ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to develop a profile of the sex industry in Queensland, based on demographic and other social background data. It describes the range of work settings by drawing on workers’ own perceptions of the sex industry. The chapter investigates HIV-related attitudes and knowledge of sex workers and explores the level and range of HIV-related preventive practices used by sex workers in both their work and private lives. It outlines the extent of violence and sexual abuse suffered by sex workers and their level of involvement with police and examines the support, education and information needs of sex workers. A number of sex workers who expressed an early interest in participating in the study were invited to become members of an Advisory Committee to oversee the project. Many popular myths and stereotypes surround the sex industry and its work force.
