One of Australia's largest daycare providers makes bombshell move after horrific child abuse allegations rocked the country

Daily Mail​

7 hours ago

A major childcare operator says it will put CCTV cameras into more than 400 centres following the alleged sexual abuse of children by a former employee.
G8 Education's move follows on from charges levelled at Joshua Dale Brown who is accused of more than 70 sex offences against eight children aged under two at a Point Cook childcare centre in Melbourne.
The 26-year-old was arrested in May and it was revealed he worked at 20 childcare centres across Melbourne from 2017 to 2025.
A parent of one child Brown allegedly abused is suing G8 Education as more than 100 families seek advice about their legal options.
One of Australia's largest childcare providers, the publicly listed company issued a market update to the ASX on Tuesday, saying it will accelerate the rollout of CCTV cameras across its centres after trialling it at several locations.
G8 Education also intends to commission an independent review once criminal proceedings are finalised.
'These allegations are deeply disturbing, and our hearts go out to the children and families involved,' chief executive Pejman Okhovat said.
'I am deeply sorry for the unimaginable pain caused to our families and what they are going through.'
G8 Education's share price dipped further to 94.5 cents on Tuesday and it has lost more than $170 million in value over the past week.
Law firm Arnold, Thomas and Becker said parents from every listed impacted facility had made inquiries about legal action.
Principal lawyer Jodie Harris said the firm was acting on behalf of a parent who was seeking damages. The parent has had to alter their work arrangements to care for the child because of the psychological impact.
Ms Harris said more than 100 families had contacted the law firm over a range of queries, but a class action was yet to be confirmed.
'The level of inquiry we've had has been so overwhelming. It's been difficult,' she told AAP.
The firm is looking into the cases but said there was complexity because of the number of different childcare centres involved and their potential liabilities.
'We can't have one class action that covers all childcare centres because there are different issues that involve each case,' Ms Harris said.
An estimated 2,600 families and carers who had children at the centres during Brown's employment have been sent letters.
More than 1,200 children have been recommended to undergo testing for infectious diseases.
More than 1,200 children have been recommended to undergo testing for infectious diseases following the alleged assaults
Ms Harris said parents were calling her firm angry their children had been put in such a distressing position.
She said any legal claims were in respect to the parents because it could take many years to fully understand the impact on children who had been abused.
'It is difficult because the children are so young and it's not like they could go home and tell their parents what had happened,' Ms Harris said.
'Abuse that occurs in a child's life has lifelong impacts potentially on education, employment and relationships.'
Other law firms, including Shine Lawyers and Maurice Blackburn, have received dozens of inquiries from parents and are providing legal advice.
'The grief and despair they're experiencing has been coupled with a white-hot rage directed at the alleged perpetrator and a system which is clearly broken,' Shine Lawyers chief operating officer Jodie Willey said.
Arnold, Thomas and Becker is holding an information session at Century Lakes Function Centre on Thursday to provide parents with advice.