1,200 Children, 20 Centres: Parents Furious After Childcare Worker Charged with Abuse

Trigger warning: This article discusses child abuse and child sexual abuse which some readers may find confronting.

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. A childcare worker, someone trusted to care for and protect the most vulnerable members of our community, has allegedly been charged with over 70 offences, including child rape, sexual assault and producing child abuse material. The accused, Joshua Dale Brown, who worked at around 20 centres across Melbourne over an 8 year time period, was arrested following a tip-off from overseas authorities.

The charges relate to eight children who attended Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook between April 2022 and January 2023. However, Mr Brown had also worked at more than 20 other childcare centres across Melbourne between 2017 and 2025.

As the investigation continues, parents across Victoria are left reeling, shocked, heartbroken, and questioning how this could have happened in what’s meant to be a safe and secure environment. The allegations are not only distressing but devastating for families who entrusted these centres with their children’s care.

The case centres around 26-year-old Joshua Dale Brown, a former childcare worker who has been charged with over 70 child sex offences. Victoria Police confirmed the charges relate to eight children who attended Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook between April 2022 and January 2023.  Brown’s employment history spans 20 centres across Melbourne’s west, dating back to 2017.

Two major national childcare providers, Affinity Education and G8 Education, which operate several centres where the accused man was employed, have defended their hiring processes, stating they complied with all required security checks.

The Victorian government, already in the process of reviewing the state’s Working With Children Check system, has now directed the early childhood regulator to investigate the conduct of the childcare operators who employed Brown.

On Tuesday, both the federal government and opposition expressed shock over the allegations and called for urgent reform within the childcare sector.

Meanwhile, Victoria Police, along with the state’s health and education departments, established a co-ordinated response in the weeks following Brown’s arrest. The allegations and charges were publicly disclosed seven weeks after he was taken into custody.

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, senior police and Premier Jacinta Allan addressed the public today, outlining the scope of the state’s public health response.

Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam said the case is among the most confronting in recent memory, involving some of the community’s most vulnerable members.

“This is an incredibly distressing investigation and the information we are going to provide today is particularly confronting,”

By midday Tuesday, parents were reporting significant delays on the dedicated support hotline established by the Health Department, with one parent from the Point Cook centre saying he had been on hold for over an hour and a half.

Chief Health Officer Dr Christian McGrath confirmed that around 2,600 families had been contacted so far, with medical screening advised for approximately half of them. Authorities have not confirmed whether Brown has tested positive for any infections, but said the recommendation is being made out of an abundance of caution.

“Families and the wider community can be reassured that the infections that the children were potentially exposed to can be treated with antibiotics, and there’s no broader public health risk to the community,”

The testing process may take days or weeks to complete. Families have been provided with information about how to access support and what steps to take next.

Multiple Centres Under Review

Brown is currently in custody and is due to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 15 September. The charges include:

• Sexual Penetration of a Child Under 12
• Sexual Assault of a Child Under 16, and
• Use of a Carriage Service to Transmit Child Abuse Material

While the current charges relate to one centre, police confirmed new allegations have emerged involving a second childcare centre in Essendon.

Investigators are now reviewing Brown’s employment history at 20 centres across Melbourne’s western suburbs.

The full list of centres and dates of employment is available at vic.gov.au/childcare-centres-investigation.

These include centres in Point Cook, Hoppers Crossing, Werribee, Wyndham Vale and surrounding areas. Families whose children attended these centres during Brown’s time of employment are being contacted directly by authorities.

Authorities discover child abuse material which sets off investigation

The investigation into the allegations was described as “proactive” by authorities and began after the alleged discovery of child abuse material in the accused man’s possession, which led detectives to examine his employment history across multiple childcare centres.

Joshua Brown, the accused, had no prior criminal record, was not known to police, and held a valid Working With Children Check at the time of his employment.

That clearance has since been revoked.

G8 Education, which operates the Creative Garden Child Care Centre at Point Cook, where Brown worked, stated that he had undergone all required safety checks at the time of his employment.

“Aligned with G8 Education’s commitment to child safety and protection, during the former team member’s employment, all required employment and background checks, including Working With Children Checks, were current in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements.”

G8 is publicly listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, where its share price fell by approx 5% on Tuesday following public reporting of the case.

Affinity Education, another major childcare provider where Brown was employed, is owned by Sydney-based private equity firm Quadrant. The group has reportedly been exploring a sale in recent years.

“A zero-tolerance approach to any form of abuse or misconduct involving children,” adding that “the safety and wellbeing of every child in our care is – and always will be – our highest priority.”

One of the last centres where Brown worked before his arrest was Papilio Childcare Centre in Essendon, operated by Affinity Education. Detectives arrived at the centre mid-morning on Tuesday as part of their investigation. Outside, some parents expressed anger over how the situation had been handled, particularly around long delays on the support hotline and the lack of clear communication from individual centres.

Police Continue Investigations

Acting Commander Janet Stevenson said police are focused on identifying any further victims and supporting affected families.

“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,”

Authorities have stressed that there is currently no evidence to suggest that other staff were involved or that any alleged offences occurred outside of Victoria. However, the scale and reach of the investigation remain significant.

Police have urged anyone who has concerns, relevant information, or may have observed concerning behaviour to come forward.

Parents, carers, or childcare staff who interacted with Brown or worked at the same centres during his employment are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Community Response and Support

The impact of this investigation is wide-reaching. While the legal process continues, families are being offered both medical and psychological support through official channels.

It’s a deeply unsettling time for many in the community, particularly for those with children in early learning. Parents are navigating complex emotions — from confusion and concern to anger and betrayal.

Authorities are urging calm, cooperation, and care as investigations continue. For many families, even a potential connection to this case can be deeply distressing. Support services are available for those affected, and both the Department of Health and Victoria Police are prioritising communication and transparency as new information becomes available.

Further updates are expected in the coming weeks as police review additional allegations and complete forensic testing. The next court appearance for Joshua Brown is scheduled for mid-September.

For the most current information, support resources, and updates, families are encouraged to visit vic.gov.au/childcare-centres-investigation.

Additional services available to parents across Victoria

If you have any concerns about your child’s wellbeing or feel that you need support yourself, it’s important to seek professional advice. Your family GP or trusted health professional is a good place to start. If you or someone you know needs help, the following services are available:

• 1800 RESPECT – A national service offering support to anyone experiencing or at risk of domestic, family or sexual violence. Call 1800 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au.

• Sexual Assault Crisis Line (SACL) – A state-wide after-hours confidential service for people impacted by sexual assault. Call 1800 806 292 between 5pm and 9am weekdays, and 24/7 on weekends and public holidays.

• Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SAS Vic) – The peak body for sexual assault and harmful sexual behaviour services in Victoria. Visit sasvic.org.au to find local support.

• Child safety resources – Information and support for child sexual abuse is also available through the National Office for Child Safety, Bravehearts, and Kids Helpline.

For further information on trauma and sexual assault support, visit the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) website.