Babies less than six months old are among the eight children allegedly sexually abused by an employee at a Point Cook childcare centre who also worked at 20 other centres across Melbourne’s north and west.
Point Cook man Joshua Brown, 26, was arrested on May 12 and has since been charged with more than 70 offences relating to the alleged sexual abuse of children, which occurred while he was an employee at Creative Gardens Early Learning Centre, Point Cook, between April 2022 and January 2023.
The charges against Brown include the sexual penetration of a child under 12, attempted sexual penetration of a child under 12, sexual assault of a child under 16 and producing and possessing child abuse material for use through a carriage service.
He was remanded in custody and will appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on September 15.
Police said the families of the eight victims have been notified and have been provided with all available support services.
Brown is believed to have worked at 20 different childcare centres between 2017 and 2025, and the Department of Health is recommending 1200 children who may have come into contact with him during this period be tested for infectious diseases.
While families of children recommended for testing have already been notified, a hotline has been set up for parents who want to know for sure.
Most of the centres where Brown worked are in Melbourne’s western and northern suburbs.
They include: Nino Early Learning Adventures – Point Cook (January 15, 2017 – June 9, 2019); Explorers Early Learning – Point Cook, (August 18, 2019 – October 27, 2019, November 10, 2019 and December 22, 2019); Adventurers Education – Wyndham Vale (November 25, 2019 – July 24, 2020); Wallaby Childcare Centre– Sanctuary Lakes (April 13, 2021 – May 25, 2021); Nido Early Learning School – Werribee (June 21, 2021 – July 16, 2021); Greenwood – Point Cook (February 14, 2023 – March 10, 2023); Little Blossoms Child Care Centre – Werribee (August 14, 2023 – August 17, 2023); Milestones Early Learning – Werribee (August 14, 2024 – August 16, 2024); Milestones Early Learning – Hoppers Crossing (August 19, 2024 – August 19, 2024); and Papilio Early Learning – Hoppers Crossing (August 22, 2024 – March 12, 2025).
Brown also worked at Only About Children – Williamstown (October 28, 2020 – March 30, 2021); D.O.T.S Occupational Therapy for Children – Footscray (March 1, 2024 – April 30, 2024); Aussie Kindies Early Learning – Sunbury (August 13, 2024 – August 21, 2024); Kids Academy – Melton (September 12, 2024); Milestones Early Learning – Bundoora (May 8, 2025); and Aussie Kindies Early Learning – Keilor (February 11, 2025).
Police said Brown first came to their attention during normal detective work in April. He was not previously known to authorities and had a current working with children check.
Acting Commander Janet Stevenson said establishing his employment history and identifying all the alleged victims was the reason for the lag time between him being arrested and it being made public.
“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,” she 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.
“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.”
Premier Jacinta Allan said she was sickened by the allegations.
As part of the investigation, detectives are also examining evidence of an allegation of offending at a second childcare centre in Essendon.
Investigators are working with a range of other agencies including the Department of Health, Commission for Children and Young Persons, Family Safety Victoria, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Gatehouse, Department of Education, and the Royal Children’s Hospital to ensure the right support services are in place.
Details: https://www.vic.gov.au/childcare-centres-investigation
