In June 1881, Agnes’ mother passed away due to smallpox which led to the children returning to Sydney. Agnes was enrolled at Abbotsleigh girls’ school from the years 1885 to 1887. She then moved schools to Sydney Girls High School from 1888 to 1890. Agnes excelled in Science (particularly geology and biology) and received a state scholarship from the University of Sydney. She graduated in 1894 and was the first woman to receive a Science Degree with honours in Geology and Biology. Agnes left New South Wales in 1896 to go to Medical College for Women in the University of Edinburg, Scotland. After studying in Scotland for 4 years, Agnes graduated and worked as a medical assistant at Stirling District Asylum, and then returned to Sydney once again in 1901. (Te Ara the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, 1996)

Agnes was given the opportunity to work with Dr. Isabella Watson in 1905 and moved to Wellington, New Zealand to pursue her medical career. She was given the role of Medical Officer at St. Helen’s Hospital, Wellington in the year 1908. (Te Ara the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, 1996). In 1915, after WW1 had begun, Agnes offered to help as she had medical experience. She had offered her services to the New Zealand Government but they declined her offer as they had no interest of employing a woman doctor. “Prejudice against women doctors hampered her attempt to establish herself in a practice there and she soon accepted a position as resident medical officer at Callan Park Asylum.” (Hughes, 1996, Vol 3).

In April 1916, after serving in Cairo for a year, Agnes resigned from her job and travelled to England. At the Scottish Women’s Hospital from Foreign Service, Agnes was given the role of commanding officer of the 7th medical unit. Her field hospital was connected to the Serbian Army. This meant that her work was never ending, and conditions that she was put in were often very dangerous. This was no problem for Agnes Bennett as she was a tall, strong and active woman and she really liked to use her skills to their full potential. (Wikipedia, 2017). Agnes became the first president of the Wellington branch of the International Federation of University Women in 1923. In 1938, Agnes took up the job as a medical officer in a town called Burketown, North Queensland. She finished working there and returned to Wellington to form the Women’s War Service Auxiliary. Soon after this, she retired.  

In 1955 she donated money to The University of Sydney which helped fund an aeronautical lab and she also entitled the university to a large amount of money in her will. She donated her two large houses in Lowry Bay to the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers of New Zealand so they could use them as holiday houses. (Australian Dictionary of Biography, 1979)

Agnes Bennett died in Wellington on the 27th of November 1960 aged 88. She lived her life serving others and was always putting her knowledge into her work to benefit others lives. (Te Ara the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, 1996). Agnes was a very generous woman and gave up lots of her time and knowledge to help others. There is no doubt that Agnes contributed largely to the development of infant medical care throughout New Zealand. She is remembered for her great achievements, service and her kind, caring personality.