Sex Industry Network (also known as SIN) is a peer-based, not for profit organisation, funded by SA Health, a

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

government organisation. Its aim is to maintain low rates of

sexually transmitted infections Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and the older term venereal diseases, are infections that are spread by sexual activity, especially vaginal intercourse, anal sex, and oral ...

(STIs), blood borne viruses (BBVs) and

HIV The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune ...

among

sex workers A sex worker is a person who provides sex work, either on a regular or occasional basis. The term is used in reference to those who work in all areas of the sex industry.Oxford English Dictionary, "sex worker" According to one view, sex work is d ...

and their clients in South Australia. SIN provides safer sex supplies such as

condoms A condom is a sheath-shaped barrier device used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are both male and female condoms. With proper use—and use at every act of inte ...

and lube and delivers outreach to brothels, parlours, private and street based sex workers.

History

SIN was formed out of the Prostitutes Association of South Australia (PASA), a group formed in 1986 by sex workers. During this time community groups from priority populations (sex workers, men who have sex with men and injecting drug users) were being funded to deliver HIV prevention information and education within communities as part of Australia's partnership approach to HIV/AIDS. In 1987, PASA received a grant from the SA Health Commission to conduct a three-month HIV/AIDS education project with sex workers called the 'Travelling Parlour Show'. Several sex workers received training to become 'peer educators' and joined with a nurse from the sexually transmitted infections clinic and took their education and information sessions to the workplaces of sex workers across the metropolitan area of

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...

. In 1989, PASA and the AIDS council of South Australia (ACSA) joined forces to develop an ongoing HIV/AIDS education project with the sex workers of South Australia. This project has had several name changes including 'the PASA project' and 'SWIPE' but has been known as the SA Sex Industry Network or SIN since 1994. SIN was a founding member and continues to be an active member of

Scarlet Alliance Scarlet Alliance is Australia's national peak sex worker organisation. It was formed in 1989. As an organisation maintained entirely by current and former sex workers, Scarlet Alliance aims to achieve equality, social, legal, political, cultu ...

. In 2013, ACSA became insolvent and SIN was temporarily closed. Scarlet Alliance supported a group of volunteer sex workers in South Australia to keep limited services going while new arrangements were negotiated with the funding bodies. The SA health department agreed to fund Scarlet Alliance to complete ACSA's original contract.

Political advocacy

SIN has supported Labor MP Steph Key's attempts to decriminalise prostitution in South Australia. In 2012, the decriminalisation bill was defeated by one vote. In 2017, an improved bill which had support of sex workers, the working women's centre and unions was introduced into the upper house. The decriminalisation of sex work bill passed the upper house 13 votes to 8.Sex work decriminalisation one step closer in South Australia after marathon debate
/ref> In August 2017, the lower house was set to debate the bill; however, time ran out, resulting in a further delay to progress.

References

External links

SIN

Scarlet Alliance

Green Left
1986 establishments in Australia Non-profit organisations based in South Australia Feminism and social class Sex worker organizations Sex workers' rights Sexuality and society Prostitution in Australia