A 26-year-old man named Joshua Brown, formerly employed at multiple childcare centres in Melbourne, has been charged with over 70 offences relating to child sexual assault. His arrest took place on May 12 following an investigation into allegations involving eight victims who attended a Point Cook childcare facility between April 2022 and January 2023. The serious charges include sexual penetration of a child under 12, sexual assault of a child under 16, and the production of child abuse material.
Since his arrest, Brown has been held in police custody and is scheduled to appear in court on September 15. Investigators are also looking into potential offences at a second childcare centre located in Essendon. Although his current charges stem from a single facility, it is important to note that Brown worked across 20 different childcare centres from January 2017 to May 2025.
In response to this alarming situation, the state government has created a dedicated website listing the centres where Brown was employed, providing health information and resources for families potentially affected by these events. The authorities have already notified the families of the eight alleged victims and are reaching out to those who had children at the other centres on the list to ensure they receive the necessary support and welfare services.
Police have confirmed that there is currently no evidence suggesting the involvement of any other staff members in this case. Victoria Police Acting Commander Janet Stevenson acknowledged the distress this investigation has caused within the community, urging individuals who may have relevant information to come forward. This includes parents whose children attended the centres where Brown worked and former colleagues who might have observed concerning behaviours.
Anyone with information is encouraged to reach out to Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or via their online platform. Moreover, support services are available through the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).