Affinity Education has joined G8 Education in announcing major overhaul after childcare worker arrested

The former boss of alleged pedophile Joshua Brown has apologised for the deep distress caused to families following child sexual abuse allegations.

The former childcare boss of alleged pedophile Joshua Brown has apologised for the deep distress caused to families.

Affinity Education Group released a statement on Wednesday saying they were also distressed by the nature of the charges laid against Joshua Brown, 26, who worked in their childcare centres at the time of his alleged offending.

Mr Brown is facing 70 child abuse charges including sexual penetration, producing child abuse material and contaminating food with bodily fluids.

The charges relate to alleged incidents at the G8 Education owned Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook in Victoria where Mr Brown, 26, allegedly abused eight children between April 2022 and January 2023.

Alleged pedophile Joshua Brown who was employed at 20 childcare centres across Melbourne is facing 70 child abuse charges. Picture: Facebook

Detectives raided his home and found child abuse material, which included children as young as five-months-old, who Mr Brown is accused of abusing and filming.

Police are investigating his employment at 20 childcare centres across Melbourne since 2017.

Affinity chief executive officer Tim Hickey said the company was committed to supporting every affected family and would fully co-operate with authorities during the investigation.

“I am deeply sorry for the distress this is causing our families – no family should have to go through this,” he said.

“We also welcome any review of regulation that strengthens safeguards, enhances accountability and ensures the highest standards of safety and care for every child.

Joshua Brown’s former employer Affinity Education Group has apologised to families for the deep distress caused following allegations of child abuse by the alleged pedophile.

“Our educators and staff share the deep concern over failings when they occur in the early childhood education and care sector.

“The safety, wellbeing and development of every child must always come first.”

The childcare operator said it was strengthening safety across its centres and would implement six new measures following the allegations.

Affinity said it would fast track the installation of CCTV and make staff keep their personal devices in a lockbox before they started their shifts.

They would also seek parental consent about which staff could help their child with toileting and nappy changes, and fix any blind spots in their centres.

Mr Hickey said the initiatives would enhance the child safety measures that were already in place at its centres.

“Since being briefed on this matter on 1 July 2025, we have been undertaking a comprehensive review of our employment and staffing records, as well as other relevant data,” he said.

“We continue to co-operate fully with authorities as the investigation progresses”.

Alleged sex abuser Joshua Brown worked at 20 childcare centres across Melbourne. Picture Supplied.

G8 Education on Tuesday announced major changes across its hundreds of childcare centres amid a $150m wipe-out in the wake of alleged Mr Brown’s arrest.

It is alleged some of the children were as young as five months.

The company has suffered a $150m decline in value since the revelation of the allegations.

In a statement to investors on Tuesday, G8 Education announced a broad package of additional safety measures in response to the allegations.

The company confirmed it was accelerating the rollout of CCTV to its 400 centres nationwide following trials in several of their centres.

G8 will also expand its use of Individual Learning Plans to allow parents to nominate preferences about which educators handle their child’s personal care, including nappy changes and toileting.

The substantial reforms come as the company’s stock price continues to sink in the aftermath of the horror allegations, which were announced on July 1.

On that day, shares in G8 sold at $1.20, but at yesterday’s closing bell, the company closed at 94c a share for a market capitalisation of some $730m.

The fall has wiped about $150m in value.

G8’s managing director and chief executive Pejman Okhovat said he and his team had been meeting personally with families in Victoria in the wake of the allegations against their former employee.

“These allegations are deeply disturbing, and our hearts go out to the children and families involved,” he said.

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

“Our primary focus right now is on supporting all families who are impacted, as well as our team members in Victoria.

“We are continuing to work with Victoria Police, the Victorian government and other authorities as part of their ongoing investigation and are doing everything we can to give them the best chance of achieving justice for the children and families involved.”

Joshua Brown worked at Creative Gardens Early Learning Centre in Point Cook from October 2021 to February 2024: Picture: Supplied

The company has also committed to commissioning an independent review of the incident once the criminal proceedings are concluded, to further strengthen its child safety procedures.

G8 said that, while it already has comprehensive child safety policies in place, including banning devices in childcare rooms, mandatory reporting protocols, and ongoing staff training, it recognises the need to go further.

Beyond its own network, G8 has called for broader sector reform, including the establishment of a national educator register, a unified Working with Children Check across states, and a national register of early childhood workers employment history.

Authorities have released the details of all 20 childcare centres where Brown worked, including the dates of his employment.

Parents and caregivers of 1200 children have been directed to have their kids tested for sexually transmitted infections out of an “abundance of caution”.

Originally published as Affinity Education has joined G8 Education in announcing major overhaul after childcare worker arrested