Victorian Numbered Acts Victorian Numbered Acts(1) In this Act, a "change or suppression practice" means a practice or conduct directed towards a person, whether with or without the person's consent—
(a) on the basis of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity; and
(b) for the purpose of—
(i) changing or suppressing the sexual orientation or gender identity of the person; or
(ii) inducing the person to change or suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a practice or conduct is not a change or suppression practice if it—
(a) is supportive of or affirms a person's gender identity or sexual orientation including, but not limited to, a practice or conduct for the purposes of—
(i) assisting a person who is undergoing a gender transition; or
(ii) assisting a person who is considering undergoing a gender transition; or
(iii) assisting a person to express their gender identity; or
(iv) providing acceptance, support or understanding of a person; or
(v) facilitating a person's coping skills, social support or identity exploration and development; or
(b) is a practice or conduct of a health service provider that is, in the health service provider's reasonable professional judgement, necessary—
(i) to provide a health service; or
(ii) to comply with the legal or professional obligations of the health service provider.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), a practice includes, but is not limited to the following—
(a) providing a psychiatry or psychotherapy consultation, treatment or therapy, or any other similar consultation, treatment or therapy;
(b) carrying out a religious practice, including but not limited to, a prayer based practice, a deliverance practice or an exorcism;
(c) giving a person a referral for the purposes of a change or suppression practice being directed towards the person.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (1), a practice or conduct may be directed towards a person remotely (including online) or in person.