Childcare Workers Perform Sexual Harassment, 1,200 Children Are Advised To Undergo Infectious Disease Tests

JAKARTA - Parents of about 1,200 children in Victoria State, Australia were asked to undergo an infectious disease test, after a child care worker was charged with more than 70 offenses, including sexual assault.

Officials issued the call after Victorian Police announced the arrest of Joshua Dale Brown (26) accused of sexually abusing eight children between 5 months and 2 years old at a child care center in Melbourne in 2022 and 2023.

All of these offenses were linked to eight suspected victims, who came to one center, but police have not ruled out the possibility of other potential victims at 19 other child care centers where he has worked since 2017.

Victoria Police Temporary Commander Officer Janet Stevenson said Brown's name was published so parents could check if their child had had been in contact with her.

"It's very important to make sure that every parent out there who has a child in a child care center knows who he is and where he works," Stevenson told a news conference on Tuesday.

Brown himself is currently detained and will attend Melbourne's Court of Magistrat on September 15, police said in a press release Tuesday.

The Victorian Police's Sexual Crime Unit began investigating the case in May, after detectives discovered child abuse material, authorities said.

The police then carried out a search warrant at Brown's house, which led to his arrest. The police then tried to identify the alleged victims.

"Last week, we told eight families we had indicted Brown on charges of sexually abusing their children," Stevenson said.

"As you can imagine, it is very sad for the family to hear about it. We work with our partner institutions to provide all the support to help them get through this difficult time," he said.

Stevenson further explained that Brown had a legitimate "Working Inspection with Children", mandatory examination of people involved in child-related work in Australia, Stevenson said.

According to authorities, Brown was accused of sexually assaulting children and producing and distributing child abuse material, among other charges.

Eight victims suspected of attending the Creative Gardens Early Learning Center at Point Cook, on the outskirts of Melbourne. Police did not reveal the victim's gender.

The detectives are also examining evidence of possible abuses at another child care center in Essendon, northwest Melbourne, "as a priority," according to the news release.

Victorian Prime Minister Jacinta Allan said she was "silver" on the charges.

"It was shocking and sad, and my heart is broken for a family experiencing the worst nightmare of every parent, and as a parent too, I can only imagine the unbearable sadness and pain the family is currently experiencing," Allan said.

Health authorities and police have identified and contacted about 2,600 families whose children attended the child care center where Brown works, Chief Health Officer Christian McGrath said at the press conference.

About 1,200 children are recommended for a contagious disease test, McGrath said.

"We recommend that some children undergo infectious disease tests due to potential exposure risks during those periods. We understand this is another sad element in this situation, and we are taking this approach as a precaution," McGrath explained.

However, he declined to say what illness he was asked to test in the children, but said they could be treated with antibiotics.