Can a 16 year old date a 20 year old in Australia?

In general, there are no laws that say when a young person can start dating another person (but there are laws about doing sexual activity with another person, which we explain below!) However, there are laws which make grooming children under the age of 16 a crime.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on yla.org.au

Can a 16 year old get in trouble for dating a 20 year old?

No, it's not against the law for a 20 year old to "DATE" a 16 year old. The definition of 'date' means to go out together to a movie or to dinner or dance. It does not mean having sex...

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on thehealthyjournal.com

What is the legal age gap to date in Australia?

However, it is not an offence if the person honestly believed that you were 16 or if there was less than a two-year age difference between you. This is exactly two years. For example, if a person is 17 and has sex with someone who is 15, it is not a crime.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on legalaid.vic.gov.au

Can a 16 year old sleep with a 30 year old in Australia?

16 and over

If you're 16 or older, you can have sex with another person who is 16 or over without breaking the law—if you both agree, and are both capable of consenting—unless you are related to them or under their care. This also applies to same-sex couples.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on legalaid.qld.gov.au

Can a 15 year old date a 18 year old in Australia?

It is important to understand that it is not a crime for children under 16 to have sex! The law criminalises people who have sex with under-16-year-olds. So, if an 18-year-old is having consensual sex with a 15-year-old, the 18-year-old is guilty of an offence and the 15-year-old is the victim.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on health.nsw.gov.au

Is it Illegal for a 16 to Date a 19? Can a 19 Year Old Date a 16 Year Old?

45 related questions found

Is 17 and 19 legal in Australia?

The legal age for consensual sex varies between 16 and 17 years across Australian state and territory jurisdictions (see Table 2). For other sexual activities, the criminal legislation relating to different types of sexual behaviours and interactions varies across Australian jurisdictions.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on aifs.gov.au

Is a 16-year-old a minor in Australia?

About legal age in Australia

As your child grows up and becomes more independent, you might be wondering how old they need to be before they can do certain things. In Australia, you're considered to be an adult when you turn 18 years old.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on raisingchildren.net.au

Can a 16 year old sleep with a 19 year old in Australia?

If you are 16 years old and above, you can legally have sex (or do another sexual activity) with another person who is 16 years or older as long as you both agree to it.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on yla.org.au

Can a 16 year old sleep with a 20 year old?

There aren't any laws around being in a non-sexual relationship where one person is under 18 and the other over. Once you turn 16 it's not illegal for someone to have sex with you no matter how old they are.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on childline.org.uk

What can a 16 year old legally do in Australia?

16 year-olds can:
  • have sex as long as both people consent.
  • get a prescription for contraceptives.
  • apply to Housing ACT for a place to live.
  • get married with their parents' and/or the court's permission.
  • consent to a medical procedure without parental permission.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on parentlink.act.gov.au

What is the biggest age gap allowed?

"Half-your-age-plus-seven" rule

An often-asserted rule of thumb to determine whether an age difference is socially acceptable holds that a person should never date someone whose age is less than half their own plus seven years.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org

What age gap is too big to date?

Studies have found partners with more than a 10-year gap in age experience social disapproval. But when it comes to our own relationships, both men and women prefer someone their own age, but are open to someone 10-15 years their junior or senior.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on abc.net.au

How much of an age gap is legal?

What Is the Age of Consent? Federal law makes it criminal to engage in a sexual act with another person who is between the age of 12 and 16 if they are at least four years younger than you. Each state takes a different approach as the age of consent has ranged from 10 to 18.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on legalmatch.com

Can a 16-year-old date a 19?

Can a 16-year-old date an adult child? It is generally legal for a minor to be in a non-sexual dating relationship with an adult child. This includes the minor dating an 18-year-old, 19-year-old, 20-year-old, 21-year-old, etc.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on shouselaw.com

Is 16 and 19 ok?

Is it okay if I'm 19 and dating a 16-year-old? If “dating” includes having sex, it is illegal because the 16-yr-old is a minor. Don't do it. If the minor's parent or parents press charges, you could be in jail for a long time plus leave prison as a sexual predator, limited as to where you can live or work.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on quora.com

Is it OK for a 19 to date a 17?

A person under the age of 18 years cannot legally consent to sexual intercourse. The age of consent is the same for both males and females. Therefore, if you are 19 years old and have sex with a 17-year-old, you could be arrested for a sex crime. In most cases, the crime would be statutory rape.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on aerlawgroup.com

How late should a 16 year old go to bed?

That said: “9pm is a sensible approach.” For teenagers, Kelley says that, generally speaking, 13- to 16-year-olds should be in bed by 11.30pm.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on theguardian.com

What is the lowest age of consent?

But there are exceptions. Angola and the Philippines both set the age of consent at 12, which is the lowest in the world.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on worldpopulationreview.com

Can a 20 year old date a 15 year old?

No, it is generally not illegal to simply be in a non-sexual relationship with a minor. However, just because it is not illegal to date someone underage does not mean that everything in the relationship is permissible. Some non-sexual conduct that is common in dating relationships may still be illegal.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on shouselaw.com

What does turning 16 mean in Australia?

You are now in control of your life. The law says you are an adult and you don't need your parents' permission to do anything. You can: be taken to the adult courts if you break the law.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on yac.net.au

Is 17 still a minor in Australia?

Transition to adulthood is gradual

While a child becomes an adult at 18 in Australia, the legal age for certain things, like driving, can be younger and differ from state to state.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on sbs.com.au

Can a 20 year old date a 17 year old in Western Australia?

In Western Australia, the age of consent is 16 years for both males and females. Anyone under the age of 16 is said to be a child who cannot consent to sex or sexual behaviour, even if they agree.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on youthlegalserviceinc.com.au

How many years is a weird age gap?

A relationship age gap bigger than 10 years often comes with its own set of issues. “While there are always exceptions to rules, a good rule to remember is that dating someone more than 10 years older will present challenges now or later that add to the preexisting challenges any relationship has,” he says.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on glamour.com

What kind of age gap is OK?

In short, research seems to indicate that in many cultures, an age gap of 1 to 3 years is considered ideal — but some researchers suggest even a relationship with an age gap of less than 10 years will bring more satisfaction.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on psychcentral.com

Is 17 and 19 grooming?

Is 19 and 17 grooming? Yes, it is. Grooming isn't about age, it's about authority and power.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on thehealthyjournal.com