Joshua Dale Brown, 26, charged with sexually abusing children at Melbourne childcare centre
A 26-year-old man hit with more than 70 charges after he allegedly abused eight children at a Melbourne childcare centre has been pictured.
Joshua Brown, aged 26 and from Point Cook, has been charged with more than 70 alleged offences including sexual activity in presence of a child under 16, sexual assault of a child under 16 and possessing child abuse material for use through a carriage service.
Police are alleging the children targeted were aged between five months and two years.
A widespread investigation has now been launched, with Victoria's chief health officer saying 1200 children have been recommended to undergo infectious diseases testing.
Pictures of the man working in a childcare setting were revealed by the Herald Sun on Monday afternoon.
Victoria Police say Mr Brown's charges relate to eight children who were placed at a Point Cook childcare centre between April 2022 and January 2023.
The families of the eight alleged victims have been notified, and offered available support services.
Mr Brown has been remanded in custody and will appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court on September 15.
Police allege the man had worked at 20 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025.
Further investigations are taking place at a second childcare centre in Essendon.
There is no evidence to suggest any other staff member at any centre is involved in the alleged incidents.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Acting Commander Janet Stevenson said police commenced their investigation in May, searching a Point Cook home after allegedly discovering child abuse material.
'Our number one priority was to identify any potential (alleged) victims and employment history,' she said.
Acting Commander Stevenson confirmed Mr Brown held a valid working with children's check – which had since been cancelled – and was not known to police.
She said Victoria Police successfully applied to have a suppression order lifted to allow Mr Brown's identity to be made public.
'We felt that it was really important,' she said.
'This is unique – it's very important to ensure that every parent out there that has a child in childcare knows who he is and where he worked.'
Letter
The government sent a letter to families who had children at the centres with instructions and healthcare information on Tuesday.
'Records indicate your child was enrolled at one of these centres during the time this person was working there,' the letter reads.
'A comprehensive investigation is ongoing. At this stage, there is no evidence to suggest that your child has been offended against. If this changes, you will be contacted directly by Victoria Police and provided with further information, advice and assistance.'
The letter goes on to recommend that children be tested for infectious diseases 'out of an abundance of caution' due to possible exposure while in the childcare centre.
'We understand this may add additional distress and we want to assure you this is highly precautionary,' the letter reads.
'We have set up a dedicated advice and support line staffed by professionals to support you and your family … we will answer any questions you may have and will also support and refer you to access any additional supports or services you may require.
'If recommended, testing will be available free of charge and we can recommend a location near you or help support care with your usual GP.'
Chief health officer Christian McGrath described the matter as 'complex' and 'distressing', saying 2600 families had been contacted and 1200 children had been recommended to undergo infectious diseases testing.
'As a precaution we are recommending that some children undergo testing for infectious diseases due to a potential exposure risk in that period,' Dr McGrath said.
'We do understand this is another distressing element to the situation and we're taking this approach as a precaution.
'We do believe it's a low risk.'
Dr McGrath said any infections children had potentially been exposed to could be treated with antibiotics, and there was no broader risk to public health.
G8 Education Responds
In a statement, G8 Education, which operates the Point Cook centre, said it was aware of the charges against its former team member.
'These allegations are serious in nature and are extremely distressing,' the company said.
'We are focused on supporting all those impacted not just at our centres, but across the community.
'Aligned with G8 Education's commitment to child safety and protection, during the former team member's employment, all required employment and background checks, including Working With Children Checks (WWCC), were current in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements.
'The individual involved in this matter is no longer employed by G8 Education and is in police custody.
'We are co-operating fully with Victoria Police, the Victorian Government and other relevant authorities as part of the investigation. We are committed to supporting the legal process in every way we can.
'G8 Education has no tolerance for any behaviour that compromises the safety or wellbeing of children.'
The centre was quiet on Tuesday afternoon after the allegations were reported, the windows appearing dark as staff waited inside.
Located opposite an oval and playground, the soft sound of children playing could be heard in the background.
Outside the childcare centre, distressed parents could be seen walking inside the building and collecting their children.
'I was scared'
One father who was picking up their child said they were doing 'OK' following the report.
Police patrolled the area, making passes around the streets as parents slowly trickled in and out of the childcare centre.
The childcare centre is situated a stone's throw from a primary school, with students seen walking down the road towards the oval.
A father whose child attended the centre in 2022 and did not wish to be named said he tried to call the childcare centre for information but 'nobody answered'.
'I called the hotline, but nobody answered,' he told NewsWire. 'I think they are congested today, so that's why I came (here), but they don't give any information.'
