A former coworker of accused Melbourne paedophile Joshua Brown has come forward, stating she repeatedly raised concerns about his behaviour while they worked together eight years ago. She reported her apprehensions to management at a childcare centre on four separate occasions, claiming that by the end of 2017, she was informed that Brown would receive an official warning and subsequently be dismissed. Despite these warnings, Brown continued working at the Point Cook facility, formerly known as Nino Early Learning Adventures, until 2019.
The educator recounts that Brown exhibited concerning behaviour, often yelling at children and standing over them, and made dismissive comments about their wellbeing. Frustrated by the lack of action taken against him, she highlighted significant flaws within the system that allowed his conduct to continue unchecked for an extended period.
Years later, the former colleague was alarmed to recognise Brown at her own child’s daycare. She expressed her disgust and concern that someone she had once mentored could pose a threat to her child, indicating the gravity of the situation. Reports from 9News suggest that at least three parents had raised issues regarding Brown at Kids Academy Melton before he was charged, yet those complaints seemingly went unheeded.
The former colleague believes reports made about Brown’s behaviour were too quickly dismissed because he was employed casually. There is an understanding that while the centre claims to adhere to regulatory protocols in handling incidents, it did not formally receive any complaints about Brown.
A spokesperson for the childcare centre stated that serious allegations invoke immediate action, but there is now widespread public concern regarding how Brown managed to move between jobs while maintaining a valid working with children check. The former colleague expressed disbelief that individuals accused of misconduct, particularly involving vulnerable children, are not placed on suspension immediately pending an investigation. This raises serious questions about safeguarding practices and the protection of children in educational settings.