SASHA Membership Categories and Criteria
Professional Membership:
Registered with a Professional Regulatory Body in Medicine, Nursing, Psychology, Social Work, Counselling and Teaching.
1) You must be currently a registered member of a South African professional regulatory body (HPCSA, SACSSP, SANC, ASCHP, CCSA and SACE) and maintain an active registered status whilst a registered member of SASHA.
2) Non-South African citizens, who are registered with their regulatory professional bodies are welcome to apply for Professional Membership of SASHA. A process of verifying qualifications, academic institutions and registration with a legitimately instituted statutory professional regulatory body in the country of origin will be implemented.
3) You must work in or have an interest in any area related to the field of sexology, sexual health, sexual well-being and sexuality education.
4) New Professional membership application requires:
- Certified proof of qualification
- Certified proof of registration with the regulatory body, with registration number
- CV
- Proof of payment of membership fee.
5) Renewal of Professional membership requires proof of active professional registration and proof of payment of membership fee.
6) SASHA branding may not be used on the marketing materials of your website/social media platforms unless given a written permission from the SASHA board.
Affiliate Membership:
Not Registered with a Professional Regulatory Body and working or doing research in the field of sexology, sexual health, sexual wellbeing and sexuality education
1) You, as an individual, must have a proven track record of research and/or working in the field of sexology, sexual health and sexuality education.
2) You may be working as an academic researcher, sex educator or have certified training in sexual health and well-being that does not result in or require professional regulatory and statutory registration.
3) New Affiliate membership application requires:
- CV
- 2 letters of recommendation from persons recognised in the sexology, sexual health, sexual well-being or sexuality education fields
- Certified copies of any applicable certificates, diplomas or degrees
- A letter of motivation stating why SASHA membership is desired and how it would be beneficial
- A pledge and commitment to abide by the SASHA code of conduct
- Proof of payment of membership fee.
4) Renewal of Affiliate membership requires proof of payment of membership fees.
5) SASHA branding may not be used on the marketing materials of your website/social media platforms unless given a written permission from the SASHA board.
Student Membership:
Any student at any recognised accredited tertiary institution registered in a field that can be clearly linked to the aims of SASHA, sexology, sexual health, sexual wellbeing and sexuality education.
1) You are a student actively registered with any recognised accredited tertiary institution.
2) You must be studying and/or researching in a field clearly linked to the aims of SASHA and have a genuine interest in the field of sexology, sexual health & well-being and sexuality education.
3) New Student membership application requires:
- Proof of active student registration i.e. official confirmation of registration from institution
- A letter of motivation indicating field of study, link to the aims of SASHA, sexology, sexual health, sexual well-being and/or sexuality education described, and stating why SASHA membership is desired and how it would be beneficial
- A pledge and commitment to abide by the SASHA code of conduct;
- Student membership is free so no proof of payment required.
4) Renewal of Student Membership requires proof of active student registration.
5) Persons who are already professionally qualified and registered with a statutory regulatory body to practice and registered as a student for further education and training at an accredited tertiary institution, do not qualify for student membership.
6) SASHA branding may not be used on the marketing materials of your website/social media platforms unless given a written permission from the SASHA board.
Lifetime Membership:
1) Lifetime membership (previously titled Founding and Institutional membership): These are lifetime memberships and are awarded to members who have been instrumental in the founding and running of SASHA, including past presidents of SASHA. The decision regarding the conferring of lifetime membership will be made by the board.
2) Honorary membership: These memberships are awarded to members who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of sexual health in Southern Africa. The decision regarding the conferring of honorary membership will be made by the board.
3) Members with life time membership status will be kept on a Lifetime Membership register.
Friends of SASHA:
This indicates an association with SASHA and allows for participation in the education activities of SASHA and a commitment to uphold the code of conduct of SASHA.
1) You work in the arena of diverse practices, such as sexological and “other” body workers, sensual, erotic and “other” massage therapies; somatic sex education; and Tantra.
2) You offer adult erotic and play services, such as a sex work, a master, a dominatrix, fetish play, rope play, etc.
3) You work on the more commercial side of sexual health, sexual well-being and sexuality education, such as a retailer of sexual pleasure products and equipment for adult play and fantasy, or run adult pleasure socialisation and play spaces.
4) Applying to be a Friend of SASHA requires:
- CV
- 2 letters of recommendation from persons recognised in the sexology, sexual health, sexual well-being and sexuality education fields
- Certified copies of any applicable certificates, diplomas or degrees
- A letter of motivation stating why a Friends of SASHA association is desired and how it would be beneficial and
- A pledge/commitment to ethical business practice/s and offering of services. The pledge must include a clear unambiguous commitment to consent informed practices and activities, especially practices and activities that involve touch
- Proof of payment of a R900 fee.
5) A Friend of SASHA association is applied for by an individual, and if a business/service/practice/
6) Renewal of a Friend of SASHA association requires proof of payment of yearly fees.
7) SASHA branding may not be used by Friends of SASHA on the marketing materials or websites of their organisations/practices/
8) A Friends of SASHA association is not an endorsement from SASHA for your business/service/practice/
Cost of Membership and Association:
- Professional membership, Affiliate membership and a Friends of SASHA association (New and Renew) fee: R900 from 1 April 2023 (Annual increase in line with inflation may apply and the website updated accordingly).
- Student membership: Free
- Life Time Membership: Free