed for 23 years.  If you are in immediate danger, please call 000 and ask for the Police. DV Connect’s Women's line is a 24-hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, crisis response telephone helpline for Queenslanders who want to escape domestic violence.  Please call them on 1800 811 811. This project was funded by Queensland Government.  It aims to help people recognise, respond and prevent domestic and family violence.

Agnes is from the Philippines and came to Australia with her ex-husband in January 2009. She was unaware that she was experiencing domestic and Family violence. From her cultural perspective, Domestic and Family Violence is normal growing up in the Philippines, and it openly happens to most households. She worked hard to be an Aged Care nurse, and she enjoys working in the field as it correlates with her family values and social connection to her culture. Agnes shares her story on the podcast. If you are in immediate danger, please call 000 and ask for the Police. DV Connect’s Women's line is a 24-hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, crisis response telephone helpline for Queenslanders who want to escape domestic violence.  Please call them on 1800 811 811. This project was funded by Queensland Government.  It aims to help people recognise, respond and prevent domestic and family violence.

Nancy is from Guyana, South America. She grew up in one of the roughest parts of the country, surrounded by poverty and violence. Her parents worked hard with a strong focus on her education for a better life. Nancy studied medical science for a few years but moved to England due to her country’s instability. Unable to complete her medical degree due to the high cost as an international student, she pursued Pharmacy. She later married and had her son. After being in a toxic and abusive marriage for many years, she separated and moved with her son for a new beginning and a better lifestyle in Australia. Nancy shares her personal and cultural perspectives on Domestic and Family Violence. If you are in immediate danger, please call 000 and ask for the Police. DV Connect’s Women's line is a 24-hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, crisis response telephone helpline for Queenslanders who want to escape domestic violence.  Please call them on 1800 811 811. This project was funded by Queensland Government.  It aims to help people recognise, respond and prevent domestic and family violence.

CJ left Belgium, her birth country, 28 years ago and settled in London to learn the English language. She married and moved to Australia in 2004 with her then-husband and their 4-month-old first child. CJ recounts the start of an exceptionally long and exhausting journey from being a domestic violence survivor to being a free and happy woman. CJ currently works as a Learning & Development Coordinator on the Sunshine Coast. If you are in immediate danger, please call 000 and ask for the Police. DV Connect’s Women's line is a 24-hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, crisis response telephone helpline for Queenslanders who want to escape domestic violence.  Please call them on 1800 811 811. This project was funded by Queensland Government.  It aims to help people recognise, respond and prevent domestic and family violence.

Vicki is an Australian permanent resident and identifies culturally as Chinese. She has several roles under her belt. Vicki works part-time as a registered nurse. She is the former founding president and current executive committee member of the Sunshine Coast Chinese Association (SCCA) and a member of the council's Multicultural Advisory Group and the Community Action for a Multicultural Society (CAMS) program at Nambour Community Center. Vicki shares her personal and cultural perspectives on Domestic and Family violence. If you are in immediate danger, please call 000 and ask for the Police. DV Connect’s Women's line is a 24-hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, crisis response telephone helpline for Queenslanders who want to escape domestic violence.  Please call them on 1800 811 811. This project was funded by Queensland Government.  It aims to help people recognise, respond and prevent domestic and family violence.

Ranu is of Papua New Guinea Australian Descent, born in Papua New Guinea and now living in Australia Queensland.  Ranu is an educator and an artist. As an educator, Ranu has 30 years of experience as an Early Childhood Professional. As an artist, Ranu is a dancer, classical musician, performer and ‘maker’. In more recent years, Ranu has shared her skills in making Bilum and other traditional weaving skills and exhibited some of her artistic creations. The Bilum is unique to Papua New Guinea and is commonly used by Papua New Guinean women to carry babies, take vegetables to the market, as handbags and is also used to create clothing, in particular, the ‘bilum dress’. Ranu shares her personal and cultural perspective on Domestic and Family Violence. If you are in immediate danger, please call 000 and ask for the Police. DV Connect’s Women's line is a 24-hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, crisis response telephone helpline for Queenslanders who want to escape domestic violence.  Please call them on 1800 811 811. This project was funded by Queensland Government.  It aims to help people recognise, respond and prevent domestic and family violence.

