Storytelling promoting new ways forward in research and social impact

A new podcast pilot, Access All Areas: Abortion in Australia, is set to launch, amplifying voices from marginalized communities to spark dialogue and inspire policy change.

Despite abortion being legal in Australia, most services are still accessed through costly private providers, leaving many, particularly those facing disadvantage, with limited options.

The podcast, developed by a multidisciplinary team from regional NSW and Sydney, aims to tackle these barriers directly.

The team includes audio documentary maker Lea Redfern (Media and Communications), social policy expert Professor Sue Goodwin (Education and Social Work), and reproductive health researcher Dr. Anna Noonan (Sydney School of Rural Health).

Their goal is to make abortion care accessible to all by harnessing the power of storytelling.

“Storytelling is such an important method because what you start to hear in stories are things that you would never hear if you looked at a data set,” Dr. Noonan said.

“You start to understand context, the complexity of the ways different types of disadvantage intersect.”

The project has involved traveling across regional NSW to collect personal stories from those most impacted by abortion access challenges, including young people seeking care.

“Podcasting is a natural form for topics that involve social taboos, privacy, and stigma—such as abortion,” Redfern explains,

“There is a degree of anonymity, which allows for greater freedom in the telling and directness in the listening.”

Capturing these stories has provided crucial insight into the personal struggles of those affected by limited access to abortion services.

This storytelling format fosters a safe and intimate space for sharing experiences.

“The intersection of challenging taboos and personal testimony is a powerful combination in podcasting. It’s an intimate form of communication where voices are carried directly to the listener,” says Redfern.

Mentorship has played a pivotal role in the project's success, with Professor Goodwin ensuring students and early-career researchers are actively involved in recording and editing the podcast.

This hands-on experience has enriched their learning and career prospects.

“Speaking directly with people has really solidified the importance of this project, the reach and potential it has to permeate people’s lives and advocate for better,” says Domina Augustine, an HDR Social Work student.

“The people I’ve spoken to were shocked by the state of access in Australia, which has really ignited the need for collective action.”

The podcast’s design centers on the voices of young people, driving the narrative and enriching the research insights.

Dr. Noonan credits the team for bringing critical theoretical and social justice perspectives to the project’s exploration of “invisible populations” and the barriers they face in accessing abortion care.

Through the Research Impact Accelerator, the project was able to support Social Work honours student Isabella Compton to attend the 2024 Children By Choice Reproductive Rights and Abortion Conference, where Dr Noonan was presenting on ‘Challenges and Innovations in Rural Reproductive Health.

Reflecting on her experience, Compton says, “The conference was very informative, driven by amazing advocates across Australia fighting for access to healthcare, including abortion.”

Compton also had the chance to pitch the Access All Areas podcast to key stakeholders.

“Everyone loved the idea of the podcast,” she said.

“It is absolutely needed. Seeing people’s faces light up when I introduced it was incredible.”

Set to launch by the end of 2024, the podcast will feature a 10-episode miniseries focusing on diverse issues related to abortion access, such as challenges faced by international students, migrants, refugees, and others outside of Medicare.

In the meantime, the team will be participating in an upcoming SSSHARC Huddle on podcasting as research.

“Storytelling is empowering,” Dr. Noonan said.

“It helps make abortion something we can talk about. It normalizes access to abortion as part of mainstream healthcare for anyone who needs or wants it.”

For more information about the Access All Areas project, contact sssharc.ria@sydney.edu.au.