Had a great chat to a group of seven street-based sex workers as part of our series of consultations in preparation for Fiona Patten’s Sex Work Review.
The group was keen to see solicitation removed as a criminal offence. There were also suggestions that the City of Port Phillip should provide extra services, e.g. public toilets on certain streets in St Kilda: yet another reminder of how local government can play a constructive role in supporting sex workers.
Being sex workers ourselves enabled us to talk openly about issues that matter to other sex workers. The peer to peer model of service delivery makes so much sense in our industry. Meeting a new group of sex workers who were full of great ideas reminded us of why we volunteer so much of our time to this cause: it’s all about ensuring dignity and respect to our fellow sex workers.