WOMEN'S
SPACE

Street-Based Sex Work

The NSW Parliamentary Select Committee on Prostitution found that that there are 1500 –2200 female sex workers in Sydney working in private situations, through escort agencies, brothels and on the streets. While some are sex working to survive others see it as a money making business opportunity. A 1998 national inquiry revealed that at least 754 young people under the age of 18 regularly engaged in sex work predominantly for survival. Something like 12% of sex workers take the risk of working for themselves on the street. They are considered the low-life even in their own community, are paid the least and see the least other options for their lives.

The inner city remains the central location for sex work, though the industry is spread throughout the city. Sex Workers are most obvious on the streets of Kings Cross and surrounding suburbs with straight, trans-gender and younger women found in different areas.

Women in Sex Work face a wide range of issues. For those working the street, their introduction to sex work often arises from a history of abuse or sheer financial desperation, usually mixed with drug abuse. Women face feelings of despair and worthlessness; health issues including mental health, poor nutrition, exposure to communicable diseases; exploitation and violence on the streets, poverty, limited education and thus limited employment options, social stigma, family breakdown, a sense of alienation from God and the Church, legal issues, a high risk of suicide or self harm. The need to concentrate on daily physical survival causes denial and dissociation from emotional, mental and spiritual needs

A safe place for women

At the Women’s Space women in the sex industry are offered a safe place to relax, be refreshed and be themselves. Women can discuss issues affecting them, including the possibility of leaving the sex industry, accessing suitable housing, health and spiritual concerns. The drop-in centre is open each day during the week and outreach on the streets puts us in touch with new women all the time. Through this contacts we try to develop friendships and often end up helping women with legal issues, housing, and drug rehabilitation. We find that many are sensitive to God’s presence and we often have opportunities to talk about spiritual issues and have seen women embrace new life in Christ in this way. The Women visiting the drop in centre range in age from late teens to mid fifties. We aim to work with those who are most marginalised – those who work the street, usually to maintain a drug habit and have little support from anyone else in their lives. The cycle usually begins with abuse or a crisis, but soon a drug habit, sex work to support it and a drug habit to dull the pain of sex work form an ever tightening cycle of destruction. The only other agencies to work with these women are health agencies who promote for “safe” sex work. It is obvious in working with these women that sex work affect more than your body. As one women said, “It rots your soul”.

What they say about HopeStreet:

"This is the only place where I am treated like a human"

LA- Sex Worker

The Women’s Space is supported by

Baptist Community Services

Baptist Insurance

Baptist Investments and Finance