Horror as 1000 children to be tested for STIs. Here’s what comes next

The parents of more than 1000 children being tested for sexually transmitted infections after a Melbourne childcare worker was charged with abuse should know their child’s health status within days.

Medical experts have also advised that the majority of STIs are treatable with a course of antibiotics.

The Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook, where the accused man had worked.Credit: Justin McManus

Victoria Police revealed on Tuesday that 26-year-old Point Cook man Joshua Dale Brown was arrested and charged in May with more than 70 offences, including child rape.

Brown worked at several childcare centres in Melbourne and one centre in Geelong. His alleged victims were aged between five months and two years. The eight alleged victims were from one centre in Point Cook.

What will the children be tested for?

The Health Department has been in contact with affected families and is recommending that about 1200 children undergo free testing for infectious diseases following the allegations.

A police source, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly, told this masthead that Brown had tested positive for a sexually transmitted disease.

Testing is expected to involve a full STI screening as a matter of precaution. In Victoria, full STI screenings can involve swabs of the mouth, vagina and anus – as well as urine tests and having blood drawn. Some STIs are diagnosed via the presence of bacteria in fluids such as saliva, while others are detected via antibodies in the blood.

The decision to mass-test children – at testing centres across the metro area – came after Brown tested positive for an STI, according to two police sources not authorised to comment.

A Health Department spokeswoman said the department would not comment on the specifics of suspected exposure to protect children’s sensitive health information.

A government source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said authorities wanted to rule out the possibility that the children had been exposed to infections such as syphilis given the spike in Victorian cases over the last decade.

Joshua Dale Brown, 26, has been accused of child sex abuse.

How long will parents have to wait?

Dr Nisha Khot, the vice president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said parents should know their child’s health status relatively quickly.

“STI screening results usually only take 24 to 48 hours, depending on what test is done,” she said.

Khot said Victoria’s health system had the capacity to conduct the tests the Health Department is urging for the children, but that the bigger question was ongoing support for alleged victims and their families.

“The children will need appropriately qualified clinicians to assess their needs beyond the tests.”

Brown’s alleged victims were at the Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook.

The state government has established a dedicated advice hotline to assist families with health and screening information, as well as link them to specialist services such as mental health support.

Will any infections be treatable?

Doctors who spoke to this masthead said most STIs could be treated with antibiotics delivered either orally or administered as an injection.

Khot said the exceptions were Hepatitis B and HIV, which can be managed with other treatments but not cured.

If left untreated, gonorrhea, for example, can lead to permanent health problems involving scar tissue, long-term pain and infertility. Late-stage syphilis can cause brain damage, heart disease and even blindness.

But Chief Health Officer Dr Christian McGrath said on Tuesday that affected families and the broader community could be reassured that any infections as a result of this case could be treated with antibiotics.

“There’s no broader public health risk to the community,” he said.

A suburban GP, who declined to be named due to the sensitivities of the matter, said childcare workers at the centres and police working on the case should monitor their mood over the next few weeks and speak to family, friends or a doctor if they notice any changes.

With Chris Vedelago

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).

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