Gallery: PNG women’s sport stories receive global acclaim

A documentary film and radio story about Papua New Guinea’s first national women’s rugby league team, the Orchids, are receiving international recognition for shining a light on the social impact of women’s sport and fostering community discussion about gender-based violence and female leadership.

Both media projects were supported by the Australian Government through the Pacific Sports Partnerships programme and are bringing the stories of Pacific women’s sport to new, global audiences.

ABC journalist Aaron Kearney’s radio report, Orchids Bloom, recently picked up the silver medal for audio storytelling at the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) Sports Media Awards in Switzerland, while Power Meri (Powerful Women), a documentary feature film about the Orchids, was selected for the prestigious Oceania International Film Festival (FIFO) in Tahiti this month and will be screening across Australia and PNG in March for International Women’s Day.