Text as at 26 April 2026

This provision has not been checked by a human. The text below was read automatically from the official PDF and has not yet been verified against it, so it may differ from the provision as published — in its wording, its numbering, or where one provision ends and the next begins. For the authorised text, see legislation.vic.gov.au.

15 Definitions

In this subdivision—

S. 15 substituted by No. 10233 s. 8(2).

abortion has the meaning given in the Abortion Law Reform Act 2008;

S. 15 def. of abortion inserted by No. 58/2008 s. 10(1).

child means any person under the age of 18 years;

S. 15 def. of child inserted by No. 46/1996 s. 3.

female genital mutilation means all or any of the following—

S. 15 def. of female genital mutilation inserted by No. 46/1996 s. 3.S. 15 def. of prohibited female genital mutilation inserted by No. 46/1996 s. 3.

(a)infibulation;

(b)the excision or mutilation of the whole or a part of the clitoris;

(c)the excision or mutilation of the whole or a part of the labia minora or labia majora;

(d)any procedure to narrow or close the vaginal opening;

(e)the sealing or suturing together of the labia minora or labia majora;

(f)the removal of the clitoral hood;

firearm has the same meaning as in the Firearms Act 1996;

S. 15 def. of firearm inserted by No. 6/2013 s. 3(c).S. 15 def. of imitation firearm inserted by No. 6/2013 s. 3(c).

harm to mental health includes psychological harm but does not include an emotional reaction such as distress, grief, fear or anger unless it results in psychological harm;

S. 15 def. of harm to mental health inserted by No. 6/2013 s. 3(c).

imitation firearm has the same meaning as in section 77(1A);

injury means— whether temporary or permanent;

S. 15 def. of injury substituted by No. 6/2013 s. 3(a).S. 15 def. of physical injury inserted by No. 6/2013 s. 3(c).S. 15 def. of serious injury substituted by Nos 58/2008 s. 10(2), 6/2013 s. 3(b).

(a)physical injury; or

(b)harm to mental health—

medical practitioner means—

S. 15 def. of medical practitioner inserted by No. 46/1996 s. 3.S. 15 def. of registered medical practitioner inserted by No. 46/1996 s. 3, substituted by Nos 97/2005 s. 182(Sch. 4 item 14.1(a)), 13/2010 s. 51(Sch. item 17.1).

(a)a registered medical practitioner; or

(b)in relation to the performance of female genital mutilation outside Victoria, a person who, in the place in which the female genital mutilation took place, holds an authority to practise medicine which is similar to that of a registered medical practitioner;

medical procedure, in relation to paragraph (b) of the definition of serious injury, means—

S. 15 def. of medical procedure inserted by No. 58/2008 s. 10(1).

(a)an abortion performed by a registered medical practitioner in accordance with the Abortion Law Reform Act 2008; or

(b)the administration or supply of a drug or drugs by a registered pharmacist or registered nurse in accordance with the Abortion Law Reform Act 2008 to cause an abortion;

midwife means—

S. 15 def. of midwife inserted by No. 46/1996 s. 3.S. 15 def. of registered midwife inserted by No. 46/1996 s. 3, amended by No. 97/2005 s. 182(Sch. 4 item 14.1(b)), substituted by No. 13/2010 s. 51(Sch. item 17.1).

(a)a registered midwife; or

(b)in relation to the performance of female genital mutilation outside Victoria, a person who, in the place in which the female genital mutilation took place, holds an authority to practise midwifery which is similar to that of registered midwife;

offensive weapon has the same meaning as in section 77(1A);

S. 15 def. of offensive weapon inserted by No. 6/2013 s. 3(c).

physical injury includes unconsciousness, disfigurement, substantial pain, infection with a disease and an impairment of bodily function;

prohibited female genital mutilation means female genital mutilation the performance of which would be an offence under this Act if carried out in the State;

registered medical practitioner means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the medical profession (other than as a student);

registered midwife means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law—

(a)to practise in the nursing and midwifery profession as a midwife (other than as a student); and

(b)in the register of midwives kept for that profession;

registered nurse means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the nursing and midwifery profession as a nurse (other than as a student);

S. 15 def. of registered nurse inserted by No. 58/2008 s. 10(1), substituted by No. 13/2010 s. 51(Sch. item 17.1).

registered pharmacist means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the pharmacy profession (other than as a student);

S. 15 def. of registered pharmacist inserted by No. 58/2008 s. 10(1), substituted by No. 13/2010 s. 51(Sch. item 17.1).

serious injury means—

(a)an injury (including the cumulative effect of more than one injury) that—

(i)endangers life; or

(ii)is substantial and protracted; or

(b)the destruction, other than in the course of a medical procedure, of the foetus of a pregnant woman, whether or not the woman suffers any other harm;

woman means a female person of any age.

S. 15 def. of woman inserted by No. 58/2008 s. 10(1).