2011-2012

Scarlet Road, Screening in NSW

Paradigm Pictures & Touching Base Inc invite you to a special fundraising screening of The Director’s Cut of Scarlet Road at the NSW Parliament Impassioned about freedom of sexual expression, Australian sex worker Rachel Wotton has become highly specialized in working with clients with disability. Rachel’s philosophy, that human touch and sexual intimacy can be some of the most therapeutic aspects to our existence, is making a dramatic impact on the lives of her clients. While Rachel’s clients give a glimpse into their sexual self-discovery, Scarlet Road follows Rachel as she strives to increase awareness and access to sexual expression for people with disability. Rachel is also an active campaigner for both policy makers and the general public to recognize that sex work is work. - Directed and co-produced by Catherine Scott - Produced by Pat Fiske - This event is being hosted by Cate Faehrmann MLC, NSW Greens - WEDNESDAY 2nd May 2012 - Venue: NSW Parliament Theatrette, Parliament of New South Wales, Macquarie St, Sydney, NSW - Start: 6.00pm for a 6.30 start Screening will be followed by a Q&A, including: - Rachel Wotton, - Denise Beckwith from People with Disability Aust’, - Saul Isbister, Touching Base Inc & - Guest Speaker Janelle Fawkes - CEO Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association. - Finish: 8.20pm Pre-booking of free tickets essential – please go to: www.trybooking.com/BIVN or phone 0424 591 409 All donations are greatly welcomed and can be made when booking tickets online - or on the day. Please note that unfortunately the NSW Parliament Theatrette is not particularly accessible, with only a couple of spaces available for people who use wheelchairs. So if you use a wheelchair please contact us to reserve your place. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Scarlet Alliance has a lunchtime symposium at the National Centre in HIV Social Research - 12th Social Research Conference on HIV, hepatitis C and related diseases to be held 12–13 April 2012 at The University of New South Wales, Sydney. The theme of the conference is silence and articulation. Delegates will be asked to consider what can and can’t be said about HIV, hepatitis C, drug use and sexual practices; i.e. what is seen as acceptable and unacceptable; and what such silences and articulations achieve and why.

Click Here to See The Program

Join us for hot sex over lunch by Scarlet Alliance - 12.15 (for a 12.30 start)– 1.15pm Thursday, 12th April, 2012

Interested in the hot topics on sex workers and sex? A diverse panel of sex worker speakers guide discussion - providing insight into HIV positive sex work, migrant and CALD and sex work practice and sex work policy in Australia. If you join us for this lively lunch interlude you will learn more about contemporary issues intermingled with analysis of current policy and its impact on sex workers work/sex practices. While evidence doesn’t inform policy on sex work legislation in Australia – policy, laws and policing practices are definitely impacting on work/sex practices. How do we maintain success in such a changeable policy space. This symposium comes at an important time for HIV and STI prevention in Australia as policy changes in 2012 threaten to shift the context of sex work. Large sectors of the sex work community are likely to be criminalised by the end of 2012 – creating a landscape never before seen in Australia. While sex workers are globally advocating for decriminalisation supported by research and WHO, UNAIDs etc it is likely to be reversed in NSW, one of the few examples of best practice regulation in our region. Lunch will be available in the symposium space so you won’t have to miss a moment as these and more emerging issues are traversed.

Other Sex Work related oral presentations at the conference -

Sex work (Proffered papers) - Chair: Elena Jeffreys 10.45–12.30 – Friday, 13th April - Mathews Room 104

- Rigmor Berg How moral pressures and fl awed implementation of decriminalisation reintroduced risk to the sex industry in NSW - Paul Mathews Adult/Asian Cam Models (ACMs) in the Philippines: Health implications and advocacy - Hilary Caldwell Long-term clients who access commercial sexual services in Australia - Kane Matthews, Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association, Maintaining sex workers as HIV leaders = ‘same bold targets’ - Discussion

More general information about the conference -

silence&articulation - Registrations close Friday 23 March!

The National Centre in HIV Social Research invites you to the 12th Social Research Conference on HIV, hepatitis C and related diseases to be held 12–13 April 2012 at The University of New South Wales, Sydney. The theme of the conference is silence and articulation. Delegates will be asked to consider what can and can’t be said about HIV, hepatitis C, drug use and sexual practices; i.e. what is seen as acceptable and unacceptable; and what such silences and articulations achieve and why. Keynote speakers include: - John Della Bosca Former NSW Special Minister of State, 1999–2006 and current National Campaign Director, National Disability Insurance Scheme. - Professor Jane Ussher Director PsyHealth, Gender, Culture and Health Research Unit, School of Psychology, University of Western Sydney. - Professor Alison Ritter Director, Drug Policy Modelling Program, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales. - John Godwin HIV, law and development consultant, Member Legal Working Group, Ministerial Advisory Committee on Blood-borne Viruses and STIs. Conference dates: 12–13 April 2012. Registration closes 23 March 2012 Conference venue: Mathews Pavilion, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW.

