Frequently asked questions

Are conversion practices legal in NSW?

No, LGBTQA conversion practices are not legal in NSW. 

On 22 March 2024, the NSW Parliament passed a bill that bans LGBTQA conversion practices. 

This ban came into force in the Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 (NSW) on 4 April 2025, which means that conversion practices are unlawful in NSW from this date. 

From 4 April 2025, it is also unlawful to:

• take an individual from NSW interstate or overseas for conversion practices
• engage a person outside of NSW to deliver a conversion practice to someone in NSW.

Why have conversion practices been banned?

Conversion practices have no basis in medicine and there is no evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. While gender identity can be fluid, attempts to forcibly change it are harmful and ineffective. These practices can cause long-term mental health issues and, in the most tragic of cases, suicide.

Sadly, it is common for LGBTQA people to be told that they are broken or damaged because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This is especially common for LGBTQA people who have grown up in or joined a faith community. 

Everyone deserves to be respected for who they are.

In NSW, all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity should feel welcome and valued and be able to live authentically and with pride.  

What are examples of conversion practices?

Conversion practices include but are not limited to:

• Using shame, coercion or other tactics to give someone an aversion to same-sex attractions or to encourage gender-conforming behaviour
• Encouraging someone to believe their sexuality or gender is defective or disordered
• Performing a ritual, such as an exorcism or prayer-based practice to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identify.

Often, LGBTQA conversion practices are difficult to recognise because the forms they take might at first appear to be non-threatening, such as group study, mentoring and counselling, or camps and courses.

SOGICE Survivors and Amnesty International Australia have developed a graphic that shows common experiences of modern survivors of conversion practices in Australia.

Can conversion practices happen online? 

Yes, conversion practices can happen online. It doesn’t matter if conversion practices are delivered in-person or online – both are unlawful.  

Engaging someone from outside of NSW to deliver a conversion practice (either in-person or online) to someone in NSW is an offence. 

What about prayer and the teaching of abstinence and celibacy?

The Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 does not prohibit prayer. However, praying with or over a person with the intent to change or suppress their sexuality or gender identify is unlawful. It is unlawful even if that person has asked you to pray for them to be able to change or suppress their sexuality or gender identity.

General comments about celibacy and abstinence in broad statements of belief are not unlawful. However, telling a person in a same-sex relationship that they must stop being sexually active and become celibate could be regarded as suppressing a person’s sexuality and may be unlawful, depending on the circumstances. 

Similarly, telling an LGBTQA person that they should remain celibate and never marry or have a sexual relationship with a person of the same sex, could be regarded as suppressing a person’s sexuality and may be unlawful, depending on the circumstances. 

What is not a conversion practice?

It is not a conversion practice to do any of the following providing there is no intention to change or suppress an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity:

• A religious leader preaching to or praying for their congregation
• A religious leader praying for or providing pastoral care for an individual
• A parent or guardian respectfully discussing sexuality or gender with their child – including offering advice and guidance or expressing a belief or religious principle
• A health practitioner providing supportive, affirming care.

What other practices are permitted?

The Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 supports all people practising and enjoying their religion and faith. It allows individual views on sexuality and gender.

The following practices are not against the law in NSW:

Statements of belief 

• Including statements of belief or principle about gender, sexuality, marriage, celibacy or homosexuality in documentation or on a website, as long as the statement is not targeted at an individual to change or suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity
• Discussing any of the above subjects in private or in general conversation, as long as the discussion is not targeted at an individual to change or suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity 
• Delivering a sermon or other teaching to a group of people on any of those subjects, as long as the sermon is not targeted at an individual to change or suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity
• Discussing any of the above in study groups or other learning environments, as long as the discussion is not targeted at an individual to change or suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity
• Creating resources that support a faith’s position on any of those subjects.

Counselling and advice 

• Listening to someone explore the possibility that they may or may not be attracted to the gender or don’t feel comfortable with their assigned gender at birth
• Providing a person with comfort and reassurance and, where appropriate, referrals to external affirming support 
• Ensuring a person knows they are safe and can talk in confidence without the information being shared 
• Checking in with people about their family and friends and support networks.

What can health practitioners do?

Health practitioners can provide supportive, affirming care to members of the LGBTQA community across NSW. Practitioners need to act within legal, professional and ethical standards and exercise reasonable professional judgement when providing this care.

Safe, inclusive and affirming care allows LGBTQA individuals to live authentically and with pride. 

Any of the following are allowed under the law if assessed by a registered health practitioner as clinically appropriate:

• genuinely assisting an individual who is exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity, or seeking to or engaging in gender affirmation processes
• genuinely assisting an individual who is receiving care and treatment related to their gender identity
• genuinely advising an individual about the potential impacts of gender affirming medical treatment.

Have I experienced a conversion practice?

Everyone deserves to be respected for who they are. 

From 4 April 2025, it is against the law for someone to try to change or suppress – or make you change or suppress – your sexual orientation or gender identity, even if you ask for help to do so.

If you are unsure if what you have experienced or witnessed is considered a conversion practice, you can contact Anti-Discrimination NSW for confidential information. 

Call us: 1800 670 812 (weekdays 9am to 4pm)

Email: complaintsadb@justice.nsw.gov.au

Who can report a conversion practice?

Anyone who thinks they see or may be experiencing a LGBTQA conversion practice is encouraged to contact Anti-Discrimination NSW.

We can accept reports from anyone, including anonymous reports.

We can accept formal complaints from:

• an individual, on their own behalf, or on their own behalf and on behalf of another individual
• a parent/guardian of an individual who lacks legal capacity (for example, because of their age or disability)
• a representative body
• an agent of an individual (for example, a lawyer).

