WARNING: Distressing content

A major childcare operator will put CCTV cameras into more than 400 centres following the alleged sexual abuse of children by a male childcare worker.

Horrific allegations against Joshua Dale Brown, 26, were made public last week when police revealed he had been charged with more than 70 sex offences involving eight children at a centre in Melbourne’s west.

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Brown worked at 20 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025, including several operated by G8 Education.

In an announcement released to the ASX on Tuesday, managing director and chief executive Pejman Okhovat said the allegations were “deeply disturbing”.

“I am deeply sorry for the unimaginable pain caused to our families and what they are going through,” he said.

“Our primary focus right now is on supporting all families who are impacted, as well as our team members in Victoria. My team and I have met personally with families in Victoria and will continue to be available.

“We have also provided confidential counselling and support through G8 Education’s dedicated provider.”

The childcare operator said it had already been trialling CCTV in several of its centres but will now accelerate the roll-out to all centres.

It will also conduct an independent review to “inform further changes and improvements to our child safety procedures within the organisation”.

The ASX-listed company lost more than $170 million in value since the allegations were aired.

A parent of one child Brown allegedly abused is suing the childcare giant, while more than 100 families are seeking advice about their legal options.

More than 1200 children at the centres where Brown worked have been recommended to undergo testing for serious sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis.

Brown’s alleged victims were aged between five months and two-years-old and his charges include sexual penetration of a child under 12, attempted sexual penetration of a child under 12 and producing child abuse material.

He is also accused of using his bodily fluids to contaminate children’s food.

According to a United Workers Union survey, most childcare educators work in understaffed facilities and fear the safety of infants is at risk over the frequent use of a staff-to-child ratio “loophole”.

Of the 2000 childcare workers questioned, more than half were concerned that for-profit providers do not prioritise safety, care of children or quality education.

More than three quarters of educators say their centres operate below minimum staffing requirements at least weekly and 42 per cent say it happened every day.

Some 83 per cent said safety was compromised by a common staffing loophole that allows centres to move educators between rooms and count educators not on the floor towards mandated staffing level requirements.

“Educators tell us that what was supposed to be a commonsense stop-gap for changes that occur at centres through the day has become an over-used staffing loophole,” the union’s early education director Carolyn Smith said.

“(It is) entrenching educators regularly working below minimum staffing requirements in their rooms”.

She claimed the system fails workers and children, ramping up calls for national regulation and funding for the sector.

“Widespread understaffing and a lack of inclusion support staff impacts the level of care children receive,” she said.

An anonymous worker from Victoria told the survey they “can’t even guarantee the safety of the children and myself”.

“I feel sad, unsafe and stressful every day,” they said.

— With AAP

If you or someone you know needs help, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or Sexual Assault Counselling Australia on 1800 211 028. Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.