Aspinall was ordained a deacon in Tasmania on July 25 1988 and a priest a year later. He succeeded Peter Hollingworth as Archbishop of Brisbane. He holds degrees in science from the University of Tasmania, theology from the Melbourne College of Divinity (through Trinity College (University of Melbourne) and the United Faculty of Theology), as well as a Master of Business Administration from Deakin University and a PhD in education from Monash University.