SYDNEY, Jul 1 (NNN-AAP) – More than 1,000 children have been asked to undergo testing for infectious diseases, after a Melbourne childcare worker was charged with child sex offenses.
Police in the state of Victoria said today that, Joshua Brown, 26, was arrested in May, and charged with over 70 offenses relating to alleged offending against eight children at a childcare centre, in Point Cook, 20 km south-west of central Melbourne, between Apr, 2022 and Jan, 2023.
The known victims were aged between eight months and two years old at the time of the alleged offending.
Charges against Brown include sexual penetration of a child younger than 12, attempted penetration of a child younger than 12, sexual activity in the presence of a child and producing child abuse material.
Authorities said at a press conference this morning that, the 26-year-old worked at 20 childcare centres, between 2017 and his arrest, and that a wider investigation is ongoing.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, Christian McGrath, said that, the state government is recommending that, 1,200 children linked to the case undergo testing for infectious diseases, as a precaution.
Victoria Police Acting Commander, Janet Stevenson, said that, a significant investigation commenced, after detectives allegedly discovered child abuse material and later executed a search at Brown’s Point Cook home.
She said that, Brown was not known to police prior to the investigation, and that he had undergone mandatory screening to work with children.
Victoria’s Premier, Jacinta Allan, said that, the state’s early childhood regulator has commenced a separate investigation into the conduct of the early childhood educators that Brown worked for, and that the screening process to work with children would also be reviewed.
Brown is expected to face a Melbourne court in Sept.– NNN-AAP
