Affinity Education not told accused childcare rapist Josh Brown probed by former employer G8 Education

The early learning provider that hired alleged pedophile Joshua Brown after he was investigated for allegedly “aggressively” manhandling children while working for G8 Education wasn’t told about the probes.

The early learning provider that hired alleged pedophile Joshua Brown after he was investigated for allegedly “aggressively” manhandling children in his care has revealed it was left in the dark about his prior alleged actions.

Mr Brown was the subject of two internal investigations unrelated to child sexual abuse during his employment with G8 Education between October 2021 and February 2024.

The first investigation took place after Mr Brown allegedly “aggressively picked up and put down and did not uphold the dignity and rights of a child in his care” while the child was upset.

Then in another alleged incident Mr Brown was reported to have “forcibly grabbed the arm of one child, the leg of another child and forcibly pulled off that child’s shoe”.

Mr Brown was probed for “aggressively” manhandling children by G8 Education. Picture: Supplied

Families continue to wait for an updated list of centres and dates where Mr Brown worked. Picture: Aaron Francis

Mr Brown was suspended throughout the second investigation and eventually resigned, with his last day at Little Blossoms Child Care in Werribee being August 17, 2023.

A year later, Mr Brown was employed by Affinity Education, which operates nine of the centres he worked at between August 2024 and May 2025.

The early education provider was not alerted to any information suggesting he had been investigated when they did a background check on him prior to his employment.

Instead, it’s understood management only found out he had been the subject of two separate investigations when approached by the media on Saturday evening.

“Our process is that all educators and staff undergo relevant checks, including current Working with Children Checks (WWCC), and validation of qualifications, in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements,” an Affinity spokeswoman said.

“As relates to this individual, all mandatory employment and background checks, including a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC), were in place and compliant with these requirements.”

Affinity Education was not told about the G8 Education investigation. Picture: Facebook

Childcare providers must notify the Commissioner for Children and Young People (CCYP) about any allegations of child abuse under the reportable conduct scheme.

Such reportable conduct includes sexual offences or misconduct committed against or in presence of a child, physical violence against or in presence of a child and significant neglect.

The CCYP is required to investigate such allegations, and if a worker or volunteer is found to have committed reportable conduct, the Department of Government Services is notified to review their Working with Children Check.

But there is a legislation loophole that allows the CCYP to choose more training or supervision for a worker who has breached child safety, over having their Working with Children Check reviewed.

G8 Education said the CCYP was contacted in relation to the allegations made against Mr Brown.

It is understood that Mr Brown’s Working with Children Check, however, was not reviewed, allowing him to continue working at other childcare centres across Melbourne.

On Sunday, police and the state government refused to say if any action was taken when they ­received reports of Mr Brown’s alleged aggressive conduct towards children.

Asked whether the Victorian government had been notified about the allegations at the time, Labor MP Vicki Ward said she would not add commentary that could “hamper” police investigations.

“The government has responded at that time to the information that was available to them,” she said.

“This is an active investigation undertaken by Victoria Police and the government and I’m not going to add any commentary that could hamper or affect or restrict the absolute breadth and depth of that investigation.”

The new revelations come as families continue to wait for an updated list of centres and dates where Mr Brown was employed, with the list remaining unchanged as of 12.30pm Monday.

Originally published as Affinity Education not told accused childcare rapist Josh Brown probed by former employer G8 Education