The Catholic Church in Australia is administratively and geographically divided into seven Archdioceses which embrace 21 smaller Dioceses. The capital cities of the Australian states are Archdioceses, as is Canberra.

Each Archdiocese and its smaller dioceses are grouped into Provinces. The Dioceses of a Province are described as 'Suffragen'

Each Diocese is under the authority of its Bishop, with each of the seven major provincial dioceses called an Archdiocese and its leader designated as an Archbishop. Archbishops and Bishops often have other assistant Bishops.

There are four other administrative non-geographical sections of the Church - which cover the whole of Australia and are not part of any Province.

They are:

• The Diocese of St Maroun of Sydney for Maronite Catholics
• The Eparchy (Diocese) of St Peter and Paul of Melbourne for the Ukrainian Catholics of the Byzantine Rite
• The Melkite Diocese of Sydney for the Melkite Catholics and
• The Military Ordinariate for the Armed Services of Australia

Click here to see a map of the Dioceses of Australia