Alishba was born into a middle-class Muslim family in Karachi, Pakistan. She came to Australia in 2019 to do her Masters and is currently working as a family counsellor in Gympie. She advocates and provides support in her role as a family counsellor. Alishba provides her personal and cultural perspectives on Domestic and Family Violence. If you are in immediate danger, please call 000 and ask for the Police. DV Connect’s Women's line is a 24-hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, crisis response telephone helpline for Queenslanders who want to escape domestic violence.  Please call them on 1800 811 811. This project was funded by Queensland Government.  It aims to help people recognise, respond and prevent domestic and family violence.

Jen has experience with insecure housing, living out of her van for a period of time. She is now involved in a range of community groups that help women find a stable place to live. She believes grassroots organisations and groups have the power to find solutions to the housing crisis.

Božidara grew up during the cold war which saw her living under communist rule in Czechoslovakia. This meant Božidara didn't see or experience homelessness until moving overseas. Since realising how hard it is to find adequate housing and work here in Australia, Božidara has had her perspective changed and is now advocating for more safe and adequate community housing.

Violet has been through many ups and downs. She has lived out of her car with her children, moving around to find safety. All the while she never stopped trying to build a career, care for her family, and secure housing for herself and her family. With her ancestors on her side, Violet's story is one of relentless determination and hope.

Fiona's life was turned upside down after an incident at her workplace left her with PTSD and anxiety, causing a marriage breakdown. Fiona was left with no job and nowhere to go. Having two masters degrees in education and social work, Fiona never would have expected to be living out of a bus often fearing for her safety. With her companion dog by her side, Fiona's story is one of resilience and determination to restore dignity in the lives of women who are homeless.

Billy is a resilient woman, originally from New Zealand, with a passion for art. Billy's experience with domestic violence meant leaving a toxic marriage and the home she owned with her husband. Insufficient public housing on the Sunshine Coast has meant that Billy's been at risk of homelessness for the last 2.5 years. Moving between different temporary accommodations, some that at times were triggering and unsafe for Billy, she is determined to find solutions for the housing crisis on the Sunshine Coast.

Jacqui is a beautiful, gentle soul who grew up in Western Queensland, attended boarding school, went to art college in Sydney in the 50's, is mother to three children and owned her own home. In recent times, seeking secure accommodation for Jacqui and her son became difficult, so much that Jacqui became homeless for the best part of 2019, spending her time couch surfing with friends and acquaintances.

After growing up in a Christian family in America, Lindsey sought connection to her Native lineage & a broader sense of the world through travelling & humanitarian work overseas. She arrived in Australia in 2012, eventually falling pregnant in a domestic violent relationship in 2020 and fled to the Sunshine Coast just before giving birth. Lindsey experienced ongoing housing insecurity while also being welcomed and supported by the local community. She is gratefully building a new life for herself & her child.

Meet Carolita a dynamic and inspiring woman from Chile. Our conversation weaves through indigenous connection to country, stories from her homeland, childhood racism in Melbourne, saving and regenerating bushland and holding a spiritual connection to two countries.

Liss grew up in Venezuela in the 70's and 80's - in a small village, with relative wealth compared to others. Life was relatively carefree, full of fun and community. She studied childcare, worked and over time, understood and noticed the eroding community and political situation unfolding in her country. She moved to Australia and eventually made her home on the Sunshine Coast.

Ayyaz tells the story of his childhood in Pakistan, listening to conversations with his fathers political and business associates, life in the village, reflections on his country, religion and culture. He also shares about moving to Australia, mental health and his migrant journey in Queensland.

Saravuth was born in 1975 on the side of the road in Cambodia when his family was travelling from the city to the country during the Khmer Rouge regime.  Saravuth shares stories of incredible loss, resilience and those of strength and triumph of the human spirit. His journey includes life in the camps during the Khmer Rouge regime, working as a social worker with the street kids of Phnom Penh, winning a National Award, mental health, domestic violence and life on the Sunshine Coast.