Police have identified a further four childcare centres which employed a Point Cook man accused of 70 offences against children.
In a statement on July 15, police said the centres in Mickleham, Tarneit, Braybrook and Greensborough had been confirmed to have employed Joshua Brown.
Police also amended the dates Brown was employed at ten centres previously named.
Brown, 26, was arrested on May 12 and has since been charged with more than 70 offences relating to the alleged sexual abuse of children.
He was remanded in custody and will appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on September 15.
On July 1, police said Brown was believed to have worked at 20 different childcare centres between 2017 and 2025.
As a result, the Department of Health had recommended 1200 children who may have come into contact with him during this period be tested for infectious diseases.
In an update on July 15, police said Brown had also worked at Kids Academy Waratah estate in Mickleham on August 29, 2024; Milestones Early Learning Tarneit on September 10 and 13, 2024; Milestones Early Learning Braybrook on December 4 and 6, 2024; and Milestones Early Learning Greensborough on December 5, 2024, January 31, 2025 and February 27, 2025.
Police also amended the dates Brown worked at Explorers Early learning in Point Cook, Adventurers Education in Wyndham Vale, Only About Children in Williamstown, Nido Early Learning School in Werribee, DOTS Occupational Therapy for Children in Footscray, Aussie Kindies Early Learning in Sunbury, Milestones Early Learning in Hoppers Crossing, Kids Academy in Melton, Aussie Kindies Early Learning in Keilor and Papilio Early learning in Essendon.
Although records obtained by police recorded that Brown had worked at Papilio Early Learning in Hoppers Crossing between August 22, 2024, and March 12, 2025, further investigation has since determined this information was incorrect and the centre has been removed from the list.
Police now believe Brown worked at 23 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025.
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.
Chief Health Officer Dr Christian McGrath said about 830 families following the updated information about Brown’s employment to offer wrap around supports and provide testing recommendations.
“This is obviously a highly distressing situation, and I want to reassure all families being contacted that the potential exposure risk to an infectious disease for their child remains low,” Dr McGrath said.
“Our recommendation for testing is a precaution and the test results we’ve received to date as part of this investigation reaffirms that the risk is low.
“There remains no wider public health risk, and importantly the infectious diseases being tested for can be treated with antibiotics.”
Police said a key focus of their investigation has been establishing a complete work history for Brown
“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,” Victoria Police said.
Crime Command acting Commander Janet Stevenson said police understood many people in the community will still be feeling shocked and anxious in relation to this matter.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
A dedicated website has been established by the state government with a full list of Brown’s employment locations and dates.
Details: www.vic.gov.au/childcare-centres-investigation
