Melbourne Childcare WorkerJoshua Dale Brown Charged with 70 Child Sex Offences
More than 1,200 children recommended for disease testing. 2,600 families affected. A multi-agency investigation exposes one of Victoria’s most disturbing childcare protection failures.
Joshua Dale Brown 26, former childcare worker, has been charged with over 70 child sex offences following a Victoria Police investigation that spans 20 centres and affects more than 2,600 FAMILIES ACROSS MELBOURNE.
Police allege Brown sexually abused eight children aged between five months and two years during his time at Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook between April 2022 and January 2023. His arrest on 12 May 2025 came after child abuse material was discovered during a proactive police operation.
Brown remains in custody and is due to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 15 September 2025.
BROWN is facing an extensive list of serious offences, including:
Sexual penetration of a child under 12
Attempted sexual penetration of a child under 12
Sexual assault of a child under 16
Producing child abuse material
Using a carriage service for child exploitation
Recklessly contaminating goods to cause alarm or anxiety
Victoria Police have confirmed there were no formal complaints made against Brown prior to his arrest, and that he held a valid Working with Children Check during his employment across the early childhood sector.
Public Health Alert: 1,200 Children Recommended for Screening
Following Brown’s arrest, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Christian McGrath confirmed that over 1,200 children are being offered infectious disease screening as a precaution.
More than 2,600 families and carers are receiving letters advising them to monitor children who attended any of the centres where Brown worked. Health authorities have not disclosed the specific illnesses involved, but confirm they are treatable with antibiotics.
Families seeking assistance or testing information are urged to:
Call: 1800 791 241 (open 7 days)
Parents have reported long delays and unanswered calls to the hotline. One father told media, “We need more information to take any action. It’s unbelievable, so sad.”
Confirmed Employment History
Brown worked across 20 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025, including casual placements, relief shifts, and short-term contracts.
Sector Response and Growing Backlash
G8 Education, which owns several of the affected centres, issued a statement acknowledging Brown’s former employment and said it was focused on supporting families.
“These allegations are serious in nature and extremely distressing,” a spokesperson said. “We are focused on supporting all those impacted.”
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare called the crimes “sickening” and said child safety measures in early education needed urgent reform. Premier Jacinta Allan described the impact on parents and educators as “devastating.”
Opposition Leader Brad Battin said hotline failures needed immediate fixing: “If families can’t get answers in a crisis like this, the system is broken.”
Essendon Centre Also Under Investigation
Police confirmed they are actively investigating a second childcare centre in Essendon, where further allegations against Brown have emerged. It was among his final placements before arrest.
While there is no current evidence of offending at other centres, police are urging anyone with relevant information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Financial Support and Mental Health Services
The Victorian Government is offering $5,000 per eligible family to cover emergency childcare, lost income, medical needs, or counselling support.
Additional services include:
1800 RESPECT – Sexual assault & domestic violence
Bravehearts – Child protection & counselling
Child Wise – Child safety & trauma-informed support
Better Health Channel – Mental health resources
Gatehouse Centre (Royal Children’s Hospital) – Specialist trauma therapy (via GP referral)
Interpreter services are available via the Department of Health hotline.
What Comes Next
This case is not just about one man. It is about a system that let him in, passed him around, and cleared him for work with children for nearly a decade.
Underground Media Network is continuing its investigation into:
Background check failures
Gaps in provider reporting
Inter-agency oversight breakdowns
Structural weaknesses in Victoria’s Working with Children Check framework
If you are a parent, educator, or whistleblower with information connected to this case, you can contact UMN confidentially.
undergroundmedianetwork@protonmail.com