Alleged pedophile Joshua Brown has been hit with more than 80 new charges as police investigate alleged sexual assaults at Victorian childcare centres.
Police allege the new charges relate to an additional four children, as well as further charges linked to their initial investigation and other matters.
The four victims attended three childcare centres including Nino Early Learning Adventures in Point Cook on March 26, 2019, Only About Children in Williamstown on December 1, 2020 and February 1 2021, and Aussie Kindies Early Learning Centre in Keilor between February 3 and 11, 2025.
Brown has been charged with multiple counts of:
- Penetration of a child under 12
- Producing child abuse material for use through a carriage service,
- Using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material,
- Sexual activity in the presence of a child,
- Attempted sexual penetration of a child
- Recklessly causing injury,
- Assault,
- Bestiality,
- Endangering serious injury,
- Encouraging a child to engage in sexual activity
- Possession of a drug of dependence.
Twelve bestiality offences are part of a separate investigation unrelated to any childcare centres.
“The families of the four (alleged) victims have been notified and have been provided with all available support services,” a Victoria Police spokesman said.
“Victoria Police has been in close liaison with the Department of Health and the Chief Health Officer has advised no children will require further testing.
“There have been no new childcare centres identified where Brown had previously worked.”
Sexual Crime Squad detectives have been investigating Brown since his arrest earlier this year.
The Victorian Government set up a website dedicated to the investigation with Brown’s employment details and information for families impacted by his alleged abuse.
Police established Brown worked at 23 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025, which have all cooperated with authorities during their investigation.
Brown, 27, has now been charged with 156 alleged offences and has been in custody since May.
Brown’s alleged offending sparked national reforms to Australia’s childcare sector that were signed off by state and federal education ministers earlier this year and took effect from September following revelations of systemic failures within the industry.
The measures backed by every state and territory in the country saw the introduction of 24-hour reporting requirements and strict rules on the use of technology in centres.
Brown will face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on February 10.
Police urge anyone with further information about the matter to contact Crime Stoppers.
More to come.
