Sex 4 Swap?

Nicole Hallahan

Kathy Glavimans

Health Works is strongly committed to Harm Reduction, Community Development, the Social model of

health and a multidisciplinary team approach

Health Works

NSP and Education Team•New injecting equipment•Safer using education/health promotion•Disposal facilities•Mobile Drug Safety Worker •Community Education Worker•CLV Worker•Student Placements

Health Care Team•General health plus IDU specific issues•Community Health Workers•Community Health Nurses•GP (S100)•Grad Nurse rotation•Medical Students

Who/where/what?

• majority female• Informal• Isolated• Varies in frequency – opportunistic=Do not necessarily identify as ‘sex workers’=sex 4 swap (not necessarily for $$$)As well as a small population working in

brothels

Service Liaison

• No dedicated street sex worker services for the West

• However……» RhED» Sexual health services such as MSHC» Other services which may come into contact via

other issues

Therefore more important that we are proactive.

Support AvenuesSex-worker friendly space• Posters/stickers – “Big Sister is watching”, “up yours not mine”, “no

condom no sex” (translated), visual representation of various STIs, other badges and booklets

• Ugly mugs and RhED magazine• New DHS condoms and damsEducation/training• RhED – valuable ongoing education and guidance for staff• In-service for all staff• Incorporating sex worker needs into general campaignsHealth services• Health services offered through HCT such as sex worker screen• Development of sex worker screen card (low literacy)• Other medical needs• Other psychosocial needs

Sex Worker Screening Card

Example-

What does all this equal?

Conversations in NSP about sex work and associated issues

=A general feeling that Health Works is

sex worker friendlyReferral to Health Care Team

Referral to RhED Provision of safer sex materials

Sex Work Screens

As a product of these interventions other BBV screening as well as interventions such as HBV vaccination and psychosocial issues are also engaged with

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