The Somatic Sex Educators’ Association of Australasia (SSEAA) is managed by a dedicated volunteer committee who are also members and professionals in the field.
Our Current Committee for 2015/2016
President: Ziggy Day
Vice-President: Laura-Doe Harris
Secretary: Jordan Hackett
Treasurer: Rebecca Rose
Ordinary Committee Members: Uma Furman, Jonn Close
The committee is re-elected every year at the AGM and meets a minimum of four times a year. Sub-committees are formed for various projects and general members may be involved. If you have an interest in joining the committee or a sub-committee please email us admin@sseaa.org
Sexological bodywork history
The Work developed out of the AIDS epidemic of the 1980’s in San Francisco when people’s eroticism shut down as a result of the crises. A group of people, amongst them Joseph Kramer the creator of sexological bodywork started developing and experimenting with ways in which people could connect with their bodies and sexuality in ways that are safe and shame free.
Joseph along with Annie Sprinkle, Barbara Carrellas, Chester Mainard and others developed a style of mindful erotic bodywork they named A Taoist Erotic Massage.
Joseph founded the Body Electric School that taught over the years tens of thousands of people this style of bodywork. He noticed that participants has incredible life changing experiences but were having difficulty integrating those experiences to their daily lives. He started researching ways in which integration and learning can happen. Out of that inquiry the sexological bodywork profession was borne with the understanding that integration takes time and regular practice. Sexological bodyworkers are somatic sex educators, supporting individuals, couples and groups to learn to direct their own erotic development, learn about their bodies, sex and sexuality, or work through sexual issues or concerns. They aim to empower their students, through different coaching and teaching methods to live more fully in their bodies.
The training was brought to Australia in 2010 after being taught in San Francisco since 2003. Joseph Kramer and Ellen Heed, who are still an important part of the faculty and contribute greatly to the curriculum, first taught it. The Institute of Somatic Sexology teaches it now.
Wishing to establish sexological bodywork as a legitimate profession in Australia and the rest of the world, with clear guidelines, ethics and educational requirements, graduates of the first Australasian sexological bodywork course established SSEAA.
The Association has been establishing itself over the years, with the dedicated work of its members who have been working tirelessly to establish somatic sex education as a mainstream and well need profession in our region.