Organisation Description 

SWOP NSW is Australia’s largest and longest established community-based peer education sex worker organisation, with a mission to provide NSW sex workers with the same access to health, safety, human rights and workplace protections as other Australian workers.  

SWOP NSW was established in 1983 as the Australia Prostitutes Collective and in 1990 as Sex Workers Outreach Project, SWOP became the first sex worker organisation in the world to receive government funding.   See SWOP NSW’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan for further information.  

POSITION OVERVIEW 

This position is responsible for the delivery of peer education, health promotion and community development activities aimed at improving the health, well-being, safety, and rights of sex workers, particularly Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait sex workers in NSW, including sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV and blood borne virus (BBV) awareness. 

This position will specifically target, but is not limited to, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who are engaged in sex work and sex for favours. You will work as part of an outreach team that provides outreach to private, brothel-based, street-based and other sex workers across NSW.

POSITION DETAIL 

Hours per week: 7 hrs/week, eventually 14 hrs/week

Classification: SCHADS Award Level 4.1 (salary packaging available)  

Probation: 6 months 

Rate of Pay: $53.85 per hour plus superannuation and leave loading 

Position Reports To: SWOP NSW Outreach Manager

Direct Reports: none

Location: Suite 7/110 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015 

Note: Aboriginality is a genuine requirement of this position as per Section 14 of the NSW Anti- Discrimination Act, 1977. 

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Provide outreach, education and support primarily to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who are engaged in sex for favours and/or sex work in NSW, as well as to other sex industry workers in relation to HIV, sexual health and related issues.
• Review and develop educational resources to improve understanding of HIV, sexual health and related issues among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who are engaged in sex for favours and/or sex work.
• Provide information and training to SWOP NSW staff and other service providers on issues faced by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who are engaged in sex for favours and/or sex work.
• Represent SWOP NSW by attending and participating in events and days of importance for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities in NSW.
• Continually build and enhance partnerships with agencies and external service providers to ensure coordinated responses to the needs of people engaged in sex for favours and/or sex work.
• Maintain appropriate and timely statistics, administrative records, and written reports.
• Manage, support, train and evaluate volunteers.
• Actively participate in and contribute to an ongoing process of supervision, general and team meetings, improvement, and professional development strategies, and behave in accordance with SWOP NSW’s organisational policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as requested by your supervisor.

SELECTION CRITERIA 

Essential:  

• Sex work experience and understanding of the sex worker rights movement, particularly in the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community, locally and nationally.
• Knowledge of key health, legal and other issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sex workers and the sex industry in NSW.
• Commitment to sex work community development and engagement.
• An understanding of approaches to STI and BBV prevention in sex work settings and how peer education aids this.
• Ability to communicate well with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people engaged in sex for favours/sex work, service providers and co-workers.
• Ability to plan and prioritise workload to manage competing deadlines and meet organisational goals and deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse team and independently with minimal direction.
• Ability to write well and use relevant office computer programs such as email and Microsoft Word.
• A current NSW Driver’s License and willingness to drive.
• Ability to be flexible, with some requirements for night and weekend shifts, and regional and interstate travel.

Desirable:  

• Demonstrated experience of health promotion and the principles of peer education, harm reduction and community development
• Sex work outreach experience

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Orientation and training are offered for this role.

For more information about the role, please contact Na Mon, SWOP NSW Outreach Manager on 0419 416 359 or [email protected] using the subject line: Aboriginal Outreach Officer enquiry via EthicalJobs or see our website.

A position description is attached.