A 26-year-old man has been charged with more than 70 offences relating to sexual assault at a Point Cook childcare centre.
Joshua Brown, a Point Cook resident, is known to have worked at 20 centres, including one in the Geelong region.
The charges relate to eight alleged victims, aged between five months and two years old, at Creative Gardens Early Learning Centre, Point Cook between April 2022 and January 2023.
The charges include sexual penetration of a child under 12, sexual assault of a child under 16 and production of child abuse material for use through a carriage service.
His employment at second centre in Essendon is being investigated as a priority.
Brown is known to have worked at Leopold World of Learning in 2023, from February 9 to 13.
He was arrested on May 12, and has been in custody since that time, set to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 15 September 2025.
Police investigations remain ongoing and the allegations have not been proved.
Families who may have been impacted are being contacted by the Victorian Department of Health, in partnership with Victoria Police, with further information.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Christian McGrath said more than 2000 families, parents, children and carers of children have been contacted, with 1200 children recommended for infectious disease testing.
“Families and the wider community can be reassured that the infections that the children were potentially exposed to can be treated with antibiotics, and there’s no broader public health risk to the community,” McGrath said.
The Victorian Government has created a dedicated website with information, including a list of centres, that will be updated as the investigation continues which can be found at https://www.vic.gov.au/childcare-centres-investigation.
A dedicated advice line has also been set up for impacted families on 1800 791 241, open seven days a week, from 8am-9pm on weekdays and from 8am-5pm on weekends.
Police have asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