We can accept:

• complaints on behalf of others (with consent)
• representative complaints (with consent from each person being included and sufficient interest in the matter by the representative group).

If I report a conversion practice, what will Anti-Discrimination NSW do?

The Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 creates a civil complaints scheme so complaints about conversion practices can be made to Anti-Discrimination NSW for investigation and conciliation. Anti-Discrimination NSW also has an education and research role.

People are encouraged to report conversion practices (even anonymously). Our staff can speak with you about your experience and discuss what you would like to do next. 

Some people may just want to tell their story and be guided towards resources and support services. Other people may ask Anti-Discrimination NSW to investigate and provide targeted education, to prevent others being subjected to conversion practices. Other people may wish to make a formal complaint and seek an apology and/or compensation through a conciliation process. You will not be required to meet with or talk directly with the other party, unless you choose to.

Anti-Discrimination NSW can take formal complaints about conversion practices that occurred on or after 4 April 2025. If the practices began before 4 April 2025 but continued past this date, a complaint can still be made.

Although formal complaints cannot be made about historical conversion practices from before 4 April 2025, Anti-Discrimination NSW welcomes you to share your story. We can guide you towards resources and support services for ongoing healing and assistance in navigating any challenges related to your experience. It will also be valuable to help us understand more about conversion practices in NSW, to help with our work to eliminate them.

If I make a formal complaint, what outcomes can I expect? 

It’s OK if you don’t know what outcome you are hoping for when you contact Anti-Discrimination NSW. We can provide information and referrals to support services and other agencies where appropriate. 

If a matter goes to conciliation, you will not be required to meet with or talk directly with the other party, unless you choose to. Through a specialised conciliation officer, you can ask for any outcome you like, and this would be negotiated for agreement between you and the other party.

This could include:

• some kind of acknowledgment, recognition or apology from the reported person/organisation
• an agreement not to carry on conversion practices in the future, or a change of policy
• financial compensation from the reported person/organisation
• education or training for the reported person/organisation.

If a matter does not resolve through conciliation, it might go on to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, where the outcome could include financial compensation up to $100,000, and/or an order for the respondent to stop or not repeat the conduct; perform any reasonable act or course of conduct to redress loss or damage, and/or publish an apology or retraction.

What can I do if I experienced a conversion practice in NSW before 4 April 2025? 

Conversion practices are only against the law in NSW from 4 April 2025, and we can only accept a formal complaint about a conversion practice that happened on or after that date. But we still encourage and welcome reports about historical conversion practices.

We understand that conversion practices and the harms that they cause are often complex and long term. We may still be able to provide information and support. 

Your story may also help Anti-Discrimination NSW to understand more about conversion practices and target our community engagement, education and research work to help eliminate these practices so that others are not harmed by them in future.

What if I participated willingly, asked for help or consented to the change or suppression attempts?  

Conversion practices are still unlawful even when a person seeks them out for themselves. They are also unlawful if a parent seeks them out – or provides consent – on behalf of their child. 

People who ask for conversion practices have often absorbed negative messages about LGBTQA people from a young age, and fear losing family, friends and community connections. 

Will I be identified if I report a conversion practice? Will I have to talk to the person I am reporting?

You are welcome to make an anonymous report to us. We will not identify you without your consent. 

If you are seeking a particular outcome, such as an apology or compensation from the reported person/organisation, we will need to tell them who is making the complaint. 

You will never be required to talk to or face them without your consent. Even if you choose to take the matter to conciliation, we can liaise with each party separately.

Do I need legal advice or representation?

You do not need a lawyer to make a report or complaint to Anti-Discrimination NSW.

While you do not have to get legal advice, it is important to note that Anti-Discrimination NSW is an impartial complaint handling body and cannot provide legal advice. 

If we think it is appropriate, we might suggest that you seek legal advice or refer you to LawAccess NSW for free legal help. 

If you choose to lodge a formal complaint and go to conciliation, you can ask to have your lawyer present at the conciliation conference, if you have one. You can also ask to have a support person with you at the conciliation conference. 

What are the penalties for conversion practices in NSW? 

The Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 includes:

• civil (non-criminal) options for responding to conversion practices
• criminal offences for:
  • conversion practices that cause substantial mental or physical harm, or endanger an individual’s life
  • taking someone outside of NSW for these practices or engaging someone from outside of NSW to deliver a conversion practice to someone in NSW.

Anyone who provides a conversion practice that causes substantial mental or physical harm, or endangers an individual’s life, can face up to 5 years in prison. 

Taking someone outside of NSW for these practices or engaging someone from outside of NSW to deliver a conversion practice to someone in NSW – can lead up to 3 years in prison, a fine, or both. 

The criminal offences are overseen by NSW Police.

What happens if someone makes a complaint against me or my organisation?

It would depend on the circumstances of the individual case, and the nature and seriousness of the allegations. 

There are some situations where the police could be involved, and criminal penalties could apply.

If a health service provider is involved, the complaint might be referred to a health care complaints agency.

If the complainant wanted Anti-Discrimination NSW to investigate their complaint and try to resolve the complaint through conciliation, we would work with you and them to negotiate an agreed outcome. Anti-Discrimination NSW is impartial and does not take sides.

In conciliation, the complainant could ask for outcomes that might include:

• financial compensation
• a commitment from you to:
  • stop or not repeat the conduct
  • agree to targeted education or training 
  • perform any reasonable act or course of conduct to redress loss or damage
  • publish an apology or retraction.

If a matter does not resolve through conciliation, it might go on to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, where the outcome could include financial compensation up to $100,000, and/or an order for the respondent to stop or not repeat the conduct; perform any reasonable act or course of conduct to redress loss or damage, and/or publish an apology or retraction.