Click Here to Visit the conference website for full details

Reduced registration rate for attendees of the M2012: 7th International Conference on Microbicides ‘From discovery to delivery’ This biennial conference on microbicides and oral chemoprophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention is taking place 15–18 April in Sydney. More information about M2012 may be found at http://www.microbicides2012.org Reduced registration rates have been negotiated for delegates who are attending both the HHARD and Microbicides Conferences. Further details: http://nchsrconference2012.arts.unsw.edu.au/registration.html

Join the 2012 Mardi Gras Float for Sex Workers and Supporters!

Meeting at the Scarlet Alliance offices in Redfern from 3pm on Saturday 3rd of March, theme is RED and RED UMBRELLAS. ALL WELCOME!

- Sex Workers have been marching since 1978 - This year we are fighting to keep decriminalisation of sex work in NSW, for all sex workers - Register your interest by calling 02 9690 0551

NATIONAL SEX WORKER FORUM 22nd-24th NOVEMBER, 2011, DARWIN

The national meeting for sex workers packs in:

• 3 day National Forum (sex worker only - free)

Presentations, workshops, discussion, consultation, policy development, trends/changes/legal conditions across each state and territory, peer education and more.

• Annual General Meeting (AGM) (Scarlet Alliance delegates and membership).

Election of our office bearers (executive committee), spokespersons, delegates to represent the organisation, reports from the executive committee, presentation of financial reports, rule changes for the organisation.

• A fabulous sex worker party (sex worker only)

A night of sex worker celebration, performances, DJs and presentation of prestigious awards including the WOTYS, and soooo much more.

If you would like to attend any of these events you can RSVP by clicking here or contact Heather at the Scarlet Alliance office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays on 02 9690 0551.

The Agenda for the 2011 National Forum has been released and can be seen below:

Tuesday 22nd November, 2011 10.00-10.30 am Orientation Orientation to Scarlet Alliance and outline of the 2011 National Forum, including 15 min Q&A 10.30-10.45am Introduction & Housekeeping Welcome & President’s Address 10.45-12pm Member Reports 8min SWOP NT 8min United Sex Workers North Queensland 8min Respect 10min Discussion 8min Sex Workers Union 8min SWOP ACT 8min VIXEN 10min Discussion 12.00-12.30am Morning Tea 12:30-1.30pm Member reports continued 8min SA SIN 8min Debby Doesn’t Do It For Free 8min Scarlet Tasmania 10min Discussion Elected Rep Reports 8min Male Sex Work Representative 8min International Sex Work Spokesperson 10min Discussion 1.30pm-2.30pm Lunch 2:30 – 2.45 Scarlet Alliance report 2.45 -3.30 pm Skill-share/training 2.45-3:05 Governance 3:05-3:30pm Small group work (group 1: Pres, VP, General Member; group 2: Treasurer, Secretary, General Member; group 3: Representatives, spokespersons) 3.30-4.00pm Afternoon Tea 4.00pm- 5:00pm Associate member reports 8min RhED 8min Touching Base 8min Magenta 8min SWOP NSW 4.45pm-5pm Discussion Topic (determined via report back) 7.30pm (TBC) Satellite Session- Optional ‘Scarlet Road’ Film 70mns

Wednesday 23rd November, 2011 9am - 10.30am Presentations 9am - 9.20am SANTAP - Scarlet Alliance National Training & Assessment Project (peer educator training & qualification) 9.20 – 9.30am Scarlet Alliance Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Inclusion working party 9.30am -10.30am Sex Workers and The Arts 10.30-11.00am Morning Tea 11.00am-12.15am Concurrent Workshops a. Sex worker advocacy b. Sex work and mental illness c. Trans men and the sex worker rights movement d. International capacity development sessions 12.15 – 12.30 Report Backs 12.30pm-1.30pm Lunch 1.30pm – 3.30 Annual General Meeting Scarlet Alliance Executive Previous minutes President report Formal acceptance of new members Treasurer report Election of office bearers - Executive, spokespersons, delegates to AFAO Outcome of elections 3.30 -4pm Afternoon Tea 4-5pm Workshop/discussion # 7.00pm- 11.30PM Social Event – including performances, DJs and WOTY Award.

Thursday 24th November, 2011 9.45-10am Morning Tea on arrival 10.00 – 11am Sex Industry Regulation Law Reform/Advocacy 10-10.30 SA/ACT/Tas/Vic/WA/National – 5 mins each 10.30 – 11am Skill share discussion 11am-12 Discussion/skill-share 2 # Topic to be determined on day 2. Note that if constitutional changes or elections require extra time this discussion will be shortened. 12.00pm-1.00pm Lunch (photo) 1pm-2.00pm Migrant Sex Workers 1pm Migration Project 1.15pm Migration Project Research Outcomes 1.30pm Anti-Trafficking Policy Impacts on Sex Worker Human Rights 1.45pm Definitions 2.00-2.30pm Discussion 2.30-3.00pm Afternoon Tea 3.00 – 5pm National Issues, policy directions and evaluation 3.00-3.30pm Presentation – Individual Membership Recruitment 3.30 – 4.00pm Presentation – Model Principles 4.00-4.30pm Presentation – Health Promotion 4.30-5pm Evaluation workshop 5pm Forum Close # As requested in previous evaluations, a number of sessions are left open to enable key issues identified at this forum to be discussed or workshopped.

