A comprehensive criminal investigation has uncovered disturbing new allegations against a former Melbourne childcare worker, escalating what was already one of Australia’s most severe child abuse cases. Joshua Dale Brown, 27, now confronts over 150 criminal charges following the addition of 83 new counts, including six distinct child rape offenses.
The initial investigation, which led to Brown’s arrest in May, involved allegations of abuse against eight children—including an infant as young as five months—occurring between April 2022 and January 2023. The recent charges expand the timeline of alleged crimes, reaching back to 2019 and identifying four additional victims across three separate childcare facilities. Authorities confirmed that families of these newly identified victims have been notified.
Among the most serious new allegations are multiple counts of child rape, attempted child rape, production and distribution of child abuse material, and various sexual assault charges. In a particularly disturbing development, Brown also faces 12 counts of bestiality, though police emphasize this aspect stems from a separate investigation unrelated to childcare centers.
The case has triggered nationwide concern regarding childcare safety protocols, prompting swift governmental action. Federal authorities have expanded their power to withdraw funding from providers violating safety standards, while parliament has accelerated the implementation of stricter child protection regulations, including enhanced background checks for childcare workers.
G8 Education, Australia’s largest private childcare operator and Brown’s former employer, has responded by accelerating CCTV installation across its 400+ facilities and implementing ‘intimate care waivers’ that allow parents to designate preferred caregivers for sensitive duties.
Brown remains in custody awaiting his next court appearance scheduled for February next year at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. The case continues to reverberate throughout Australia’s childcare industry, raising urgent questions about systemic protections for vulnerable children.