Father Philip Wallbridge

Father Philip Wallbridge, himself a former Xavier College student, joined the staff at the senior school at Xavier in 1974.

Described as being overly friendly and highly inappropriate with students, an early complaint of sexual harassment was made by a parent to then Principal, Father Chris Gleeson in 1982. Wallbridge was allowed to remain teaching and was promoted to Deputy Headmaster in 1983.

Wallbridge would take boarding students out of the School and to the local pub where he would ply them with alcohol. He would engage in inappropriate conversations with students to groom them. He would then sexually abuse students in his office. Wallbridge would also take students out of the school at weekends to a rural property, where he would provide them with alcohol and pornography, and sexually abuse them.

After a brief stint at St Aloysius in Sydney, Wallbridge returned to Xavier in 1992 as Principal where he remained until 1993. Following his retirement from teaching, Wallbridge took a role at the AFL working with young footballers between the ages of 16 and 19.

Wallbridge took his own life in 2020, after his name was published on a website of alleged sex offenders at Xavier, run by former students.

If you have any further information or you want legal advice in relation to Father Philip Wallbridge, please call 1300765702 or complete the confidential enquiry form below.