A former colleague of Joshua Brown, an alleged paedophile based in Melbourne, has expressed her concerns about his behaviour during their time together at a childcare centre. The educator indicated that she reported her worries to management on four separate occasions while working with Brown eight years ago.
By the close of 2017, she was informed that Brown had received an official warning and was expected to be terminated from his position. However, he continued to work at the Point Cook centre, known then as Nino Early Learning Adventures, until 2019. The colleague described Brown’s conduct, stating he often intimidated children through aggressive behaviour and made dismissive remarks, implying that children’s feelings were unimportant.
She expressed disappointment at the lack of action taken against Brown, highlighting serious system flaws that allowed such behaviour to persist unchecked for an extended period. Years later, she encountered Brown again, this time at her own child’s centre, leading her to fear for the safety of other children. She lamented that after having mentored him closely, it was appalling to find him in a position where he could potentially harm children.
Reports reveal that, prior to Brown’s charges, at least three parents voiced concerns to Kids Academy Melton about his interaction with their children. However, they felt their complaints went unheeded. Brown’s casual status may have contributed to a perceived dismissal of these reports.
While the childcare centre asserts that it adheres to regulatory standards for managing incidents, it’s clear that many questions remain regarding how Brown was able to transition between jobs while maintaining a valid working with children check. The former colleague pointed out that standard protocol calls for immediate suspension of educators upon receiving complaints, questioning why this preventive measure was not employed to protect vulnerable children. She stressed that these children depend on adults to advocate for their safety and well-being.
As the situation unfolds, the community is left grappling with serious concerns about the oversight and protection mechanisms in place to safeguard children in educational settings.