{"id":34381,"date":"2025-07-03T04:26:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T04:26:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/34381\/"},"modified":"2025-07-03T04:26:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T04:26:11","slug":"childcare-worker-charged-with-sexual-assault-offences-against-youngsters-in-melbourne-1200-children-to-test-for-diseases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/34381\/","title":{"rendered":"Childcare worker charged with sexual assault offences against youngsters in Melbourne, 1200 children to test for diseases"},"content":{"rendered":"

A man has been charged with more than 70 offences relating to alleged sexual assaults against children at a childcare centre in Melbourne<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Joshua Brown, 26, was arrested in May over the charges relating to eight victims who attended a Point Cook childcare centre between April 2022 and January 2023.<\/p>\n

The alleged victims are aged between five months and two-years-old, and the charges include sexual penetration of a child under 12, sexual assault of a child under 16, producing child abuse material and possessing child abuse material.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today \"Download<\/a><\/p>\n

Police say Brown worked at 20 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025.<\/p>\n

Investigators are also examining evidence of alleged offending at a childcare centre in Essendon.<\/p>\n

\"JoshuaJoshua Brown, 26. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n

Due to the nature of the alleged offending, around 1200 children have been recommended for screening for infectious diseases.<\/p>\n

The infectious diseases that authorities believe some children may have contracted are unclear.<\/p>\n

A list of all the places Brown has worked at has been published by the state\u2019s health department, however police are also sending letters to families who may have had a child enrolled at the centres.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not suggesting that the accused has offended against children in all these centres, but we\u2019re encouraging anyone to come forward with any information to Crime Stoppers,\u201d Acting Commander Janet Stevenson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this stage, all of the alleged offending is believed to have taken place in Victoria. We do not believe that there are any other childcare employees who have been involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brown was not known to police and had a working with children\u2019s check.<\/p>\n

Stevenson said police began investigating Brown after detectives allegedly discovered child abuse material.<\/p>\n

A search warrant was \u201cimmediately\u201d executed at his home in Point Cook.<\/p>\n

Stevenson said police did not have any known victims for some time, describing the investigation as \u201cproactive\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe actually had to identify the victims involved. It was very complex,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs soon as we had identified the known victims, we put things in place. We had to make sure the support services, being the Royal Children\u2019s Hospital or other health areas, were all prepared with a process that would be seamless and provide all those supports.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brown has been co-operative with police.<\/p>\n

Chief Health Officer Dr Christian McGrath said the risk of the children testing positive for the infectious diseases was low but that authorities wanted to be cautious.<\/p>\n

He said the diseases the children may have been exposed to can be treated by antibiotics.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a very complex and distressing matter, and our highest priorities are the health wellbeing of the children and families involved,\u201d McGrath said.<\/p>\n

A dedicated advice hotline has been set up for families who are unsure about what they should do.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen parents, guardians or carers call this number, they\u2019ll be provided with health advice, including whether testing is recommended for their child,\u201d McGrath said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll also support them to book in that testing, and it\u2019ll be provided free of charge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said she was \u201csickened\u201d by the allegations.<\/p>\n

She said the safety of children in Victoria was her number one priority, and that the early childhood regulator would be investigating the conduct of the childcare centres where Brown worked.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy heart just breaks for the families who are living every parent\u2019s worst nightmare, and as a parent too, I can only imagine the unbearable grief and pain the affected families are experiencing right now,\u201d Allan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there are further changes we can make out of the police investigation, out of the regulators investigation, or the work that the (Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn) is undertaking with her colleagues, then we will take every action within our power to keep Victorian children safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brown has been in custody since his arrest.<\/p>\n

He is due to face Melbourne Magistrates Court in September.<\/p>\n

Further information for parents can be found on the health department\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The dedicated hotline is on 1800 791 241 and is open seven days a week.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Full list of the child care centres where Brown worked between January 2017 and May 2025:<\/strong><\/p>\n