What does peer education actually mean?

Sex worker peer education means education, health promotion, support and information delivered by sex workers for sex workers. Peer education is a core part of the sex worker rights movement, valuing lived experience and recognising that sex workers are best placed to share practical, trusted information within our communities. Peer education is consistent with the Ottawa Charter: it strengthens community action and builds skills through trusted, community-led health information.

• Current and former sex workers understand the realities of the work, including negotiation strategies, safer sex practices and sexual health, safety, stigma and working conditions.
• Shared lived experience helps us build trust and understanding, and allows us to talk about these topics in ways that are practical and relevant.

Why is peer education important to sex workers?

Information and education from within the sex work community are grounded in sex workers’ rights and autonomy. Peer education is specific to the industry and covers issues and challenges that are often missed in mainstream health education. Public health research recognises peer education as one of the most effective ways to reach sex worker communities.

Non-judgemental support

Peer education is based on harm reduction and respect for sex workers’ choices. It is non-judgemental and supports people to reach their own goals.

Community building

It strengthens connections, trust and solidarity among sex workers, rather than just passing on information.

Informal and not intimidating

Peer education often happens in informal settings, which can reduce the power imbalances people may experience in mainstream health services.

Improved safer sex practices

Research shows that peer education increases sexually transmissible infection (STI) testing and safer sex practices, reduces stigma and isolation and improves access to healthcare and support.

Evidence supports peer education.

Peer education is a proven approach and has played a key role in achieving very low HIV and STI rates among sex workers in Australia. It happens through outreach, workshops, community events, online and print resources, and one-on-one support. These approaches reach communities that mainstream services often do not.

Red Book

Red Book is our national sexual health resource, created by sex workers, for sex workers, to support safer practices and STI and BBV prevention.

• A trusted, accurate and relevant sexual health resource that supports Australia’s STI and BBV prevention efforts.
• Red Book has been shared for decades. It began as a print resource and is now permanently available online.
• Red Book also contains “skill shares” which offer sex work-specific safer sex and harm reduction strategies.
• Developed through peer education, outreach, and sex worker consultation.

Sex workers have high condom use

Research shows that sex workers in Australia consistently have high rates of condom use and safer sex practices. Peer education has made condom use a normal part of the industry. Importantly, peer education does not just explain how condoms prevent STIs, it also shares practical strategies and language to negotiate condom use with clients and integrating it into work.

Sex workers have high sexual health knowledge

Sex workers in Australia have maintained low STI and HIV rates, a key success of sex worker peer education. Studies show that sex workers who engage with peer programs are more likely to test for STI and BBV and access treatment when needed.

What are sex workers actually asking for?

• Sustainable, long-term and flexible funding for peer sex worker organisations.
• Meaningful sex worker engagement to inform policy reform, address stigma and barriers, and strengthen partnerships across health, justice and violence prevention systems.
• Peer delivered culturally safe support to sex workers who are victim-survivors of violence.
• A national, peer-led Asian migrant sex worker project to deliver peer education, support and information on migration pathways, workplace rights, legal support and lived-experience policy advice.