Austral Anglican church
A south-west Sydney church plant located near the new Western Sydney International Airport.
Thousands of people are moving to Austral
Austral is a suburb in the south-west Sydney growth area near the new Western Sydney International Airport. Thousands of houses are being constructed and Austral’s population is growing rapidly. In the last 10 years, the number of residents has grown from 3,000 (2016) to 18,700 (2026). In another 20 years, the population is forecast to grow to just under 75,000 people and as it currently stands, there is no evangelical church with active, evangelistic ministries into Austral.
How do you feel when you hear about such rapid growth in the South-west corridor? Perhaps it brings to mind Romans 10:14-15 -
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
It is this which motivates the Austral Anglican church plant team, led by Michael (Mick) and Kathryn (Kat) Bullen, to establish a church in 2027. So that some, within the thousands of new residents, might hear the good news of Jesus and be saved!
The Bullens
Mick and Kat Bullen, together with their 3 daughters, Sophie (11), Emma (9) and Laura (4), served for 9 years in Campbelltown Anglican Churches, with Mick as an Assistant Minister on staff.
In 2025, the Bullens began doing a “Church planting residency” at Grace Anglican church, Camden Valley with a view towards planting a new Anglican church, in the South-western growth corridor in 2027.
Mick grew up attending church in a late 1980’s, Western Sydney church plant at Minchinbury Anglican church. This experience, and the time they have had as a family at Campbelltown has underscored the sprawling needs of the Western suburbs and the particular need to plant more churches.
Mick and Kat are looking to plant a Sydney Anglican church, partnering with several Anglican parishes right across Sydney in various ways. They are also partnering with the Evangelism and New Churches (ENC) arm of the Sydney diocese and Reach Australia (RA).
Church Plant Timeline
2025: Began Church Planting Residency
- The Bullens join Grace Anglican Church to begin their church planting residency. Senior Minister Jonathan Squire planted Grace Anglican in the early 2000s.
- Training and coaching from Reach Australia and connecting with other church planters
2026: Prepare to Launch
- In the first half of 2026, the Bullens will begin gathering a team to join them in church planting into Austral. They aim to have at least 40 adults joining them, with half of those coming from Grace Anglican church.
- In the first half of 2026, they will explore all possible avenues for where they might begin meeting on a Sunday, and how they might begin reaching residents with the good news of Jesus.
- In the second half of 2026, the team will begin meeting together, praying, planning, preparing and training together, as they get ready to launch this new church.
2027: Launch
- In early 2027 the new church plant will launch!
Partner With Us
A church plant, into a brand-new suburb, actually requires a huge team of people behind it, if it has any hope of getting off the ground. We are so thankful for the partners that God has given us already. Our sending church, Grace Anglican, our 2 partner churches, and over 120 individuals pray for this church plant consistently and diligently. As a church plant, who is just forming, we are so thankful for the individuals, churches and organisations that partner with us financially in order to give this the opportunity to start! And we are so thankful for the team that we are planting with. God is truly raising up a body, with each part playing its role – as we, together, seek to plant and grow, mature and encourage one another and as we hold out the word of life to Austral.
We would love for you to partner with us too! Here are 3 ways that you might be able to do so:
Pray
The first and most powerful action that we can take is to pray that God might work powerfully in the suburb of Austral.
Please join us in prayer for the thousands of people moving into the area, that they might hear the good news of Jesus.
To receive regular updates on the Austral Anglican church plant, please join our prayer mailing list.
Give
Like most church plants, Austral Anglican will rely on the generosity of those outside the parish to help set up the work of the gospel for the future.
The Bullens need to raise $125,000 a year for the next five years. They are thankful for the support of a number of churches and organisations, but still need to raise $50,000 a year from individuals.
Join Us
Would you consider joining the team to bring the good news of Jesus to the thousands of people moving to Austral? If you would, Mick and Kat would love to meet you!
Please contact them to hear more about what the church plant will look like, what role you might play, and to ask your questions.
It’s going to be hard work, but it’s going to be exciting work to do together, under God.