WAAC has been heating things up at Perth’s premier sex-on-premises venue (SOPV) for men who have sex with men (MSM), Perth Steam Works, for over 15 years. What started as outreach testing has grown into a model of how sexual health can be integrated into community spaces where people meet and play.
For many men, testing at a clinic isn’t always the easiest option. Some want to remain anonymous, some need more discretion, some can’t afford out-of-pocket fees, and some just won’t walk through the door of a sexual health service. By meeting people where they are – literally next to the bar – WAAC has helped to reduce those barriers. Through this model, clients can chat, grab a drink, hang out in a towel, and feel reassured that looking after their sexual health doesn’t have to come with shame or inconvenience.
In the last 14 months, we’ve taken things further by adding mpox vaccinations (delivered by a volunteer enrolled nurse) and since December 2024, we introduced PrEP prescribing (delivered by an M Clinic doctor) on-site. These additions were a direct response to identified epidemiological need. In that time, 131 PrEP scripts, 134 doxy-PEP scripts and 160 mpox vaccinations have been provided, alongside nurse-led testing that supported 552 clients (a total of 2,369 STI tests). And all this happened in just two hours a week, every Thursday night. Proof that adjusting from the norm can make a big impact.
WAAC wanted to go beyond just clinical outreach, knowing that sexual health is also about culture and connection. WAAC’s Health Promotion team jumped into the sauna action with a series of “bathhouse etiquette” workshops, covering topics such as consent and communication, sex and drug use, sexual health, STI prevention and testing, rejection, inclusivity, and classic dos and don’ts. The first workshop focused on MSM, while the second took place during PSW’s all-gender “Fluid Night.” Across the two sessions, around 50 patrons joined in, giving feedback that was overwhelmingly positive and encouraging, for the team to attend the sauna again in future.
Our partnership with Steam Works shows what’s possible when sexual health services lean into the spaces where our communities already gather. It’s prevention and care that’s practical, sex-positive, and yes – just the right amount of steamy.