“I generally don’t know how women do it,” she admits.
“I work full time … most women do, and even the ones that don’t, that are at home looking after another one, it’s so taxing already,” she says.
“I’ve been full steam ahead, I run my own company, I’ve got 130 people that work for me … I’m also trying to plan Bell’s 30th, which is next week, and fit in being pretty active,” she explains.
Moana’s wife, Isabella Carlstrom, whom she refers to as ‘Bell’, gave birth to their first daughter, Svea Hope Carlstrom, in November 2020.
The pair are also full-time carers to Moana’s sister, Vinny, who was born with Moebius syndrome.
Vinny refers to Svea as her sister, meaning it’s really a third sibling on the way for the family.
“[Svea] and Vinny interacting is so beautiful … Vinny talks to people as one, she doesn’t talk to a kid as a kid, or an adult, an adult – she just talks to everyone the same way,” Moana says of her sister.
Both Vinny and Svea are thrilled that the brood is growing.
“In terms of Svea knowing that she has a little tiny baby coming, it’s very cute. If I say to her ‘where’s the baby?’, she lifts up my top and points to my stomach and kisses it. So, it’s very, very cute,” Moana gushes.
While they chose to honour Isabella’s Swedish heritage when they named Svea, Moana reveals that this time they’ll name the baby with a nod to New Zealand, given they are both “half-Kiwi”.
“We don’t know which name we’re going with yet, but the names that we have selected are Māori names,” she reveals.
“I guess we will pick when the little one comes … that’s what we’re going with for this one, so that way we’ve got one of each.”
But she did also admit to a hope to have one more baby if circumstances allow.
“At this stage, we want three, we can fit three in the car with me, I’ve got a seven-seater,” she laughs.
“We’re going to see how we go with two and potentially have a third one in a couple years.”
Growing up as one of 14 kids, Moana knew she wanted to have a big family of her own.
“For me personally, I grew up in housing commission in Broadmeadows, sometimes not being able to afford to eat,” she says
“I loved my childhood, wouldn’t change it for the world because it just taught me so much, and I’m so appreciative for my parents, but I kind of want to be the parent that made sure, you know, her kids never, ever have to struggle, or see struggle, or miss a meal,” she reveals.
“[Family] is like my number one thing in life, and that’s why I’ve always said and will say, family will always come first… I quit footy to start a family, and I’ll always choose family, because there’s nothing more important,” she says.
While family and football are among her many passions, Moana also loves to promote charities and those trying to make change for the better.
“I think the fact that charities are able to make a huge difference in so many people’s lives is unbelievable,” Moana says.
With Moana’s help, Vinny was able to create her own foundation, Vinspiration, which sells activewear and merchandise, donates its profits to various disability charities.
Moana is also currently working with Sunbites on their Good Fuel Fund, which encourages people to nominate a local charity hero for their chance to receive $25,000 donation for their charity. A charity is chosen every month to receive the donation.
“The business did some stats last year, which I was pretty taken aback by when I heard about it – last year, Australian donations to local charities were the lowest they've been in over 40 years,” Moana explains.
“We want to get people back out there and supporting their local charities … I was just like, I need to be a part of this,” Moana says.
“It’s so, so important.”
You can check out the Sunbites Good Fuel Fund and nominate a Local Charity Hero here.
