Joshua Dale Brown: Red flags about child care worker accused of sexual offences not acted on

Red flags about the conduct of a childcare centre worker charged with the sexual abuse of eight young children under his care were raised at least two years earlier, it has been revealed.

In May, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said Joshua Dale Brown was not previously known to police and had a working with children check.

But now it has emerged that two complaints about Mr Brown were investigated and substantiated in the two years before his arrest.

Mr Brown, 26, was charged with more than 70 offences related to eight alleged victims aged between five months and two years old, sparking a call by Victorian health authorities for 1200 children to get tested for sexually transmitted infectious diseases.

On Sunday, the ABC revealed two reports were made to Victoria’s Reportable Conduct Scheme about Mr Brown’s interaction with children at Point Cook’s Creative Gardens, where he is alleged to have abused eight children.

Those reports did not relate to sexual conduct.

The first in April 2023 reported by three team members was two years before he was charged and related to him aggressively picking up and putting down a child and then failing to support the upset child.

The second incident raised by a parent in January 2024 alleged he raised his voice to three children and forcibly grabbed the arm of one, the leg of another and forcibly pulled off that child’s shoe.

Both incidents were investigated and substantiated by G8, the childcare giant that operates the centre.

Mr Brown was disciplined after the first incident, given a written warning and a performance improvement plan. He took three months leave but returned to work at the centre.

After the second incident Mr Brown was suspended immediately and he then resigned from the centre, and went on to work at 10 other Melbourne childcare centres not owned by G8.

G8 Education sent a letter to families on Saturday confirming the incidents and claiming they were reported to Victoria Police.

The allegations did not spark a review of his WWCC, which allowed him to work at other centres.