Melbourne childcare worker charged with sexual abuse offences as 1,200 children to be tested for infectious diseases | Victoria

Victoria health officials recommend that 1,200 children be tested for infectious diseases after allegedly sexually harassed babies and children in the care of a Melbourne child care worker.

On Tuesday, the police confirmed that the 26 -year -old Point Cook Man Joshua Brown was accused of more than 70 crimes against eight victims allegedly between five months and two years old.

These include sexual penetration of a child under 12 years of age, sexual penetration of a child under 12 years of age, sexual assault of a child under the age of 16, and the production of child abuse material to be used through a transportation service.

Babies and children were placed in the same children’s care center in the western suburbs of Melbourne, where Guardian Australia chose not to name it.

Police said that since Brown’s arrest, an important investigation of the detectives from the sexual criminal team has been carried out.

The detectives said Brown found that they were working in 20 children’s care centers between January 2017 and May 2025. In the northern suburbs, they claim to be accused of “priority as a priority in a second child care center.

. The Victoria government has established a website that lists its centers and known employment dates brown.

Families who have children placed in the relevant centers during Brown’s employment are in contact to provide appropriate support and prosperity services.

Dr. Christian McGrath, chief medical officer, said that about 2,600 families have been contacted by the authorities so far and that 1,200 children were recommended for the scanning of infectious diseases.

“Another sad element of this situation and we take this approach as a precaution,” he said.

“We believe that this is a low risk, but we want to offer parents to provide assurance about the health and welfare of their children.”

McGrath refused to reveal which diseases of children can be exposed, but he said that this could be treated with antibiotics and there was no broader risk of public health.

Uz We would like to admit that this is an ongoing police investigation and that we are dealing with the sensitive health information of the families, and it is a relatively complex public health response, ”he said.

Deputy Police Commander Janet Stevenson said that the alleged attacks were revealed after the discovery of child abuse materials.

“This was a proactive investigation. It wasn’t with someone’s complaint. We didn’t have it [an alleged] Sacrifice for a while ..

Stevenson said Brown was not known by the police before the investigation and that no official complaint was made against him. Since then, there was a valid study with the child check that was canceled.

He called on everyone who had knowledge to communicate with criminal plums.

At this stage, the police said he claimed that all crimes occurred in Victoria. They said there was no evidence to claim that other personnel in any center are involved.

Brown was arrested and remained in custody since his arrest on May 12th.

On September 15, the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court will appear.