Creative Gardens childcare centre parents frustrated after being left in the dark on Joshua Brown charges

Parents dropping children at Creative Gardens on Tuesday say they were left in the dark over rape and sex abuse charges against a former staff member who worked at the childcare centre.

Joshua Brown is facing more than 70 charges from his time working at Creative Garden in Point Cook. Picture Supplied.

Parents of kids who attend the Point Cook childcare centre where Joshua Brown is accused of sexually abusing children say they were not notified of the charges against him until they had already dropped them off at care on Tuesday morning.

Police on Tuesday revealed they had charged Mr Brown, 26, with over 70 offences from his time working at Creative Gardens Early Learning Centre between October 2021 and February 2024.

The charges include rape, sexual activity in the presence of a child and producing child abuse material.

Leteisha Snelson described the “sickening” feeling of discovering the charges against Mr Brown in the media shortly before dropping two of her children at Creative Garden to be cared for.

“I feel a bit sick, honestly,” she told the Herald Sun.

“It is really scary that they are meant to be looking after your children and this is what’s happened.”

Leteisha Snelson outside Creative Garden after dropping her kids off at Creative Garden on Tuesday.

She said she believed all parents should have been notified by the centre prior to dropping off their children on Tuesday morning.

“I didn’t know anything about it,” she added.

“We all should have been notified.

“Obviously you are leaving your children here (and) we don’t even know what happened.”

Another concerned mother said it was “crazy” that parents had not been told by the centre.

“(We) don’t know (anything),” she said.

A source said said there had been extensive discussions around the timing of the alert to parents at the impacted centres.

A decision was made not to inform parents ahead of their morning drop offs in order to minimise their children’s exposure to information which could’ve led to disterssing conversations and anxiety.

Police are now examining evidence at a second childcare centre in Essendon as part of a wider investigation, with Mr Brown having worked at 20 childcare centres across Melbourne.

Detectives arrived at the centre, Papilio Early Learning, just after 11.30am.

They were greeted by a staff member at the door before being ushered inside.

Mr Brown has been charged with over 70 offences from his time working at Creative Gardens Early Learning Centre. Picture: Supplied.

One mother picking her son up from Papilio Early Learning said more needed to be done to prevent predators who “slip through” the cracks.

“I think more needs to be done, but I mean, there’s still going to be people that slip through,” she told the Herald Sun.

The mother, who wished to remain anonymous, received a text message just before 9am from the Department of Health, alerting her of an investigation into “alleged incidents in childcare centres”.

“Good morning, we’re reaching out with important information from the Department of Health and Victoria Police related to the investigation of alleged incidents in childcare centres,” the text message read.

“We understand this may be upsetting, and we want to assure you that support is available.

“Please call our dedicated advice line on 1800 791 241, where our team is ready to provide further details and offer assistance.”

The text message sent by the Department of Health regarding the allegations. Picture: Zoe De Koing

The email sent to parents.

The young mother said she didn’t believe the safety of children lay solely in the hands of the childcare centres or Victoria Police.

“I think it’s a very complex situation,” she said.

“(I think) multiple avenues need to be taken, I don’t think it’s a one person to blame situation.”

She said she had nothing but “positive things to say” about the Essendon centre.

Mr Brown worked at 20 childcare centres across Melbourne.

Nici Leopold said on Facebook she hadn’t been contacted by the department despite having a child at one of the impacted centres at the same time as Brown, leaving her with more questions.

“My kids have been enrolled in one of the named daycare centres at the time in question,” Nici Leopold wrote.

“I feel very uneasy right now … do I get notified too? Or do they just notify parents with children who came in contact with him? Like groups he worked with?”

Another mother who has been notified by the Department of Health said she has been left waiting for three quarters of an hour trying to get through and find out more information.

“I’ve been contacted by dept health, as my child went to Explorers in Point Cook in 2019,” Liz Hennessy posted on Facebook.

“I’ve been put on hold for 45 mins trying to get through to the department of health. I feel sick. I want a photo. How does this happen without anyone noticing at the time!?!?!”

Elizabeth Kenna said she had been on hold for hours after getting contacted by the Department.

“We got notified also and told to call the health department?,” she wrote. “Has anyone else managed to get through? I’ve been on hold for over 2 hours.”

Originally published as Creative Gardens childcare centre parents frustrated after being left in the dark on Joshua Brown charges