A mother has spoken out about her heartbreak upon discovering that her child was among the victims of alleged sexual abuse by Joshua Brown, a accused paedophile. This revelation has led her to join a group of around 70 families pursuing legal action in response to the situation.
For legal reasons, the mother remains anonymous, but she placed her child in a care setting under the presumption of safety. Her world was upended when a police investigation revealed that her child had allegedly suffered abuse while attending the Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook. Reflecting on the moment she received this devastating news, she described feeling as if her “soul had been taken out” and conveyed the overwhelming emotions that followed, including physical distress.
Joshua Brown, 26, faces a staggering 70 charges linked to the alleged assault of eight children between April 2022 and January 2023. Authorities are also investigating his activities at 19 other childcare centres where he worked from 2017 to 2025. In light of these serious allegations, Victorian officials have encouraged approximately 1,200 families to bring their young children in for precautionary STI testing.
The emotional toll on the affected families is significant. The mother expressed her loss of trust in systems that were meant to protect the most vulnerable, stating that the experience has altered her perspective on childcare entirely. “I don’t think my child would ever go back to a daycare centre,” she lamented.
Legal representatives for the families have organised information sessions to assist them in understanding their options moving forward. Amid this turmoil, Brown has been transferred to a maximum-security prison, HM Prison Barwon, where he will likely be placed in protective custody until his court appearance scheduled for September.
This disturbing case has shaken the community and illustrates the profound impact of such violations on families, demonstrating a crucial need for enhanced protective measures within childcare environments and legal recourse for the victims.