Alleged paedophile worked in 23 childcare centres, and police warn the list may grow

About 800 more children will be tested for sexually transmitted infections after authorities revealed alleged Melbourne paedophile Joshua Dale Brown worked at four more childcare centres than was previously known.

Detectives warned on Tuesday that even more children might have to undergo testing in the coming weeks, revealing that incorrect employment records had drastically complicated the investigation into the accused paedophile’s alleged offending.

Joshua Dale Brown worked at more than 20 childcare centres across Melbourne and Geelong.

Authorities on Tuesday updated Brown’s employment history to include the four additional centres; Kids Academy Waratah Estate in Mickleham, and three Milestones Early Learning locations: Tarneit, Braybrook and Greensborough. Brown is now known to have worked at 23 childcare centres over the past eight years between January 2017 and May 2025.

It was also revealed that Brown’s employment dates for 10 childcare centres previously listed were incorrect, and have since been updated. Police initially told the public that Brown had worked at Papilio Early Learning Hoppers Crossing for more than six months – but have since determined he did not work there at all.

Victorian Chief Health Officer Christian McGrath said families whose children attended the newly identified centres during Brown’s employment were in the process of being contacted. “Our recommendation for testing is a precaution and the test results we’ve received to date as part of this investigation reaffirms that the risk is low,” McGrath said.

About 1300 young children were already expected to be tested, after 70 child sex abuse charges were laid against Brown in May, including allegations he used bodily fluid to contaminate children’s food.

The unprecedented testing regime – at screening centres and GP clinics across the metropolitan area – was established after authorities learnt Brown had been diagnosed with several sexually transmitted infections, according to two police sources speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.

Police noted the information released on Tuesday was the “most accurate and up-to-date record available”, but warned further updates to the alleged paedophile’s employment history were likely.

“This has been extremely complex due to childcare approved providers not having centralised records, requiring detectives to execute search warrants to obtain handwritten records, shift rosters and other critical information,” Victoria Police Acting Commander Janet Stevenson said.

The four centres added to Brown’s employment history

• Kids Academy Waratah Estate in Mickleham on August 29, 2024;
• Milestones Early Learning in Tarneit on September 10 and 13, 2024;
• Milestones Early Learning in Braybrook on December 4 and 6, 2024; and
• Milestones Early Learning in Greensborough on December 5, 2024, January 31, 2025 and February 27, 2025

The lack of records also meant detectives from the sexual crime squad had to assess more than 270 Crimestoppers reports and interview witnesses to confirm when and where Brown worked over his eight years in childcare.

All the newly identified centres are owned by national childcare giant Affinity Education Group. Affinity is also responsible for six of the 10 centres that recorded incorrect employment dates, and the Papilio Early Learning Hoppers Crossing that incorrectly recorded him as an employee.

The updated employment history also reveals that Brown worked at Papilio Early Learning Essendon from August 2024 to May, six months longer than originally reported. The centre has been a focus for detectives, who are investigating whether further abuse occurred.

Opposition education spokesperson Jess Wilson said it was unacceptable that authorities were still “scrambling” to piece together Brown’s employment history.

Milestones Early Learning in Greensborough.Credit: Aaron Francis

“For hundreds of families to learn today that their children’s health has potentially been put at risk, weeks after the initial announcement was made, demonstrates just how gravely the system has failed,” Wilson said. “This is obviously a highly distressing situation, and I want to reassure all families being contacted that the potential exposure risk to an infectious disease for their child remains low.”

One parent, whose child attended one of the 10 childcare centres with updated employment dates, said there had to be something “seriously wrong” with the centres’ internal systems. “If it’s taken three weeks to figure out he worked different dates than what was originally claimed … that’s not a good sign,” they said.

The parent asked not to be named as their child required STI testing.

An Affinity spokesperson said they undertook a comprehensive review of employment and staffing records, and other data to ensure accurate details were provided to authorities.

“We understand the Victorian Department of Health, in partnership with Victoria Police, is directly contacting families who have been affected and whose children may be recommended for precautionary testing,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson apologised for the deep distress caused to families, adding: “We share the urgency in ensuring that affected families receive accurate and timely information.”

Affinity said it reviewed educator rosters, attendance logs, cross-referenced shift assignments, analysed Storypark (an app used to share information with families) and provided raw data from it to police.

A Victorian government spokesperson said on Tuesday it would be a distressing time for affected families. “We have commissioned an urgent review into child safety in early childhood education and care settings and the Working with Children Check in Victoria, led by Jay Weatherill, AO, and Pamela White PSM – and we will adopt every recommendation.

“We are also taking urgent action to stop the use of personal devices in childcare centres, with every centre required to adopt a ban on personal devices by Friday 26 September, and we are establishing a register of early childhood educators.”

With Rachel Eddie

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

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