Melbourne Childcare Worker Charged with over 70 Child Sexual Offences
Victorian health authorities will test 1,200 children for an infectious disease following the arrest of 26-year-old Joshua Brown, a former childcare worker now facing more than 70 child sex-related charges.
He was charged with more than 70 offences. This includes sexual penetration of a child under 12, sexual assault of a child under 16, and production of child abuse material.
Brown, who had worked at 20 childcare centres across Melbourne from 2017 to 2025, was charged after police discovered child abuse material. The offences currently relate to eight affected children from the Creative Gardens Early Learning Centre in Point Cook between April 2022 and January 2023.
He remains in custody and will appear in court on September 15.
Victoria Police said Brown held a valid working with children check and was not previously known to authorities. Acting Commander Janet Stevenson stated the investigation was not prompted by a complaint, but rather by proactive efforts by police.
Though charges currently link to only one centre, police are investigating potential offences at a second site in Essendon. Parents across Melbourne were notified if their child had been enrolled at a centre where Brown worked.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, Dr. Christian McGrath, said testing is a precautionary response, and the disease poses no risk to the wider community. Testing will be free and supported by the government.
A dedicated website has been launched listing all centres where Brown worked and offering health information for families.
Premier Jacinta Allan described the allegations as “sickening” and confirmed an investigation by the early childhood regulator is underway.
This devastating case underscores the urgent need to strengthen systems for protecting children from abuse by those entrusted with their care. We must demand stronger protections and accountability measures to keep every child safe from predators in childcare settings.
