Another 800 children face STD tests after sex crime cops investigating accused paedophile Joshua Dale Brown revealed four more childcare centres where he worked.
Police now believe Brown, 26, who was charged with more than 70 child sex offences including the sexual penetration of a child and producing child abuse material, worked at a total of 23 childcare centres.
Brown has also been charged with recklessly contaminating goods to cause alarm or anxiety, which is understood to refer to the alleged contamination of food with bodily fluids.
Brown’s existing charges relate to eight alleged victims, aged between five months and two years old, who were in the care of Creative Garden Early Learning Centre Point Cook between April 2022 and January 2023.
He worked there between October 2021 and February 2024, though he also worked at more than a dozen other centres across Melbourne between 2017 and 2025.
They have now identified four more childcare centres where he worked in Melbourne and the dates he was employed by them as the investigation expands.
Up to 800 children who were at the latest additions to the list at the time now face having to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases.
The new additions to the list of centres are: Kids Academy Waratah Estate in Mickleham on August 29, 2024, Milestones Early Learning Tarneit on September 10, 2024 and September 13, 2024, Milestones Early Learning Braybrook on December 4, 2024 and December 6, 2024, and Milestones Early Learning Greensborough on December 5, 2024, January 31, 2025 and February 27, 2025.
Sex crime cops investigating accused childcare paedophile Joshua Dale Brown (pictured) have uncovered more centres where the suspected sex offender worked
Brown worked at Creative Garden Early Learning Centre Point Cook (pictured) between April 2022 and January 2023
However detectives have also been able to rule out Brown working at Papilio Early Learning in Hoppers Crossing between August 22, 2024 and March 12, 2025 as previously reported.
Victoria Police admitted ‘further investigation has since determined this information was incorrect and the centre has been removed from the list’.
The ‘urgent investigation’ is considered a top priority for police.
Agencies are in the process of contacting the families who had children placed at the four new impacted centres during the time of Brown’s employment.
According to Victoria Police, the urgent investigation spearheaded by the Sexual Crimes Squad focused on centres where Brown may have worked.
‘This has been extremely complex due to childcare approved providers not having centralised records, requiring detectives to execute search warrants to obtain handwritten records, shift rosters and other critical information,’ police said.
Investigators have also had to interview witnesses to verify details and provide an accurate account of Brown’s employment history, as well as assessing more than 270 Crime Stoppers reports.
Police confirmed the information released today is the most accurate and up to date record available but ‘advises that further updates are likely in the coming weeks’.
Police now believe Brown worked at 23 centres during his alleged offending
Police believe Brown (back left with blue hair) worked at 23 childcare centres
Acting Crime Command Commander Janet Stevenson said police ‘understand many people in the community will still be feeling shocked and anxious in relation to this matter’.
‘This investigation remains the highest priority for Victoria Police. We are working through a large amount of information that has been provided to us,’ she said.
‘Each piece of information has to be individually assessed and verified before it can be used as part of the investigation or released to the public.
‘I understand there are people who will be frustrated and I want to reinforce that this is a continually evolving and changing situation.
‘What hasn’t changed is that this investigation remains the highest priority for Victoria Police.
‘I also want to remind people, especially those struggling with this news, that there is a number of support services readily available for impacted parties and I strongly encourage people to seek those out.’
On July 1, the Victorian Department of Health and Victoria Police urged the parents of 1,200 children to have them tested for infectious diseases.
Health authorities had to contact more than 2,600 families after Brown was taken into custody.
Daily Mail Australia revealed more than a dozen families have already approached a high-profile law firm in Victoria to seek compensation over the alleged actions of Brown while their children were under his care.
Arnold Thomas and Becker Lawyers have confirmed they were contacted by a string of families about potential legal action.
A spokesperson for Thomas and Becker Lawyers, which is assisting thousands of Victorians in cases over abuse as a child, said they think the number of families who will reach out to them about this is ‘only going to grow’.
