Police charge childcare worker Joshua Brown with 70 sex offences, 1200 kids to be tested

The parents of 1200 young children are embarking on the heartbreaking and traumatic process of testing them for infectious diseases after a man who worked at 20 childcare centres across ­Melbourne was charged with 70 child sex offences | FULL LIST OF CENTRES

Childcare worker Joshua Brown has been charged with over 70 child sex offences.

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The parents of 1200 young children are embarking on the heartbreaking and traumatic process of testing them for infectious diseases after a man who worked at 20 childcare centres across ­Melbourne was charged with 70 child sex offences.

In a case that has exposed serious flaws in childcare industry safeguards, police revealed on Tuesday that detectives had charged Joshua Brown, 26, and he was now in custody.

Police raided Mr Brown’s Point Cook home in May and charged him with serious child sex offences including sexual ­penetration, attempted sexual penetration, sexual assault, sexual activity in presence of a child and the production of child abuse ­material for use through a ­carriage service.

Premier Jacinta Allan, who ­described the allegations as “sickening”, has ordered an investigation into the 20 centres where the accused man worked. She said the Early Childhood Regulator has been engaged to investigate the matter and commonwealth officials were also involved.

Victoria’s chief health officer, Christian McGrath, said the government had identified and contacted about 2600 families during the investigation and recommended 1200 children be tested for infectious diseases. Dr McGrath said the diseases the children were potentially exposed to could be treated with antibiotics.

“We do believe it’s a low risk,” Dr McGrath said.

On Tuesday afternoon, the first photos of the accused man emerged showing him reading a children’s book and finger painting at a childcare centre.

Police charged Mr Brown with scores of offences relating to eight victims, who were at the Point Cook childcare centre Creative Garden between October 2021 and February 2024. The eight known victims are aged between five months and two years old, police confirmed.

Police leave Papilio Early learning centre in Essendon on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire / David Crosling

Outside Creative Garden on Tuesday, parents expressed shock and anger over how a worker with a valid working-with-children permit could be at the centre of this child sex investigation.

One parent, who asked not to be identified, told The Australian parents had been told “absolutely nothing” about the incident by the Point Cook childcare centre.

“I just heard it on the news just now, so I came down to take him out,” the parent said.

“There should be a harsher penalty for this; they should be doing more. The same thing ­happened in Queensland just ­recently, and now it’s happening here. There was more than one educator in the room; how could this happen? What’s the year of a working-with-children’s check? It’s a farce.”

Local woman Emily picked up her friend’s child on their behalf. “It’s very awful and I hope there is like something being done about it,” she said.

Mr Brown has remained in custody since his May arrest.

Ms Allan said she was shocked by the case. “They are shocking and distressing, and my heart just breaks for the families who are living every parent’s worst nightmare,” she said. “Families across Victoria will be horrified, angry and frightened … the safety of our children is our No.1 priority.”

Police, who also visited a childcare centre in Essendon on Tuesday, said the man worked at 20 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025.

Police did not detail how Mr Brown came to their attention and described the investigation as “pro-active”, saying it was launched after they raided his Point Cook home and discovered the child abuse material.

“We didn’t have a victim for quite some time,” Acting Commander Janet Stevenson said, adding that Mr Brown was not known to police prior to the investigation. “We immediately acted and executed a search warrant at the Point Cook home of 26-year-old Joshua Brown. As a result, Brown was charged with over 70 offences, which were committed against eight identified child victims. It was very complex … it wasn’t through someone’s complaint; we didn’t have a victim for quite some time.”

Among the charges are:

• Sexual penetration of a child under 12

• Attempted sexual penetration of a child under 12

• Sexual assault of a child under 16

• Sexual activity in presence of a child under 16

• Produce child abuse material for use through a carriage service

• Use carriage service to transmit child abuse material

• Possess child abuse material for use through a carriage service

• Recklessly contaminate goods to cause alarm or anxiety

• Use carriage service to offend

• Use carriage service to cause child abuse material to be transmitted to self.

Creative Garden Early Learning Point Cook, where the alleged offences took place, is owned by G8 Education, an ASX listed company that owns more than 400 early learning centres across the country. In a statement, G8 Education said the safety and wellbeing of every child in its care was its highest priority, and that all required employment and background checks were current during Mr Brown’s employment with the company. According to G8’s website, it also owns Little Blossoms Child Care Centre in Werribee and Greenwood Point Cook, where Mr Brown worked.

Left to right, Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam, Acting Commander Janet Stevenson and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling

As part of this ongoing investigation, detectives are also examining evidence of an allegation of offending at a second childcare centre in Essendon, police said.

“This is an incredibly distressing and confronting investigation for all involved and I know many members of the community will hear this news and feel enormously concerned,” Acting Commander Stevenson said. “The most important thing for our investigators was that we needed to identify the victims involved. These are some of the most vulnerable members of our community and the conversations police have had to have with their families were no doubt life-changing in the worst possible way.

“Detectives have been working alongside a range of agencies during this investigation to ensure as much information has been provided to impacted parties as soon as possible.

“There will be people in the community who hear this news and feel very concerned about their own children. Parents who had a child at a centre at the time of the man’s employment are being notified today and a website has been set up by the Victorian government with further information for impacted families.

“We know there are potentially people out there who have information about this investigation that they wish to pass on to police. This may be people who had children at a centre where the man worked, or staff who may have worked with him and noticed particular behaviours. If you do have information then we urge you to contact Crime Stoppers.

“There is also a number of support services available for people who have been impacted by this matter. Investigators are working closely with the families of victims to ensure they are well supported during this difficult time.”

Ms Allan added: “As a parent too, I can only imagine the ­unbearable grief and pain the ­affected families are experiencing right now.”

Opposition Leader Brad Battin and opposition education spokeswoman Jess Wilson expressed their sympathies for the victims and their families, and said the seriousness of the allegations made clear the need for a comprehensive review of Victoria’s safeguards for children in care.

“That includes the state’s working-with-children check ­regime, as well as the broader regulatory systems that govern childcare and educational settings,” they said.

“The safety of children must be paramount. Every Victorian deserves to have full confidence in the systems that are designed to protect them. The Liberals and Nationals stand ready to work constructively with the government and parliament to ensure all necessary support is provided to those affected.”