A man has been charged with more than 70 offences relating to alleged sexual assaults against children at a childcare centre in Melbourne.
Joshua Brown, 26, was arrested in May over the charges relating to eight victims who attended a Point Cook childcare centre between April 2022 and January 2023.
The alleged victims are aged between five months and two-years-old, and the charges include sexual penetration of a child under 12, sexual assault of a child under 16, producing child abuse material and possessing child abuse material.
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Police say Brown worked at 20 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025.
Investigators are also examining evidence of alleged offending at a childcare centre in Essendon.
Due to the nature of the alleged offending, around 1200 children have been recommended for screening for infectious diseases.
The infectious diseases that authorities believe some children may have contracted are unclear.
A list of all the places Brown has worked at has been published by the state’s health department, however police are also sending letters to families who may have had a child enrolled at the centres.
“We’re not suggesting that the accused has offended against children in all these centres, but we’re encouraging anyone to come forward with any information to Crime Stoppers,” Acting Commander Janet Stevenson said.
“At this stage, all of the alleged offending is believed to have taken place in Victoria. We do not believe that there are any other childcare employees who have been involved.”
Brown was not known to police and had a working with children’s check.
Stevenson said police began investigating Brown after detectives allegedly discovered child abuse material.
A search warrant was “immediately” executed at his home in Point Cook.
Stevenson said police did not have any known victims for some time, describing the investigation as “proactive”.
“We actually had to identify the victims involved. It was very complex,” she said.
“As soon as we had identified the known victims, we put things in place. We had to make sure the support services, being the Royal Children’s Hospital or other health areas, were all prepared with a process that would be seamless and provide all those supports.”
Brown has been co-operative with police.
Chief Health Officer Dr Christian McGrath said the risk of the children testing positive for the infectious diseases was low but that authorities wanted to be cautious.
He said the diseases the children may have been exposed to can be treated by antibiotics.
“This is a very complex and distressing matter, and our highest priorities are the health wellbeing of the children and families involved,” McGrath said.
A dedicated advice hotline has been set up for families who are unsure about what they should do.
“When parents, guardians or carers call this number, they’ll be provided with health advice, including whether testing is recommended for their child,” McGrath said.
“We’ll also support them to book in that testing, and it’ll be provided free of charge.”
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said she was “sickened” by the allegations.
She said the safety of children in Victoria was her number one priority, and that the early childhood regulator would be investigating the conduct of the childcare centres where Brown worked.
“My heart just breaks for the families who are living every parent’s worst nightmare, and as a parent too, I can only imagine the unbearable grief and pain the affected families are experiencing right now,” Allan said.
“If there are further changes we can make out of the police investigation, out of the regulators investigation, or the work that the (Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn) is undertaking with her colleagues, then we will take every action within our power to keep Victorian children safe.”
Brown has been in custody since his arrest.
He is due to face Melbourne Magistrates Court in September.
Further information for parents can be found on the health department’s website.
The dedicated hotline is on 1800 791 241 and is open seven days a week.
Full list of the child care centres where Brown worked between January 2017 and May 2025:
- Nino Early Learning Adventures — Point Cook (15 Jan 2017 – 9 Jun 2019)
- Explorers Early Learning – Point Cook (18 Aug 2019 – 27 Oct 2019. Casual work on 10 Nov 2019 and 22 Dec 2019)
- Adventurers Education — Wyndham Vale (25 Nov 2019 – 24 Jul 2020)
- Only About Children — Williamstown (28 Oct 2020 – 30 Mar 2021)
- Wallaby Childcare Centre — Sanctuary Lakes (13 Apr 2021 – 25 May 2021)
- Nido Early Learning School — Werribee (21 Jun 2021 – 16 Jul 2021)
- Leopold World of Learning — Leopold (9 Feb 2023 – 13 Feb 2023)
- Greenwood–Point Cook (14 Feb 2023 – 10 Mar 2023)
- Little Blossoms Child Care Centre — Werribee (14 Aug 2023 – 17 Aug 2023)
- D.O.T.S Occupational Therapy for Children — Footscray (1 Mar 2024 – 30 Apr 2024)
- Aussie Kindies Early Learning — Sunbury (13 Aug 2024 – 21 Aug 2024)
- Milestones Early Learning — Werribee (14 Aug 2024 – 16 Aug 2024)
- Milestones Early Learning — Hoppers Crossing (19 Aug 2024 – 19 Aug 2024)
- Papilio Early Learning — Hoppers Crossing (22 Aug 2024 – 12 Mar 2025)
- Kids Academy — Melton (12 Sep 2024 – 12 Sep 2024)
- Kids Academy — Kensington (7 Oct 2024 – 9 Oct 2024)
- Aussie Kindies Early Learning — Keilor (11 Feb 2025 – 11 Feb 2025)
- Papilio Early Learning — Essendon (17 Feb 2025 – 9 May 2025)
- Milestones Early Learning — Bundoora (8 May 2025 – 8 May 2025)
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