Overview

In February 2022, in Victoria, the Sex Work Decriminalisation Act was passed.

The Act is being implemented in stages to ensure a smooth transition to a different model of regulation.

As part of the suite of legislative changes made under this Act, the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act has since been amended to include ‘profession, trade or occupation’ as a protected attribute. This new protection ensures sex workers cannot be discriminated against because of their work in the provision of services.

This webinar will cover all the important aspects of these legislative changes relevant to psychologists providing service in Victoria to ensure best practice. It will be facilitated by Carol Ransley, Senior Adviser in Human Rights Education from the Victorian Equal Opportunity Commission, and is joined by Dylan O'Hara, Manager of Vixen, Victoria's peer sex worker organisation. As of 2022, Vixen is being funded by the Victorian Department of Health, auspiced by Scarlet Alliance, to provide peer education, support, outreach, referrals, advocacy and representation for diverse sex worker communities in Victoria.

Level of Learning

Foundational. This activity is targeted to those new to the topic.

Duration of access

Access to the recording and presenter slides (once available) is for 12 months.

APS CPD-Approved

This activity has been assessed against the APS Standards for CPD activities and approved for its education quality. 

Learn more about the APS CPD Approval process.

CPD Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the APS CPD Frequently Asked Questions for general and technical information when undertaking APS Professional development activities.

Activity details 

• On-demand webinar recording 

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this webinar, participants should be able to:

• understand the duties placed on psychologists under Victorian equality and human rights law,

• identify unlawful discrimination against sex workers in psychological service provision, and

• understand sex worker experiences of stigma and discrimination.

Presenter(s)

Carol Ransley, Dylan O'Hara

About the presenter(s)

Carol Ransley Carol Ransley (she/her), Senior Advisor, Human Rights Education
Carol has worked with the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission across all of its human rights and equality law portfolios for 21 years. Carol has extensive experience designing rights-based capacity building and education programs where she has worked for a range of government, private sector and non-government organisations. She currently leads the Commissions education and engagement work to reduce discrimination against sex workers in Victoria.

Dylan O'Hara Dylan O’Hara (they/them), Manager Vixen
Dylan is a proud sex worker and manages Vixen, Victoria's peer sex worker organisation. Vixen is proudly 100% by and for sex workers and has led the Victorian campaign for the full decriminalisation of sex work for many years. Vixen is the Victorian member of Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association.