Association manager Janelle Fawkes says South Australia is lagging behind other states in its treatment of sex workers and more needs to be done to protect them.

"We'd like to see anti-discrimination legislation, whether it's preventing print-based media from overcharging sex workers as they do all over the country," she said.

"Or whether it's from real estate agents or banks that knock back sex workers purely because of their chosen occupation."

Ms Fawkes says she hopes the forum will also give the public a better understanding of the industry.

"Some of the stereotypes of course include the fact that sex workers have no choice, are in the industry because they can't get another job," she said.

"And of course some of the people that we have here at our conference are university lecturers, have other professional jobs and do sex work part-time."

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