The Australian Government released the First National STI (sexually transmissible infections) strategy in 2005.

The Strategy is a beginning point and is not a comprehensive STI strategy. However one of the productive outcomes has been pilot projects for Chlamydia prevention, including Chlamydia prevention for sex workers in three distinctly different locations and settings.

As sex workers we have a vast knowledge of sexual health and Sexually Transmissible Infections (STI’s) and we can be proud of our successful implementation of safe sex practices in our work.

Many Australian studies have shown Australian sex workers to have lower rates of STI’s than the general community. Scarlet Alliance is campaigning against mandatory testing for sex workers, download our briefing paper.

We play an important role in educating our clients on safer sex practices, including condom use. Our clients are usually not targetted for sexual health education and as such can be naive. We introduce education into our work practices and develop strong strategies to implement safe sex into our work places. As part of each booking (along with each phonecall for private workers)prophylactics are promoted, the use de-stigmatised and even turned into a fantasy for some. Although these skills are not highly acknowledged in society we can be proud of our strong safe sex culture.

We are also health consumers and such have the right to treatment and access to health services which do not discriminate against our work or personal choices. We have the right to access health services of our choice and should not have treatment, retraining or other services pushed on to us by service providers.

Sydney Mardi Gras 2006

If you feel that you have experienced discrimination when accessing health services you can report it to ensure it will not happen to other workers. If you want to get specific information about STI's (in many languages) GO TO STI INFO ON ANOTHER SITE If you require STI information specific to sex workers and sex work practices contact your state or territory funded sex worker organisation or Scarlet Alliance.

Mandatory Testing Briefing Paper 2007 This briefing paper was presented by Scarlet Alliance to the Ministerial Advisory Committee on AIDS, Sexual Health and Hepatitis (MACASHH), HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmissible Infections Sub-Committee (HASTI) Sub-Committee, in July 2007, and to the Blood Borne Viruses and STI Subcommittee in October 2007.

To test or not to test? Metzenrath for Scarlet Alliance Western laws have historically tried to control the health records of sex workers, and Australia in colonial times was not different. Sex workers have been viewed as vectors of disease and the laws have reflected this. Compulsory testing not only reinforces this inaccurate and prejudiced view, but it is also discriminatory against workers and if enforced against those who work in the sex industry, should be enforced against the rest of the sexually active population.

Consumer Health Forum Briefing Paper 2 1999 Scarlet Responds to proposals for a National Sexual Health Policy

Ottowa Charter The Ottowa Charter guides the work of Scarlet Alliance member organisations and projects. Placing sexual health within a broader health promotion framework. "Health is created and lived by people within the settings of their everyday life; where they learn, work, play and love. Health is created by caring for oneself and others, by being able to take decisions and have control over one's life circumstances, and by ensuring that the society one lives in creates conditions that allow the attainment of health by all its members." "Health Promotion action means: building healthy public policy, creating supportive environments, strengthening community action, developing personal skills, reorienting health services." "Health promotion goes beyond health care. It puts health on the agenda of policy makers in all sectors and at all levels, directing them to be aware of the health consequences of their decisions and to accept their responsibilities for health. Health promotion policy combines diverse but complementary approaches including legislation, fiscal measures, taxation and organizational change. It is coordinated action that leads to health, income and social policies that foster greater equity."

Anon. Notes, Risk-taking behaviors of clients of female sex workers as opposed to non-client men by Susan Moore Statistics and interesting points from Susan Moore’s research.