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.

52C Sexual assault of a person with a cognitive impairment or mental illness

(1)A person (A) commits an offence if—

(a)A intentionally—

(i)touches another person (B); or

(ii)causes or allows B to touch A; or

(iii)causes B—

(A)to touch, or to continue to touch, themselves; or

(B)to touch, or to continue to touch, another person (C) or an animal; or

(C)to be touched, or to continue to be touched, by C or by an animal; and

(b)B has a cognitive impairment or mental illness; and

(c)A—

(i)provides treatment or support services to B; or

(ii)is a worker for a service provider that provides treatment or support services to B; and

(d)the touching is—

(i)sexual; and

(ii)contrary to community standards of acceptable conduct.

(2)A person who commits an offence against subsection (1) is liable to level 6 imprisonment (5 years maximum).

(3)Whether or not the touching is contrary to community standards of acceptable conduct depends on the circumstances.

(4)For the purposes of subsection (3)—

(a)the circumstances include—

(i)the purpose of the touching; and

(ii)whether A seeks or gets sexual arousal or sexual gratification from the touching;

(b)the circumstances do not include—

(i)whether B consents to the touching; or

(ii)whether A believes that B consents to the touching.

1An exception applies to this offence—see section 52G.

2Defences apply to this offence—see sections 52H, 52I and 52J.

3A mistaken but honest and reasonable belief of certain matters is not a defence against this offence— see section 52K.