Key information for parents regarding alleged sexual abuse incidents at a Melbourne childcare centre.

A major health and criminal investigation has been launched in Victoria after a childcare worker was charged with more than 70 offences — including child rape and possession of abuse material — involving eight children at a Melbourne early learning centre.

Joshua Dale Brown, 26, is accused of committing these offences while working at the Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook between April 2022 and January 2023. He also worked at over 20 childcare centres across Melbourne from 2017 to 2025.

What families need to know:

Who has been notified?

• The eight families directly linked to the charges were notified last week.
• As of Tuesday, letters, texts, or emails have been sent to the 2,600 families whose children attended any of the 20 centres where Mr Brown was employed.
• If you haven’t been contacted but believe your child may be affected, you can review the list of centres to check for any connection.

Health advice and disease screening:

• Due to the nature of the alleged offences, 1,200 children have been recommended for precautionary infectious disease screening.
• Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, Christian McGrath, stressed that the risk is low, but testing is offered to reassure parents.
• The specific infections have not been disclosed for privacy reasons, but officials confirmed they are treatable with antibiotics and pose no broader public health threat.

Support and testing services:

• A dedicated advice and support hotline is available to guide families on:
  • Whether testing is needed for their child.
  • Booking free screening appointments.
  • Accessing mental health and wellbeing support.

Call the hotline at 1800 791 241, available:

• Mon–Fri: 8am–9pm
• Sat–Sun: 8am–5pm

Parents can also consult their GPs for additional concerns.

Support hotlines:

• 1800 Respect (24/7): 1800 737 732
• Lifeline (24/7): 13 11 14
• Full Stop Australia: 1800 385 578
• Bravehearts (child abuse support): 1800 272 831
• Child Wise: 1800 991 099

If your child has not been flagged for screening:

• Authorities state that not all children who attended affected centres are at risk.
• Only those identified as having potential exposure will be contacted and recommended for testing.

Who is the accused?

• Joshua Brown was not previously known to police and had a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC).
• He was arrested in May after investigators discovered alleged child abuse material.
• His WWCC has since been revoked.
• Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed the screening process for the WWCC will now be reviewed.
• A court suppression order protecting his identity was lifted in the public interest.

Brown is scheduled to appear in court in September, and the investigation remains ongoing.