Project Respect supports women wishing to leave the sex industry through education and employment pathways. Our staff can support women who are studying, including checking essays and providing access to computers, and will give information and support to women who wish to return to study.

In 2008, Project Respect ran the Pathways course and is seeking long-term funding to make this a core program. Pathways is a unique exit program for women, addressing the need for skills training and support, recognising that women in the sex industry face considerable disadvantage and exploitation.

The aim of Pathways is to create a group of women who are work/education ready and have the skills and support to feel successful in their lives.

The Pathways program offers the following modules:

Module One – Transition issues

This covers areas such as stigma, addressing shame, power and violence

Module Two – Healing and building for the future

Building good relationships, planning for the future

Module Three – Preparing to work or study

Identifying career pathways and how to successfully access educational and employment pathways

Module Four – Individual programs

Individual programs for women to pursue specific courses/interests and employment

Participants also have opportunities to access one-to-one services with a range of local community organisations such as financial counselling and legal services.

If any women in the sex industry would like to speak to Project Respect's outreach worker you can call us at +61 3 9416 3401 or contact us by email

Debi’s story

“The Pathways program was great; at last I was able to talk with women who had similar experiences. No taboos. I was able to work through the past and look towards the future. We have a lot of guest speakers from different areas e.g. Psychology, counseling, Legal services. The knowledge of these people, as well as that of the facilitators who have lived the experience of the sex industry, and of the other women in the group has been helpful to me in many areas of my life. Project Respect has improved the quality of my life and I will now move on to their advocacy training. I hope to raise the status of prostitution in society, assist women to get out, support them if they can’t, and generally acknowledge the self worth of each and every one of us.”

Sustainable employment

Project Respect’s current vision is to open a Thai Noodle Bar in Melbourne to serve and assist women who have been victims of trafficking into Australia - a community enterprise offering long-term sustainable employment for former trafficked women.The idea came from one of the women we work with who has been trafficked to Australia and who has been heavily involved in developing the business plan.

The Noodle Bar will provide work for women who have been trafficked and will assist them in developing business and hospitality management skills.

Our aim is to raise $250,000 to establish a Thai Noodle Bar, money raised will help:

• Employ and support women who have been trafficked into Australia for prostitution
• Retrain trafficked women and provide them with business skills
• Establish a Thai take-away Noodle Bar with equipment, stock and cover rental fees

To get involved go to the Donations page and be a regular supporter of Project Respect