The disturbing case relates to 26-year-old childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, who is accused of hurting eight kids ranging in age from five months to two years old while employed at the Creative Gardens Early Learning Centre in Point Cook, Melbourne, during 2022 and 2023.
Police say Brown has also been charged with producing and distributing child abuse material. He is now in custody and will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on September 15.
Risk of Exposure Drives Mass Testing for Disease
While the charges, at this stage, are for the offending at one center involving eight children, police have discovered Brown worked at 19 different childcare centers across Victoria over the past two years. Acting Commander Janet Stevenson of the Victoria Police said his name was being released to allow families to check for potential contact.
As of now, up to 2,600 families whose children attended the facilities where Brown worked have been advised, Chief Health Officer Christian McGrath said. Of those, there are 1,200 children that doctors are recommending receive precautionary testing for infection diseases.
“We are recommending testing because there could be, potentially, exposure risks. We know this is causing distress, but we're doing it out of an abundance of caution,” McGrath said.
He did not specify the diseases, which are curable with antibiotics.
Outrage and National Shock
The Victoria Premier, Jacinta Allan, called the case “sickening” and said she was thinking of the families.
My heart aches for the families who are living every parent’s nightmare. This is so upsetting,” she said.
Brown allegedly cleared all necessary checks, which included a Working with Children Check, prompting questions around whether the screening process was appropriately managed. Some of the centers where he worked were temporary placements.
The Sexual Crime Squad launched an investigation in May after police found child abuse material. Investigators arrested Brown at his home and were able to identify the alleged victims.
Police are now also investigating potential offences at a second site — a childcare center in Essendon — as part of an ongoing investigation.
“Police are in close contact with partners to ensure grieving families receive the emotional and psychological support they require.Police have urged any parent who has concerns about their child's contact with Brown to contact them for information or support.
