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

Position Title: SWOP NSW Casual Outreach Officer (Thai / English)

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 culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) sex workers, particularly Thai-speaking sex workers in NSW, including sexually transmitted infections (STI)/HIV and blood borne virus (BBV) awareness.

This position will specifically targets but is not limited to, Thai-speaking sex workers. You will work as part of an outreach team that provides outreach to private, brothel-based, street-based, and other sex workers across NSW, including developing culturally appropriate resource materials and fostering peer education strategies.

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

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Increase HIV and sexual health awareness and provide support for culturally and linguistically diverse sex workers and operators of sex services in NSW through:
  • The provision of peer education that promotes HIV, Hepatitis C and sexual health awareness. Supporting CALD and Thai speaking) sex workers through regular outreach programs and providing appropriate information and referrals to sex workers and others who contact SWOP NSW.
  • The development, translation, and review of resources, both print and other media and participation in research that promotes HIV, Hepatitis C and Sexual Health awareness among CALD and Thai-speaking sex workers.
  • The development and implementation of a range of community development activities for the sex workers community in NSW. Particularly in relation to Thai sex workers and the CALD sex workers community in NSW.
  • The provision of safe sex and safe injecting equipment, coupled with education on correct use and harm minimisation strategies to decrease the health risks faced by CALD and Thai-speaking sex workers.
• Plan, schedule, deliver and evaluate health promotion activities/materials to achieve established goals and objectives in line with SWOP’s mission statement.
• Identify the needs of the Thai sex worker community, and provide appropriate support, information, and referrals.
• Continually build and enhance partnerships with agencies and external service providers to ensure effective responses to community issues.
• Cooperate with SWOP NSW staff, community stakeholders and sex workers in developing, assessing, and modifying program services to meet the needs of the targeted sex worker population.
• Maintaining 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 to 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 CALD and the Thai sex worker community, locally and nationally.
• Proficiency in both written and spoken Thai and English, including the ability to translate materials and communicate effectively with Thai-speaking sex workers.
• Knowledge of key health, legal and other issues for CALD and Thai-speaking 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.
• Knowledge and appreciation of the diversity of the NSW sex work community.
• 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.
• Technological literacy and experience using social media platforms and apps (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Line).
• 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:

• Outreach experience, particularly in the sex industry
• Experience in translating and developing culturally appropriate resources for Thai sex workers
• Experience working within a Needle and Syringe Program and an understanding of harm-reduction strategies

Note; If you are interested in the position, but unsure whether you meet the selection criteria, please contact the SWOP NSW Outreach Manager via [email protected] using the subject line: Outreach Officer - Thai / English enquiry via EthicalJobs with any questions.

A position description is attached.