St. John Bosco was born into a poor farming family in Northern Italy on 16th August 1815. He entered a seminary in 1835 and in 1841 was ordained a priest; he was now Don (Father) Bosco.

St. John Bosco quickly took interest in the plight of young boys from the slums of Turin, victims of child labour, hazardous working conditions, low wages and spiritual neglect. He organized recreation for the boys, coupled with prayer and religious instruction. With his ragged band of followers growing every week, St. John Bosco needed a permanent location for his "oratory", and in 1846 bought a dilapidated shed and some land in a section of Turin called Valdocco. As St. John Bosco's work expanded to include orphaned and homeless boys, whom he sought to save from poverty and the prospect of prison, he arranged for them to learn skilled trades and thereby established his first school for young boys.

St. John Bosco developed his own educational method, called by him "The Preventive System". Essentially, it means a positive force which precludes the desire to do wrong. This system is based on Christian charity and is predicated on the three fundamentals of Reason, Religion and Kindness. It is underpinned by a sense of understanding between teacher and pupil, engendered by daily contact, friendly chats and an interest that is felt. This personal contact is complemented and fostered by the sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation and a devotion to Mary, Help of Christians.

St. John Bosco founded the Salesian order of priests and brothers in 1859. His work for young boys spread throughout the world and today there are more than 17,000 Salesians in over 80 countries. Don Bosco died on 31st January 1888 and was canonised by Pope Pius XI on Easter Sunday 1934.

Salesian College has embraced St. John Bosco's vision for helping youth. We follow his ideals and "Preventive System" and are dedicated to the care and Christian education of young men.