Victorian authorities are expanding their efforts to test children for infectious diseases following revelations that an alleged sex offender, Joshua Dale Brown, worked at four additional childcare centres. This situation has emerged as part of an ongoing investigation into Brown, who has been charged with over 70 sex offences against eight children under the age of two. His alleged crimes occurred at a facility in Point Cook, Melbourne, between April 2022 and January 2023.
Authorities are actively reaching out to families whose children attended the centres during Brown’s employment from August 2024 to February 2025. The newly identified locations include facilities operated by Affinity Education: Kids Academy Waratah Estate in Mickleham, and Milestones Early Learning centres in Tarneit, Greensborough, and Braybrook. In total, 830 additional families will be contacted, adding to the 1,200 families already advised to seek precautionary testing.
Chief Health Officer Christian McGrath addressed the situation, emphasizing that the potential exposure risk to infectious diseases for the children remains low. “This is obviously a highly distressing situation, and I want to reassure all families being contacted,” Dr McGrath stated on Tuesday.
The distress felt by affected families is palpable. Melody Glaister, whose six-year-old daughter attended Creative Garden Early Learning Point Cook during Brown’s tenure, expressed her relief after receiving a negative test result. “We’re incredibly grateful and relieved as parents that our child is physically healthy, but we are always going to wonder, did something happen to our child?” she told the Australian Associated Press. Glaister further lamented the fact that more families now face the anxiety of testing.
In conjunction with the expanded list of childcare centres, police have released an amended timeline of Brown’s employment, including adjustments to his time at Papilio Early Learning in Essendon, where the reported period has now been extended by six months. Families affected by these changes will be contacted by the health department starting Tuesday.
The investigation into Brown’s work history is proving to be complex. According to Victoria Police, establishing a complete employment record has been challenging due to the lack of centralized records among childcare providers. Detectives have had to execute search warrants to obtain essential information, including handwritten records and shift rosters.
Since the charges against Brown were made public on July 1, 2023, police have received more than 270 reports through Crime Stoppers. An Affinity Education Group spokesperson stated that the company is cooperating fully, having reviewed records to assist police with Brown’s work history. “We are deeply sorry for the distress this is causing our families; no family should have to go through this,” they commented.
It has also come to light that Brown was subject to two internal investigations in April 2023 and January 2024 at G8 Education, unrelated to sexual abuse. These investigations occurred after the alleged incidents for which he is now charged. Despite being substantiated and reported to state authorities, Brown’s working with children certificate remained active, raising concerns about the oversight in safeguarding children. Glaister emphasized that if appropriate action had been taken, many families might not now face this distressing situation.
A representative from the Victorian government has confirmed that health and mental health support is being offered to affected families. For immediate assistance, the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service can be reached at 1800 211 028 or 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
