Jan Aitkin papers regarding prostitution and the Australian Prostitutes Collective, 1976-2005

MLMSS 10089/Box 1
MLMSS 10089/Box 2X

fonds

1976-2005

Textual Records, Clippings, Ephemera

9591517

0.46 metres of textual material (1 box, 1 outsize box)

Jan Aitkin was a member of the Women’s Electoral Lobby (WEL) with an interest in law reform. In 1976 she was asked by the Attorney-General to do research on prostitution for a seminar on victimless crime. In 1978 she presented a paper, ‘The Prostitute as Worker’ for the Women and Labour Conference. In 1986 she became involved with the APC and became one of its salaried staff.

The Australia Prostitutes Collective (APC) was formed in 1983 to provide support, caring, health education and resources for prostitutes. The staff and committee consisted of people who had worked as prostitutes and those who had not worked as prostitutes but had experience in other relevant areas such as health, welfare and the law. About this time the term ‘sex workers began to be used instead of ‘prostitutes’. The legitimacy and value of the APC was recognised in 1986 when it became the first prostitutes’ organisation to receive funding from the Federal Department of Health to work on AIDS prevention. The APC ceased operation in about 1990 when it was replaced by the Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP).

Reference:
Library correspondence file

A collection of papers which provides insights into the lives of sex workers and how they became organised and proactive in defence of their rights in the 1980s particularly in response to the AIDS issue.

BOX 1
Includes minutes of the Australian Prostitutes Collective (APC), 1985-1988; newsletters; leaflets; correspondence and other material related to the Victimless Crime Seminar, 1976-77; notes on the Women’s Movement and Sex Workers in NSW by Jan Aitkin, 2005; miscellaneous writings on prostitution by Jan Aitkin; newscuttings; various conference papers; reports on prostitution, 1977-1987; submissions by the APC to government, 1986; submission by Women's Electoral Lobby (WEL), 1983; various articles etc. on prostitution; Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee of the Legislative Assembly on Prostitution, 1985. (Readers must sign a pain and embarrassment undertaking before accessing this material due to sensitive content).

BOX 2X
List of members of the APC, 1987 (Restricted until 2048)

Restricted: Box 1: Access requires a signed undertaking not to make any use of information contained therein, in conversation or in writing, that could cause pain or embarrassment to any living person. Box 2: 1987 address list of members is restricted until February 2048 for privacy reasons., Expires: 2048-02-01

Copyright status:: In copyright
Copyright holder:: This collection has multiple copyright holders
Approval for reproduction required: No reproduction without prior written approval of copyright holder
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales