PASA – Research

IMAGE DESCRIPTION
A group of people represented by human figures in graphic symbol form, with featureless round dots for heads, atop bodies of diverse stature and form.

There are twenty-two figures, wearing differently-shaped garments, with visibly diverse physical characteristics, and featuring a range of mobility aids. The diversity featured includes wheelchair users, people using short and long canes, single and double crutches. There are upper and lower limb amputees, and persons with a bandaged head and bandaged lower leg. 

The human figures are depicted in all the colours of the rainbow, plus a few extra colours, on a plain white background. They are grouped in loose rows spanning the width of the advertisement. One figure towards the back and centre holds up a red umbrella with one arm. The umbrella is open and tilts over the heads of the people nearby.

Underneath the image are the words People with disability who access sex worker services, in Australia.
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Welcome to the PASA – Research website.

This page has been created to be an information hub for this PhD project.

It is designed so people always have one easy place to go to for information about the research, check for updates and read the results at the end.

PASA stands for:

Image Description:
in a box the letters P A S A are written vertically down the left side and represent the start of words or sentences. P is for People with disability who, A is for Access, S is for Sex worker services, in and A is for Australia

Why the red umbrella? The red umbrella has become the international icon for sex worker rights and solidarity, since it was first used in 2001 at the 49th Venice Biennale of Art.

This research is being conducted by Rachel Wotton at Western Sydney University, School of Social Sciences. Her PhD supervisors are Professor Kerry Robinson & Dr Peter Bansel and Dr Michael Houlbrook.

The research study is about:

Exploring the experiences of people with disability who access sex worker services, in Australia

This research aims to prioritise the voices of people with disability and to create an opportunity for people to share their own experiences and stories about this topic.

The research project was granted formal Ethics Approval on 1st February 2022. HREC Approval Number: H14609

Current status of the project: CLOSED
PhD submission: 26th August 2024

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Thank you to the 108 individuals who filled out the online survey.

Thank you to the 27 participants who also did an interview.

Your time, energy and enthusiasm in sharing your experiences is very much appreciated.

Information and links to presentations, conferences and media I generate throughout the life of this research are listed below.

Media

ABC Radio National – Life Matters
Why is the government ruling out access to sex work under the NDIS?
9th July 2024
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/lifematters/sex-work-and-the-ndis/104074506

Triple J – Hack
Should the NDIS pay for your sex worker?
9th July 2024
https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/ndis-sex-work/104053470


The Guardian
Sex work services on the NDIS: is it a real issue or just a ‘red herring’?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jul/10/sex-work-services-on-the-ndis-is-it-a-real-issue-or-just-a-red-herring?

Sydney Morning Herald
14th July 2024
Bill Shorten is wrong: NDIS clients need sex workers like me
https://www.smh.com.au/national/bill-shorten-is-wrong-ndis-clients-need-sex-workers-like-me-20240711-p5jss7.html

Download the PDF here or go here: https://archive.is/fJczN


Podcasts

A Wheelie Good Sex Chat
Episode 6 – Sex Work and Disability with Rachel Wotton
5th July, 2024
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/care-rehab



Have The Nerve – a podcast about disability.
Episode 13: Sexual Rights Sex Work and Disability with Rachel Wotton
30th March, 2022


Conferences / Presentations
1. Presentation at


** Presentation at the 26th Congress of the World Association for Sexual Health; Theme: Bridging the Gaps. oral presentation session, Mirage Park Resort, Antalya – TÜRKİYE,  2-5 November 2023. Available at: https://www.was2023.org/en/

” Preliminary findings from research examining the experiences of people with disability who paid for sex worker services, in Australia”

** Presentation at the Law & Society Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico. June 1-4, 2023. https://www.lawandsociety.org/sanjuan2023/

“Exploring the experiences of people with disability who access sex worker services, in Australia: preliminary findings”

** Presentation at the Australasian Sexual and Reproductive Health conference, in Manly, NSW, Australia. Hosted by ASHM Health. session 8: Human Rights for SRH – Sex, Pleasure, & Identity. 18-20th September 2023. https://www.asrhconference.com.au/

“Preliminary findings from research exploring the experiences of people with disability who paid for sex worker services, in Australia”

** Presentation at the 26th Congress of the World Association for Sexual Health; 2-5th November 2023; Mirage Park Resort Hotel, Antalya, Turkiye; Bridging the gaps – sexual health, rights, justice for all. https://was2023.org/en/

“Preliminary findings from research examining the experiences of people with disability who paid for sex worker services, in Australia“

Findings

When available, the following documents will be uploaded here:

– A summary of the findings, including an easy read version

– The link to the final PhD dissertation

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Who is Rachel Wotton? Rachel is a sex worker, academic, activist and educator. You can read more about Rachel on the other pages of this website, clicking on the tabs at the top or go to www.rachelwotton.com