He told NewsWire he was 'scared' when the news broke.
'I was scared,' he said. 'I was scared because, well, we can imagine if our child was like, near this person … we can imagine lots of bad things about it.'
He said his child attended the centre three years ago, and did not know if the alleged offender had any contact with his child.
He said he learned of the allegations online and felt 'so sad'.
'It's unbelievable,' he said. 'We just need more information in order to take some action.'
Another parent, who enrolled their child at the centre last month and did not wish to be named, said he was 'p---ed off'.
He said he learned of the allegations on social media, and was told 'nothing' about the allegations inside the centre.
He added he was horrified by the allegations.
'What's the use of a working with children check?' he asked reporters. 'It's a farce. It's a total farce.'
Another woman, Emily, who came to collect a relative from the centre said she had no information about the alleged incidents.
'It's very awful,' she said. 'I hope there is … something being done about it.'
Premier 'sickened'
Premier Jacinta Allan said she was 'sickened' by the allegations.
'My heart just breaks for the families that are living every parent's worst nightmare,' she said.
'Every health and mental health support will be provided to these families.
'As a parent, this will be felt far beyond the families affected.'
Ms Allan said the early childhood regulator would immediately open an investigation into the conduct of the centres Mr Brown had worked at, and that the government was already working to improve safety and strengthen regulation.
'If there are further changes we can make out of the police investigation (or) out of the regulator's investigation … then we will take every action within our power to keep Victorian children safe.'
Acting Commander Stevenson said the alleged acts were 'incredibly distressing' and 'confronting'.
'The most important thing for our investigators was that we needed to identify the alleged victims involved,' she said.
'These are some of the most vulnerable members of our community and the conversations police have had to have with their families were no doubt life changing in the worst possible way.
'Detectives have been working alongside a range of agencies during this investigation to ensure as much information has been provided to impacted parties as soon as possible.'
She said there maybe parents who 'hear this news and feel very concerned about their own children', adding the families who attended the childcare centres where Mr Brown worked would be notified today.
'We know there are potentially people out there who have information about this investigation that they wish to pass on to police,' she added.
'This may be people who had children at a centre where the man worked or staff who may have worked with him and noticed particular behaviours.
'If you do have information then we urge you to contact Crime Stoppers.'
'Clear need' for supervision changes: Shine Lawyers
Shine Lawyers chief operating officer Jodie Willey suggested a class action through the civil courts could be on the cards.
'The fact that this alleged offending was carried out over such a long span of time speaks to a significant failing,' she said on Tuesday afternoon.
'A lack of proper supervision of staff is one of the recurring themes we've seen in other cases we've run involving abuse in a childcare setting.
'There is a clear need for better supervision practices to be implemented for staff who are caring for children.
'If the childcare providers in this instance have been negligent in their duty of care for these children there would be strong prospects for the impacted families to hold them to account through the civil courts.'
The childcare centres listed on the Victoria Government website include:
Nino Early Learning Adventures - Point Cook (January 15 2017 – June 9 2019)
Explorers Early Learning – Point Cook (August 18 2019 – October 27 2019, casual work: November 10 2019 and December 22 2019)
Adventurers Education - Wyndham Vale (November 25 2019 – July 24 2020)
Only About Children - Williamstown (October 28 2020 – March 30 2021)
Wallaby Childcare Centre - Sanctuary Lakes (April 13 2021 - May 25 2021)
Nido Early Learning School - Werribee (June 21 202 - July 16 2021)
Creative Gardens - Point Cook (October 28 2021 - February 2 2024)
Leopold World of Learning - Leopold (February 9 2023 - February 13 2023)
Greenwood - Point Cook (February 14 2023 - March 10 2023)
Little Blossoms Child Care Centre - Werribee (August 14 2023 - Ausgust 17 2023)
D.O.T.S Occupational Therapy for Children - Footscray (March 1 2024 - April 30 2024)
Aussie Kindies Early Learning - Sunbury (August 13 2024 - Ausgust 21 2024)
Milestones Early Learning - Werribee (Ausgust 14 2024 - August 16 2024)
Milestones Early Learning - Hoppers Crossing (August 19 2024)
Papilio Early Learning - Hoppers Crossing (Augsust 22 2024 - March 12 2025)
Kids Academy - Melton (September 12 2024)
Kids Academy - Kensington (Ocotber 7 2024 - October 9 2024)
Aussie Kindies Early Learning - Keilor (February 11 2025)
Papilio Early Learning - Essendon (February 17 2025 - May 9 2025)
Milestones Early Learning - Bundoora (May 8 2025)
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