Melbourne Childcare Worker Faces 70+ Sex Charges

Joshua Brown, a 26-year-old Melbourne childcare worker, has been charged with over 70 child sex offences, including sexual penetration of children under 12, sexual assault, and producing child abuse material, involving eight alleged victims aged five months to two years at a Point Cook centre between April 2022 and January 2023. Brown, who worked at 20 childcare centres across Melbourne from 2017 to 2025, was arrested in May and remains in custody, with a court appearance set for September 2025. Authorities estimate around 1,200 children may have come into contact with Brown and have urged their families to seek precautionary testing for infectious diseases. The investigation is ongoing, with allegations of offending at a second Essendon centre being prioritized, and no evidence currently implicating other staff. A website listing all relevant centres and dates has been established to assist families, and affected families are being contacted for support. The state government is also reviewing childcare worker screening processes and looking into the conduct of related early childhood educators.