08-07-2025
Distraught mum reveals the offer alleged childcare paedophile Joshua Brown made that still haunts her to this day
A mum is haunted by how close she came to allowing a childcare worker accused of dozens of sickening offences inside her home to babysit her daughter.
Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was charged with more than 70 child abuse offences last week, including the sexual penetration of a child and producing child abuse material.
The alleged offences occurred during Brown's employment at Creative Garden Early Learning Centre Point Cook, where he worked between October 2021 and February 2024.
Melbourne mum Melody Glaister is among hundreds of parents left reeling by the news and took to social media to express her horror.
Her daughter, now six, attended the daycare centre during the entirety of Brown's employment at the centre.
Ms Glaister revealed he was her daughter's favourite educator and that he had even offered private babysitting services on more than one occasion.
'It haunts my husband and I that we seriously considered accepting his offer,' she wrote.
'It is distressing to the point where my husband no longer trusts anyone to care for her other than ourselves.'
Ms Glaister claimed Brown asked about her daughter when the pair crossed paths earlier this year.
'He was bubbly and always wanted to be around the children, which at the time I thought was a good quality,' she told the Herald Sun.
'I've had so many conversations with him, (the charges) came as a complete shock.'
Her daughter was one of 1,200 children who had to be tested for sexually transmitted infections last week in the wake of the allegations against Brown.
It was her little girl's first-ever blood test.
'Having to explain to her that she needed to undergo that kind of testing … that was also something that no parent should ever have to go through,' Ms Glaister said.
She is among hundreds of parents now demanding answers from the childcare centre.
'We have had to have conversations with our child that no parent should ever have to. Let alone one so young,' Ms Glaister posted online.
'Please, on behalf of all those currently seeking answers as to what went wrong, we need proper accountability and WE NEED CHANGE NOW! For the sake of our precious and innocent children.'
Brown worked at 20 childcare centres over an eight-year period between January 2017 and May 2025.
He was not known to police before his arrest and had a valid Working With Children Check, which has since been cancelled.
