CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses child sexual abuse.
As inquiries continue into the shocking Melbourne childcare sexual abuse investigation, disturbing new information continues to emerge, with one family having to undergo sexually transmitted disease testing of their children for a second time after receiving conflicting information.
Joshua Dale Brown, 26, is charged with 70 counts of child sex abuse, including rape. Authorities have released a list of nearly two dozen childcare centres where Brown worked, along with his known employment dates.
Some 1,200 children have been advised to undergo infectious disease screening, with a police source tellingThe Age Brown had tested positive for a sexually transmitted disease. It’s alleged he contaminated food with bodily fluids at multiple centres.
On Thursday, it was revealed one family were forced to take their children to be tested a second time for sexually transmitted diseases, after they received conflicting information from the Victorian Health Department on the tests required.
First reported by The Age, texts show the department initially advised for gonorrhoea and chlamydia tests on Tuesday. Two days later, the family received another text adding syphilis to the list.
The Victorian health department acknowledged the family’s extreme distress at such a situation, stating it regrets that they faced “additional stress and anxiety”.
“Our highest priority is the health and wellbeing of the families and children involved, and wrap around supports are available,” a department spokesperson said, per the publication.
When questioned about families receiving different disease testing, even for children who attended the same centre, Chief Health Officer Christian McGrath said the referrals were based on “specific recommendations to individuals around their private health information”.
“The advice that people have been given is based on their risk assessment,” Dr McGrath said, per ABC News.
“I want to provide assurance to those 1,200 families where we’ve recommended screening and testing, that this is a high precautionary measure.
“The risk is low but there’s not no risk, which is why we’re making this recommendation.”
Brown worked at 20 different childcare facilities from 2017 until May this year, and when police raided his home in Point Cook in May, he had no criminal record and a valid working with children check.
He was charged that month over offenses involving eight alleged victims — aged between five months and two years — although the case hit the public eye this week after a court suppression order was lifted.
As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday, leading up to the arrest, Brown lived in a rented home in the area. One childcare centre — the Creative Garden Learning Centre, where it’s alleged he abused at least eight toddlers and babies — was minutes down the road from his house. At least five of the other childcare centres he worked were nearby.
His mother is former corrections officer Tracey Brown, who was named in the inquest into the preventable death of Indigenous woman Veronica Nelson, after Brown admitted she had lied about calling a nurse as Nelson was dying in a prison cell, the publication reported.
On Thursday, 9News reported a class action lawsuit could be launched by the families affected by the allegations, with over a dozen reaching out for legal advice to Arnold, Thomas & Becker lawyers.
“Given the number of childcare centres the alleged offender worked across, we will be exploring the potential for a class action,” Arnold, Thomas & Becker principal lawyer Jodie Harris said.
“However, individual claims in this case may be more appropriate avenue for the families impacted — we will be exploring both options and will determine the most suitable approach.”
As investigations continue into Brown’s work history, Victoria will be introducing a slew of reforms for the childcare sector. This includes a mandatory ban on personal devices in early learning centres, and establishing a state-based register for childcare workers.
Working With Children checks will be on the agenda at the meeting of attorney-generals next month, with Education Minister Jason Clare acknowledging the reforms to standardise these checks across the country “can’t happen soon enough”.
The Royal Commission into Institutionalised Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2015 recommended the checks be both standardised and nationalised nationally, although this is yet to be implemented.
A second Melbourne man, Michael Simon Wilson, has been charged amid the major investigation, facing 45 charges including bestiality, child abuse material, and sex offences, according to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
Police said Wilson’s charges relate to the alleged sexual assault of a teenage boy in Coburg on August 16.
The connection between Wilson and Brown was uncovered after detectives examined Wilson’s devices and discovered material linking him to Brown, per the ABC. The court documents allege the two men are known to each other, although it does not clarify how the two are linked, per The Guardian.
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