Brown was charged with recklessly contaminate goods to cause alarm or anxiety, which is understood to refer to the alleged contamination of food with bodily fluids
‘We have already been contacted by a number of families who have been impacted by these shocking events,’ principal lawyer Jodie Harris told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Our thoughts are with the families affected, who are no doubt reeling from the shock and heartbreak of this news.
‘It is truly incomprehensible that someone in a position of trust and care could prey on the most innocent members of our community.’
She said that, while criminal proceedings are underway, families may have civil rights that entitle them to pursue compensation action.
‘This includes the potential to seek compensation for injury.
‘This could include medical expenses and potentially lump sum compensation.’
Ms Harris added that it ‘could be applicable for the impacted children and parents’.
She said that, while criminal proceedings are underway, families may have civil rights that entitle them to pursue compensation action.
‘This includes the potential to seek compensation for injury.
‘This could include medical expenses and potentially lump sum compensation.’
Ms Harris added that it ‘could be applicable for the impacted children and parents’.
Brown worked at a total of 23 childcare centres over an eight-year period between January 2017 and May 2025.
He was not known to police prior to their investigation and held a Working With Children Check which has since been revoked.
The Victorian Department of Health, in partnership with Victoria Police, is directly contacting families who may have been affected with further information.
Not every child who attended the childcare centres listed will be recommended for testing, as they won’t have been identified as having a potential exposure risk.
It is also possible that those recommended for testing have had no exposure.
If you haven’t been contacted by Victoria Police or received a direct notification from the Department of Health (via text, email or letter), it is likely that your child is not recommended to undergo testing, but there may be some families who don’t have up-to-date contact information.
Brown, who was arrested at his Point Cook home in May, has been remanded to face court on September 15
Parents who had a child at the listed childcare centres within the timeframes are advised to call the dedicated advice line on 1800 791 241 (open 7 days a week, 8am-9pm weekdays and 8am-5 pm weekends).
Some families will be eligible for a payment of $5,000 to help with alternative care arrangements, loss of earnings, and other practical needs.
Brown, who was arrested at his Point Cook home in May, has been remanded to face court on September 15.
Below is a list of the childcare centres and employment dates where Brown worked provided by police:
Nino Early Learning Adventures – Point Cook: 15 Jan 2017 – 9 Jun 2019
Explorers Early Learning – Point Cook: 18 Aug 2019 – 27 Oct 2019. Casual work: 10 Nov 2019 & 22 Dec 2019
Adventurers Education – Wyndham Vale: 25 Nov 2019 – 24 Jul 2020
Only About Children – Williamstown: 28 Oct 2020 – 30 Mar 2021
Wallaby Childcare Centre – Sanctuary Lakes: 13 Apr 2021 – 25 May 2021
Nido Early Learning School – Werribee: 21 Jun 2021 – 16 Jul 2021
Creative Gardens – Point Cook: 28 Oct 2021 – 2 Feb 2024
Leopold World of Learning – Leopold: 9 Feb 2023 – 13 Feb 2023
Greenwood – Point Cook: 14 Feb 2023 – 10 Mar 2023
Little Blossoms Child Care Centre – Werribee: 14 Aug 2023 – 17 Aug 2023
D.O.T.S Occupational Therapy for Children – Footscray: 1 Mar 2024 – 30 Apr 2024
Aussie Kindies Early Learning – Sunbury: 13 Aug 2024 – 21 Aug 2024
Milestones Early Learning – Werribee: 14 Aug 2024 – 16 Aug 2024
Milestones Early Learning – Hoppers Crossing: 19 Aug 2024 – 19 Aug 2024
Kids Academy – Melton: 12 Sep 2024 – 12 Sep 2024
Kids Academy – Kensington: 7 Oct 2024 – 9 Oct 2024
Aussie Kindies Early Learning – Keilor: 11 Feb 2025 – 11 Feb 2025
Papilio Early Learning – Essendon: 17 Feb 2025 – 9 May 2025
Milestones Early Learning – Bundoora: 8 May 2025 – 8 May 2025
