Who we are

Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association, through our objectives, policies and programs, aims to achieve equality, social, legal, political, cultural and economic justice for past and present workers in the sex industry, in order for sex workers to be self-determining agents, building their own alliances and choosing where and how they work.

Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association

Our membership includes State based Sex Worker Organisations and Projects throughout Australia and ensures we are able to represent the issues effecting our members and sex workers Australia wide.

Australia has very low rates of HIV/AIDS amongst sex workers, due to response by sex workers in partnership with Scarlet Alliance members, community based sex worker organisations and other agencies.

Scarlet Alliance:

Currently plays an active role in Australia’s response to HIV/AIDS and is a member of the peak body Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO).
Produces National resources, including: A Guide to Best Practice, Occupational Health and Safety in the Australian Sex Industry (2000), and Principles for Model Sex Industry Legislation (2000).
Informs Government and policy makers, at all levels, in relation to Sex Industry legislation and other legisalation which will impact upon sex workers and informing the health sector, both in Australia and Internationally, on issues affecting sex workers in the Australian sex industry. In addition, Scarlet Alliance has been active in promoting to other countries the models of service delivery which have been most effective in minimising the transmission of HIV and STIs amongst sex workers and their clients.
Is the leader in advocating for the health, safety and welfare of workers in Australia’s sex industry.
Promotes Peer Education, where people with knowledge of, and experiences in, the sex industry are employed as peer educators, in what has proven to be the most successful model of service delivery to sex workers.
Promotes professional development of Peer Educators employed within our members organisations and projects and works toward standardising the high level of services provided by our members as part of the Scarlet Alliance National Training Project
Provides a voice for National issues effecting Sex Workers via the Australian and International media.
Provides training and education to other Organisations and Government Departments on issues relating to the Australian Sex Industry and the migration of sex workers into Australia (often referred to as the trafficking of women for the purposes of sexual servitude).
Presents up to date information on Sex Industry issues at International and National forums of Health, Law, Research, Human Rights, Feminist, Community Education, Immigration and Global Issues.
Collates current information regarding the Australian Sex Industry and issues relating to the Migration of Sex Workers into Australia.

Scarlet Alliance member organisations and projects have the highest level of contact with sex workers, including contract workers, in Australia of any agency, government or non-government. Our Annual National Forum, teleconferences, Elists, this website which includes sex worker only areas illiciting comments from sex workers, Chat rooms and member issue forums ensure we are constantly informed by our membership; the staff of the member organisations & projects; and sex workers.