List of women bishops in the Anglican Church of Australia
Introduction


In September 2007 a majority of the Appellate Tribunal of the [Anglican Church of Australia](/wiki/Anglican_Church_of_Australia "Anglican Church of Australia") decided nothing in the church's constitution prevented a diocese from consecrating women [priests](/wiki/Priest "Priest") as [bishops](/wiki/Bishop "Bishop"). The appointment of women as bishops is still contested in a few parts of the Anglican Church in Australia and is discussed in both the religious and mainstream press.

The [Anglican Diocese of Sydney](/wiki/Anglican_Diocese_of_Sydney "Anglican Diocese of Sydney") refuses to recognise women as priests or bishops and will only ordain women as deacons. [Metropolitans](/wiki/Metropolitan_bishop "Metropolitan bishop") usually consecrate bishops. The [metropolitan](/wiki/Metropolitan_bishop "Metropolitan bishop") of the province and state of New South Wales is also the [Archbishop of Sydney](/wiki/Anglican_Archbishop_of_Sydney "Anglican Archbishop of Sydney"). The [Anglican diocese of Canberra and Goulburn](/wiki/Anglican_Diocese_of_Canberra_and_Goulburn "Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn"), the [Anglican diocese of Grafton](/wiki/Anglican_Diocese_of_Grafton "Anglican Diocese of Grafton") and the [Anglican diocese of Newcastle](/wiki/Anglican_Diocese_of_Newcastle_%28Australia%29 "Anglican Diocese of Newcastle (Australia)") are located within the province of [New South Wales](/wiki/New_South_Wales "New South Wales"). Three consecutive Archbishops of Sydney/Metropolitans of New South Wales formally authorised the consecration of five women bishops within those dioceses, but would not participate and deputised other bishops to conduct the consecrations: the [Bishop of Newcastle](/wiki/Anglican_Diocese_of_Newcastle_%28Australia%29 "Anglican Diocese of Newcastle (Australia)") for three women in Canberra and Goulburn and one woman in Newcastle, and the Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn for the first female [Bishop of Grafton](/wiki/Anglican_Diocese_of_Grafton "Anglican Diocese of Grafton").

These women have been consecrated and installed as bishops in the Anglican Church of Australia. Each bishop's biographical article is linked from her name when one has been written.The Anglican Church of Australia. 2021\. “Directory.”

| Name | Date first consecrated bishop | Office, Diocese, Dates |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Kay Goldsworthy](/wiki/Kay_Goldsworthy "Kay Goldsworthy") | 22 May 2008 | Assistant Bishop, Perth (2008–2015\); Bishop, Gippsland (2015–2017\); Archbishop, Perth () |
| [Barbara Darling](/wiki/Barbara_Darling "Barbara Darling") | 31 May 2008 | Bishop for Diocesan Ministries, Melbourne (2008–2009\); Bishop of the Eastern Region, Melbourne (2009–2014\) |
| [Genieve Blackwell](/wiki/Genieve_Blackwell "Genieve Blackwell") | 31 March 2012 | Regional Assistant Bishop, Wagga Wagga, Canberra and Goulburn (2012–2015\); Assistant Bishop Marmingatha Episcopate, Melbourne () |
| [Alison Taylor](/wiki/Alison_Taylor_%28bishop%29 "Alison Taylor (bishop)") | 6 April 2013 | Bishop, Southern Region, Brisbane (2013–2018\) |
| [Sarah Macneil](/wiki/Sarah_Macneil "Sarah Macneil") | 1 March 2014 | Bishop, Grafton (2014–2018\) |
| [Kate Wilmot](/wiki/Kate_Wilmot "Kate Wilmot") | 6 August 2015 | Assistant Bishop, South Area of Episcopal Oversight, Perth () |
| [Sonia Roulston](/wiki/Sonia_Roulston "Sonia Roulston") | 10 May 2018 | Assistant Bishop, Inland Episcopate, Newcastle () |
| [Kate Prowd](/wiki/Kate_Prowd "Kate Prowd") | 6 October 2018 | Assistant Bishop, Melbourne () |
| [Denise Ferguson](/wiki/Denise_Ferguson "Denise Ferguson") | 21 July 2019 | Assistant Bishop, Adelaide (2019\-2024\) |
| [Carol Wagner](/wiki/Carol_Wagner "Carol Wagner") | 22 February 2020 | Assistant Bishop, Canberra and Goulburn (2020–2024\) |
| [Sarah Plowman](/wiki/Sarah_Plowman "Sarah Plowman") | 21 June 2024 | Assistant Bishop and Bishop for the Northern Region, Brisbane () |
| [Sophie Relf\-Christopher](/wiki/Sophie_Relf-Christopher "Sophie Relf-Christopher") | 15 August 2024 | Assistant Bishop, Adelaide () |
| Vanessa Bennett Short, Mark "Pastoral Letter: Appointment of New Assistant Bishop", The Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn. Read aloud in churches Sunday 6 May 2024, sent to all churches and ministry units. | 24 August 2024  | Assistant Bishop, Canberra and Goulburn () |

File:Genieve Blackwell 01\.jpg\|Genieve Blackwell, Bishop of Melbourne, Marmingatha Episcopate, preaching the sermon at the consecration of Vanessa Bennett
File:Consecration of Vanessa Bennett as assistant bishop in the Anglican diocese of Canberra and Goulburn 07\.jpg\|During the presentation of symbols of episcopal ministry, Sub\-Dean Anne Wentzel places the mitre on Bishop Vanessa.
File:Consecration of Vanessa Bennett as assistant bishop in the Anglican diocese of Canberra and Goulburn 02\.jpg\|Fellow bishops prepare to lay hands on Bishop Vanessa and pray for her. On the left is Bishop Sarah Macneil and further right is Bishop Genieve Blackwell.
File:Consecration of Vanessa Bennett as assistant bishop in the Anglican diocese of Canberra and Goulburn 05\.jpg\|Bishop Vanessa Bennett is presented to the congregation
File:Consecration of Vanessa Bennett as assistant bishop in the Anglican diocese of Canberra and Goulburn 06\.jpg\|Newly consecrated Bishop Vanessa Bennett proceeds from the cathedral behind Dean Gavin Krebs


Where are the Anglican dioceses of Canberra and Goulburn, Grafton, and Newcastle located?