In Melbourne, a childcare worker named Joshua Brown has been accused of over 70 offences, including severe sexual abuse against eight children in his care. Authorities arrested Brown in May, who is a 26-year-old resident of Point Cook. He is now facing charges of sexual acts on children under 12, attempted sexual acts, sexual assault, and creating child exploitation material.
The Victorian Police issued a statement confirming the charges and mentioning that the offences allegedly took place at a childcare centre located in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Brown has been detained since his arrest and is scheduled to appear in court on September 15th, 2025. The investigation into the allegations has been extensive, involving detectives from the sexual crimes squad.
Brown worked at 20 childcare centres between 2017 and 2025. There’s an ongoing priority investigation at another centre in the northern suburbs where evidence of misconduct has been found. The Victorian government has established a website with information on the centres where Brown was employed and the dated of his employment, to reach out to families who may have been affected.
Assistance and welfare services are being provided to families who had their children in care at the relevant centres during Brown’s employment. This effort includes coordination between several government departments and organizations such as the Commission for Children and Young Persons, Family Safety Victoria, and the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Authorities assure the public that all the alleged misconduct has occurred within Victoria and currently, there is no evidence suggesting the involvement of any other staff members at the affected centres.
Acting police commander Janet Stevenson expressed deep concern about the investigation, acknowledging its impact on the community, particularly as it deals with the most vulnerable, children. She emphasized the need for anyone with information to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers, highlighting that these investigative discussions have been profoundly affecting for the families involved.
Steven’s message comes with information for support services for those who may be affected by the news. In Australia, the Kids Helpline can be reached by children and young adults, parents, and teachers, while the Blue Knot Foundation provides support to adults. In the UK, the NSPCC and Napac offer support to children and concerned adults respectively. In the US, individuals can contact the Childhelp abuse hotline. For a global list of child helplines, Child Helplines International is a resource to explore.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/01/melbourne-childcare-worker-charged-child-sexual-abuse-ntwnfb
