A Point Cook man has been charged with more than 70 child sex offences following an extensive investigation into alleged assaults at multiple Melbourne childcare centres.
Joshua Brown, 26, was arrested on 12 May and has remained in custody since. He is accused of committing a range of offences against eight children placed at a Point Cook childcare centre between April 2022 and January 2023.
The charges include Sexual Penetration of a Child Under 12, Sexual Assault of a Child Under 16, and Producing Child Abuse Material. Brown is expected to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 15 September 2025.
Victoria Police confirm Brown worked at 20 different childcare centres across Melbourne between January 2017 and May 2025.
Acting Commander Janet Stevenson from Crime Command said, “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.”
While the current charges relate to a single centre in Point Cook, detectives are also prioritising a new allegation of offending at a second centre based in Essendon.
“The most important thing for our investigators was that we needed to identify the victims involved,” Commander Stevenson said.
“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.” he said.
Government Website Lists All Employment Locations
A dedicated Victorian Government website has been launched listing all 20 childcare centres where Brown was employed, including employment dates, at www.vic.gov.au/childcare-centres-investigation.
Wyndham-Based Centres and Dates of Employment
The following centres in the Wyndham area appear on the government’s list:
- Milestones Early Learning – Werribee: 14 Aug 2024 – 16 Aug 2024
- Milestones Early Learning – Hoppers Crossing: 19 Aug 2024 – 19 Aug 2024
- Papilio Early Learning – Hoppers Crossing: 22 Aug 2024 – 12 Mar 2025
- Greenwood – Point Cook: 14 Feb 2023 – 10 Mar 2023
- Little Blossoms Child Care Centre – Werribee: 14 Aug 2023 – 17 Aug 2023
- Wallaby Childcare Centre – Sanctuary Lakes: 13 Apr 2021 – 25 May 2021
- Nido Early Learning School – Werribee: 21 Jun 2021 – 16 Jul 2021
- Creative Gardens – Point Cook: 28 Oct 2021 – 2 Feb 2024
- Nino Early Learning Adventures – Point Cook: 15 Jan 2017 – 9 Jun 2019
- Explorers Early Learning – Point Cook: 18 Aug 2019 – 27 Oct 2019 (Casual work also on 10 Nov 2019 and 22 Dec 2019)
- Adventurers Education – Wyndham Vale: 25 Nov 2019 – 24 Jul 2020
Families Being Notified, Support Services Available
Commander Stevenson said, “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.”
“There is also a number of support services available for people who have been impacted by this matter,” Stevenson said. “Investigators are working closely with the families of victims to ensure they are well supported during this difficult time.”
Investigators are working with multiple agencies including the Department of Health, Family Safety Victoria, Department of Education, and the Royal Children’s Hospital to ensure families are supported.
At this stage, police believe all alleged offending took place in Victoria. There is no evidence to suggest other staff members were involved.
According to Chief health officer, Dr Christian McGrath, about 2,600 families had been contacted by authorities so far, with 1,200 children recommended for screening for infectious diseases.
“This is another distressing element to the situation, and we’re taking this approach as a precaution,” he said.
“We do believe it’s a low risk but we want to offer this to provide assurance to the parents about the health and wellbeing of their children.”
McGrath declined to comment revealing what diseases the children may have been exposed to but said it can be treated with antibiotics and there was no broader public health risk.
“We want to acknowledge it’s a relatively complex public health response, acknowledging that there is an ongoing police investigation and that we are dealing with families sensitive health information,” he said.
Acting police commander, Janet Stevenson, said the alleged assaults were uncovered after the discovery of child abuse material.
“It was a proactive investigation. It wasn’t through someone’s complaint. We didn’t have [an alleged] victim for quite some time,” she said.
Over 1000 Melbourne kids have been told to get STI tests
The parents of more than 1000 children are now undergoing testing for sexually transmitted infections, after the Melbourne childcare worker was charged with abuse. The children’s health status should be known within days.
Comprehensive STI testing is expected to be carried out as a precaution. In Victoria, a full screening may include swabs from the mouth, vagina, and anus, as well as urine and blood tests.
A government source, speaking anonymously, said authorities were seeking to rule out infections such as gonorrhea and syphilis, given the significant rise in cases across Victoria over the past decade.
Dr Nisha Khot, the vice president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said parents should know their child’s health status relatively quickly.
“STI screening results usually only take 24 to 48 hours, depending on what test is done,” she said.
The Health Department is recommending that about 1200 children undergo testing for infectious diseases following the allegations. Doctors who spoke to The Age said most STIs could be treated via a course of antibiotics delivered either orally or administered as an injection.
Khot said Victoria’s health system had the capacity to conduct these tests, but that the bigger question was ongoing support for victims and their families.
A spokesperson for the Health Department said the department would not discuss specific cases to protect the privacy of the children involved.
A suburban GP, who declined to be named due to the sensitivities of the matter, said childcare workers at the centres and police officers working on the case should monitor their mood over the next few weeks and speak to family, friends or a doctor if they notice any changes.
Police Appeal for Information
Commander Stevenson urged anyone with information to come forward. “We know there are potentially people out there who have information about this investigation,”
“This may be people who had children at a centre where the man worked or staff who may have worked with him and noticed particular behaviours,” said Stevenson.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers by visiting www.crimestoppersvic.com.au or calling 1800 333 000.
Reports can be made anonymously, and any details—no matter how small—could be vital in assisting police with their investigation.
In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and adults can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380
Families with children who attended the relevant centres during Brown’s period of employment are currently being contacted to ensure they receive appropriate support and access to welfare services.