This video footage is from last year's Scarlet Alliance National Symposium. Tish Sparkle and Christian Vega welcome guests at NSW Parliament House. Features a Welcome to Country by Donna Ingram.

Touching Base Professional Disability Awareness Training Darwin 21st November 2011

Scarlet Alliance Associate Member Organisation Touching Base are running their Professional Disability Awareness Training for sex workers and sex industry staff who work with clients with a disability on the day before the Scarlet Alliance National Forum in Darwin. See the Touching Base website for more information.

Link to footage and sex worker statement from ICAAP Busan South Korea August 2012

Sex workers from around the world protested for better access to ARV treatment, and to challenge discrimination and stigma, and for better laws for sex work. Link here to read more...

A four week boot camp for sex worker political activism, Sydney

No prior experience in letter writing, lobbying or advocacy required! As long as you have done sex work you are qualified for four weeks of having a say!

Come in and do a check up of sex workers’ rights in Australia

Put pen to paper and write a prescription for Australian Politicians

You will feel a whole lot better after diagnosing the problem (our Governments) and treating the cause (their lack of knowledge about real sex workers lives, not just what they see on the TV or read in the Daily Terror)

Sex worker bloggers, writers, media magnets, creatives, former and future sex worker advocacy leaders! This is four weeks you won’t want to miss!! Get your angry ho out of the closet and turn it into a sex worker activist super whore! If you have ever thought about getting politically active here is an opportunity to do it wholesale!

Writing letters to politicians is also a very productive form of emotional therapy – not only will you get it off your chest you will also get it onto the desk of the policy makers that matter! Let the experienced Scarlet Alliance team assist you in picking your political target!

If they think they are going to take decriminalisation away from us they are about to be surprised! If the Liberals thinks that Licensing in WA and NSW is inevitable or that the Swedish model is coming in Victoria they have another thing coming! Lets show ‘em that there is a mob of loud mouth hookers standing between them and their whorephobic laws!

Sex workers (current and former, strippers, escort, privates, online, phone sex, intersex, street based, brothel, parlour, interstate, local, sex and/or gender diverse, all ages all interests) welcome!

Like with all boot camps, you will get the most out of it if you come to all sessions, but everyone is welcome to come to as much or as little as you can attend – for an hour, for one session, or just for the 4th March training day, ALL SEX WORKERS WELCOME!!!!

Tuesday 8th Feb 4pm – 8pm Letter writing!!

Special Guest Speaker Hazel Blunden from 7pm, on the structure of the NSW Parliament. Hazel has worked as an advisor for Greens MP’s and in the NGO sector. *confirmed*

Tuesday 15th Feb 4pm – 8pm Letter writing!!

Special Guest Speaker Penny Sharpe MLA from 7pm, from the NSW Labor Party. Penny will be explaining how the Liberals in NSW have operated in the past, Liberals to look out for, and who to lobby. *confirmed*

Tuesday 22nd Feb 4pm – 8pm Letter writing!!

Special Guest Speaker Andrew Patterson on the Sex Party and their efforts to change politics in Australia. *confirmed*

Tuesday 1st March 4pm – 8pm Letter writing!!

Special Guest Speaker Ian Cohen MLA from 7pm, from the NSW Greens. Ian will explain who the players will be in the upper house in the NSW Parliament after the election, and why we should all be very worried if the Greens don’t get the majority *tbc*

Friday 4th March 10am – 4pm Advocacy and Media Training!

A morning of consolidation of the letter writing skills you have learnt over the 4 weeks, followed by an afternoon of making short films for youtube, scripting and telling these Governments to think twice about taking our rights away!

Saturday 5th March from 3.30pm

Gather for the biggest sex worker celebration of the summer! It is the annual sex worker contingent in Mardi Gras, time to let our hair down!!



Scarlet Alliance does not endorse or condone the power structures of Australian Government or the British invasion and colonisation of Australia. We recognise that Australia always was and always will be Aboriginal land, never ceded and without treaty. Scarlet Alliance supports the right of ALL sex workers; migrant, indigenous, of all genders and sexualities, all ages, all levels of education and all kinds of workplaces, sex worker who are drug users, sex workers who are living with HIV, sex workers of varying abilities and non-neurotypical sex workers to learn how to engage with western democratic power structures so as to have our voice heard in a whorephobic world. These workshops will vastly increase your skills in this area.

Scarlet Alliance is primarily a volunteer organisation, no grant has been received for these activities, all the presenters, organising, promotion and attendance is unpaid.

Scarlet Alliance does not endorse any particular political party or candidate; we do not discriminate, we lobby everyone.