About Us

Touching Base Inc is a charitable organisation, based in Sydney NSW Australia, that has been active since October 2000. Touching Base developed out of the need to assist people with disability and sex workers to connect with each other, focusing on access, discrimination, human rights and legal issues and the attitudinal barriers that these two marginalised communities can face.

Information for disabled people or their support staff/carers on how to access the sex industry and to access our Touching Base Referral List is contained in the Clients section of this website. There are also links to order our unique resources for people with disability.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Some of the resources and information on our NDIS and Sex Work section is being removed until we have clarified what has changed since the amended NDIS Act came into force on the 3rd October 2024.

Information for sex workers including training workshops, resources and information about disability is contained in the Sex Workers section of this website.

We also offer training workshops tailored to disability service providers.

This website contains some material of a sexual nature suitable for adults only.

Currently Touching Base does not receive any government funding so all donations are most gratefully received.

Our Principles

In 1995, the partial decriminalisation of sex work in New South Wales (NSW) Australia recognised sex work as a lawful occupation. Since then several other Australian State and Territories have decriminalised  sex work and other are planning to.  The sex industry has a wealth of practical knowledge in dealing with a wide range of sexual issues and has the right to be respected and consulted as the primary stakeholders in any matters relating to the provision of sexual services. As the initiators of the Touching Base Project, sex workers, disabled people and our allies are actively pursuing this right.

People with a disability, including older people with disability, have an intrinsic right to sexual expression. This right enables people to develop relationships, have sex, explore and express their sexuality and achieve intimacy without personal or systemic barriers. Furthermore, necessary personal and systemic supports must be provided for the expression of this right.

Our Aims

As part of a commitment to supporting such rights, Touching Base NSW aims to:

  • Facilitate the links between people with a disability, including older people with disability,  their support organisations and the Sex Industry;
  • Encourage information sharing and educational training programs for sex workers, people with disability, including older people with disability, and their carers; and
  • Raise the public and professional awareness of the issues surrounding the access and provision of sex industry services for people with disability. including older people with disability.
Our Vision

In acknowledging that sexual and physical intimacy are core to the human experience, the Touching Base vision is for a societal culture where disabled people, including older people with disability, can freely choose and easily access the services of sex industry professionals to meet their sexual and physical intimacy needs.

Language

Touching Base has begun alternating the use of the wording ‘people with disability’ and ‘disabled people’ on our website. We are doing this to reflect feedback we have received from disabled sex workers and we acknowledge that some people prefer person-first language and others prefer identity-first language, eg. many in the deaf community, and autistic people.

Our Mission

Touching Base supports the intrinsic right of people with disability, including older people with disability, to sexual expression and physical intimacy, and values the professional services that sex workers provide to members of the community, including those living with disability.

Touching Base seeks to diminish the barriers that people with disability, including older people with disability, experience in accessing the sex industry by engaging with:

  • disabled people and their support staff/carers
  • disability service providers
  • sex workers and sex worker representative bodies
  • legislative decision makers

by encouraging and facilitating:

  • information sharing
  • educational and training programs
  • innovative approaches to resolving sector issues
Values 

As our approach is person-centred to empower each individual we work with, in our conduct and care we value:

  • inclusivity – we embrace diverse ability, thought, skills, knowledge, and background
  • integrity  – we are ethical and accountable
  • transparency – we communicate and act openly
  • professionalism – we are reliable, consistent and honest
  • collaboration – we are stronger together
Our Patrons

Touching Base is honoured to have three eminent Australians as patrons.

They are two of Australia’s most well-known human rights campaigners,
The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG and Eva Cox AO, and
esteemed academic researcher Professor Basil Donovan AO (retired).

Follow this link for more information and quotes from our Patrons.

Our Committee of Management

The Touching Base Inc Committee of Management is made up of a majority of people with disability and sex workers, along with other individuals committed to achieving our Aims and Vision.

Touching Base Constitution

Touching Base Constitution (Word ) Touching Base Constitution (PDF 264kb)

Annual Reports

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

Touching Base endorses The Uluru Statement from the Heart and acknowledges First Nations as the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia, their diversity, histories and knowledge, and their continuing connections to land and community. As Australians all, we respect our nation’s First Peoples, their cultures, and Elders of past, present and future generations.