Newsletter May 2025

Welcome to the latest Touching Base newsletter! In this edition, we bring you updates on our NDIS advocacy efforts, an opportunity to shape our social media presence, and exciting news about upcoming events and team changes.

NDIS update

We were keeping a low profile before the Federal election. Touching Base and our disability sector allies didn’t want NDIS funding of sexual services to be dragged back into pre-election political debate as a football, for people to score points against the interests of our members and allies.

Negotiations with the Department of Social Services (DSS) and the NDIA were also paused while the Government was in caretaker mode. There have been several changes in Federal Ministers with responsibilities for the NDIS since the new Labor Government was elected. We will seek opportunities to lobby the new Ministers once they have settled into their new portfolios.

In the meantime we are in the process of compiling some new case studies of people who have experienced unintended consequences as a result of the ban on NDIS paying for sexual services.  Several of the case studies express quite devastating consequences as a result of the ban on sexual services being applied more widely than had been described in the Senate during debate.

So although it appears quiet in the public space, things are being done in the background preparing for the right time to move ahead.

Seeking your input on our social media presence

We value our connection with you and recognise the importance of social media in facilitating our communication and engagement. As the social media landscape evolves, we are carefully considering the best platforms for us to maintain these connections effectively and in a way that aligns with our organisational values.

As you may know, we currently use LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) as platforms to connect and share important updates with our members and allies.

Recently, concerns have been raised regarding the reputational risks associated with continuing our presence on X (formerly Twitter). These concerns include:

• Changes in platform ownership (Elon Musk), policies and content moderation.
• The prevalence of negative or harmful content.
• Perhaps most importantly, potential for association with views or individuals that don’t align with Touching Base’s values

As an organisation we embrace diverse ability, thought, skills, knowledge and background. We want to ensure that our social media presence reflects our values and commitment to act with integrity and inclusivity in an ethical way.

Therefore, we are exploring whether it is in the best interest of Touching Base Inc. and our members to transition away from X to an alternative platform. Some of the platforms we could consider include:

• Bluesky: Founded by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, Bluesky aims to be a decentralized microblogging platform. Its interface has a familiar feel to older versions of Twitter.
• Mastodon: A decentralized, open-source microblogging platform that operates as a network of independent servers
• Threads: Developed by Meta (Instagram/Facebook), Threads is a text-based conversation app closely integrated with Instagram.

Your input is crucial to this decision. We would greatly appreciate it if you could share your thoughts on whether we should move away from X and, if so, which platform(s) you would prefer.

Please share your feedback by 2oth June 2025 through this short survey: https://forms.gle/XFY1ZWnUSfBDbvR59

Thank you for your time and valuable input. We will keep you informed of our decision after the results of this consultation process are fully considered.

Scarlet Road screening in Tasmania (Lutrawita) 

Many thanks to the Lutruwita/Tasmania Sex Worker Project – Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association, for agreeing to host a free screening of the Scarlet Road documentary – exclusively for sex workers – on the evening of Wed June 11th.

This award winning documentary features sex worker and academic Rachel Wotton – one of the founding members of Touching Base.

“Impassioned about freedom of sexual expression, Australian sex worker Rachel Wotton has become highly specialised in working with clients with disability. Rachel’s philosophy, that human touch and sexual intimacy can be some of the most therapeutic aspects to our existence…” (extract from the Scarlet Road website).

Scarlet B Wilde, our intrepid Techie Team leader and former Committee member, will represent Touching Base in person at the screening in Hobart. We’re also hoping to have a live feed from Oliver Morton-Evans to bring his perspective as a person with disability who has also been a Touching Base Referral Officer.

If you are a sex worker who will be in Tasmania on the 11th June and would like to attend, please get in touch with Andrew (Manager, Lutruwita/Tasmania Sex Worker Project by email andrew@scarletalliance.org.au or phone 0451 835 897

Would you like to help us to develop our new Strategic Plan? 

Do you have ideas to help us develop as a not for profit?

We are asking members to let us know if you want to join us in developing our Strategic Plan for 2025-2027. We plan to hold an online meeting and welcome anyone wanting to contribute to us identifying our priority aims and develop strategies to achieve them. You don’t have to have prior experience in Strategic Planning and we encourage anyone who would like to participate to send an email to operations@touchingbase.org and we will look forward to working on our new plans with you.

Farewell to Aly as Referral List Database Manager (RLDM)

Sadly Aly has given us 6 weeks notice that she is having to step down as our Referral List Database Manager (RLDM) due to increased workload with her university studies. Since joining us in April 2024, Aly has done an exceptional job upgrading the RLDM processes and adding new levels of organisation to keep track of database updates and audits. Aly has also been vital in setting up a pilot run of our plan of sharing more info about each sex worker with the Referral List Officer and clients. True to form – Aly has even found a highly suitable sex worker to replace her – phew!

New RLDM Paz Deol

So we were delighted to have Paz Deol take up Aly’s suggestion to apply for this sex worker specific role. Paz has been employed as a sex worker for the past nine years, till present, and mutual aid organiser, since February 2024, working across sex work, community services and mutual aid, mental health, social support services, public relations, arts and entertainment sectors in NSW.  We are looking forward to Paz continuing the fabulous work Aly has done in this key role.

Added to our website 

To assist people with understanding how our referral list works and clarify our limitations when providing our referral service, we have added the following statement to the disclaimer on our Referral Request webpage:

While Touching Base strives to connect clients with suitable sex workers, we cannot guarantee an appropriate or ideal referral. There’s no assurance that someone in our database will precisely match a clients’ desires.

Call out for new event management volunteer

As this is our 25th year of operations at Touching Base we are aiming to bring together members, key allies and other supporters to help us celebrate with an event. This will be held later in the year.

If you have event management experience or skills and are willing to take a lead role in planning this 25th anniversary event we would love to hear from you!

Please send an email to operations@touchingbase.org letting us know a bit about your prior experience and what time availability you might have to help us in order to bring this event to life.

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Thanks for being a part of the Touching Base community. We appreciate your continued engagement and look forward to connecting with you again soon.

Kind regards,

The Touching Base Team