Fr Michael Scott Aulsebrook

Background

Michael Scott Aulsebrook was a member of the Salesians of Don Bosco (Salesian Fathers), a Catholic religious order that operates a number of schools throughout Australia. During his career, Aulsebrook served in several educational roles, including Vice Principal and Boarding Coordinator at Salesian College Rupertswood in Sunbury, Victoria.

The Salesian order has been the subject of significant scrutiny in Australia due to the number of historical child sexual abuse allegations involving members of the order. Multiple Salesian priests and brothers have been convicted of child sexual offences, including Michael Aulsebrook, David Rapson, Julian Fox, and former Rupertswood principal Frank Klep.

Criminal Convictions

Michael Aulsebrook was convicted on multiple occasions for child sexual abuse offences committed against boys under his care.

In 2011, he appeared before the Melbourne County Court after pleading guilty to multiple counts of indecent assault involving a 12-year-old boy. The offences occurred in 1983 while Aulsebrook was responsible for students at Salesian College Rupertswood, a boarding school operated by the Salesians.

The court heard that Aulsebrook groomed the victim by giving him treats and special attention before sexually abusing him in his office. He instructed the boy to keep the abuse secret, a common grooming tactic used by child sexual offenders.

Evidence presented during later proceedings showed that this was not the only complaint made against Aulsebrook. In 1993, another former student reported abuse. That matter was resolved through an out-of-court settlement with the Catholic Church and did not result in criminal charges at the time.

Knowledge Within the Salesian Order

Despite complaints being made against Aulsebrook during the 1990s, he remained in ministry. Reports indicate that the Salesians arranged counselling for him rather than reporting the matter to police.

In 2003, he was appointed Principal of Saint Mark's College in South Australia. Critics have pointed to this appointment as an example of the historical practice within some religious institutions of transferring accused clergy instead of removing them from positions involving children.

Around 2000, Aulsebrook resigned from the priesthood and later worked in the Australian Public Service in Canberra.

Further Convictions

Following his initial conviction, additional victim-survivors came forward to Victoria Police.

In 2016, Aulsebrook was convicted of raping a former student at Salesian College Rupertswood. The offence occurred in 1988 while he was serving as Boarding Coordinator. Although he pleaded not guilty, a jury found him guilty.

He successfully appealed the conviction and was granted a retrial. However, a second jury again found him guilty. He was sentenced to seven years and six months' imprisonment.

In 2019, Aulsebrook was again sentenced after pleading guilty to indecently assaulting a boy during a Salesian holiday camp in the mid-1980s. The victim did not disclose the abuse until 2016. During a police interview in 2017, Aulsebrook denied the allegation before later entering a guilty plea.

His 2019 sentence added further time to the prison terms he was already serving.

Legacy

The convictions against Michael Aulsebrook have been cited as part of the broader history of institutional child sexual abuse within the Salesians of Don Bosco in Australia. His case has also raised continuing questions about how abuse complaints were handled within the Catholic Church, particularly where offenders remained in ministry or were transferred to new positions despite prior allegations.

Personal Note

Aulsebrook's twin sister, Margaret Harrod, later revealed that she had herself been sexually abused by Catholic priests. Together with journalist Sue Smethurst, she co-authored the memoir Blood on the Rosary, which recounts her experiences within religious life and the impact of clerical abuse.

The experiences of both siblings illustrate the far-reaching consequences that child sexual abuse and institutional failures can have on victims, survivors, and their families.