Map reveals horrifying update in child abuse case
Detectives have confirmed a further four child care centre locations as part of the ongoing investigation into Joshua Brown.
Dozens more parents are now waiting on tenterhooks to find out whether their children were in the orbit of accused abuser Joshua Brown, with Victoria police confirming four more locations are part of their investigations.
Families already waiting for test results told news.com.au the news that other parents are “about to go through our hell” is “gut wrenching”.
“We cannot even explain what it is like to be told you need to get your toddler tested for sexually transmitted diseases. That should not even be a sentence you utter,” one devastated mum said.
“This nightmare just keeps on going,” another said.
Brown, 26, is due to appear in court in September to face more than 70 charges, including sexually penetrating a child under 12, attempting to sexually penetrate a child under 12, sexually assaulting a child under 16, and producing child abuse material.
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.
Brown is also charged with contaminating food with bodily fluids. He has not entered any pleas.
News.com.au understands Affinity Education group has been meticulously reviewing educator rosters and attendance logs, cross-referencing internal communications and shift assignments to assist police with their inquiries.
They have also provided raw data from the family communication app Storypark to police and briefed police tech experts on their systems to assist with their data analysis.
Detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad confirmed a further four work locations as part of the ongoing priority investigation into Brown.
Although records obtained by police indicated that Brown had worked at Papilio Early Learning in Hoppers Crossing between 22 August 2024 and 12 March 2025, further investigation has since determined this information was incorrect and the centre has been removed from the list.
Police now believe Brown worked at 23 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025.
Agencies are in the process of contacting the families who had children placed at the four new impacted centres during the time of Brown’s employment.
Where additional dates have been identified, impacted families will be contacted by the Department of Health from 15 July 2025.
A key focus of the investigation has been establishing a complete work history for Brown. “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,” police said in a statement.
They have also had to interview witnesses to verify details and provide an accurate account of Brown’s employment history, as well as assessing more than 270 Crime Stoppers reports.
“The information released today is the most accurate and up to date record available.
“However this remains an ongoing, active investigation which is assessing new information daily, and as such, Victoria Police advises that further updates are likely in the coming weeks.”
An Affinity Education Group spokeswoman said that since being briefed on this matter on July 1, they have “undertaken a comprehensive review of our employment and staffing records, as well as other relevant data.”
“We understand that relevant authorities are directly contacting families whose children may be impacted,” the spokeswoman said.
“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.
“This will include additional families receiving the notification for the first time, as well as some families who were notified on 1 July 2025 about the allegations and the potential risk of exposure to infectious diseases.
“We are deeply sorry for the distress this is causing our families – no family should have to go through this. We are committed to supporting every family impacted while continuing to co-operate fully with the authorities as the investigation continues.
“We share the urgency in ensuring that affected families receive accurate and timely information.”
Originally published as Map reveals horrifying update in child abuse case
Man fined after shock plane arrest
A Brisbane jetsetter has escaped with a $1700 fine for using a fake name to board a flight, after an alleged phone conversation about a bomb led to his dramatic arrest.
Two bodies found in Sydney home
The bodies of an elderly man and woman have been found in a Sydney home, with authorities believing they had been there for a “considerable amount of time.”