CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses alleged child sexual abuse.
A second man has now been charged as part of the major investigation into child abuse allegations connected to Melbourne childcare centres. Michael Simon Wilson is 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 the already-charged childcare worker, Joshua Dale 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.
This development follows the revelation that 26-year-old Brown had been charged earlier this week with more than 70 offences, including sexual penetration of a child under 12, sexual assault, and producing child abuse material.
Brown’s charges relate to eight children, aged between five months and two years, who attended Creative Gardens Early Learning Centre in Point Cook between April 2022 and January 2023.
Brown was arrested on 12 May and has remained in custody since. Police say he worked at 20 different childcare centres across Melbourne since 2017, and as a result, around 1,200 children are being urged to undergo precautionary health screening for infectious diseases. In total, about 2,600 families have been contacted by authorities, who have set up a dedicated website and support services for those affected.
The public only learned the full extent of the allegations this week, but Federal Education Minister Jason Clare revealed he was informed about the situation “just over a week ago” by the Victorian Government.
“It’s the reason I put this on the agenda for Education Ministers when we met last Friday,” Clare said speaking to ABC Radio National today.
He acknowledged the anger and distress parents are feeling, adding, “For parents of the children that are affected by this that got a notification from authorities yesterday, they’d be terrified, and rightly so. But worse than that, angry.”
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan responded by announcing urgent reforms, including a ban on personal mobile devices in all Victorian childcare centres from 26 September, a rapid review into childcare safety, and a $5,000 immediate-needs payment for impacted families. Allan said, “More needs to happen now”, and stressed that “families cannot wait” for safety improvements, per SBS.
The review, due by mid-August, will look at options such as installing CCTV in centres and expanding the registration system for early childhood educators.
Police have confirmed there is no evidence at this stage to suggest any other staff member is involved in the alleged offences, and all known offending is believed to have taken place in Victoria.
Acting Commander Janet Stevenson from Victoria Police said in a statement, “This is an incredibly distressing and confronting investigation for all involved and I know many members of the community will hear this news and feel enormously concerned.”
She also emphasised the importance of supporting victims and their families as the investigation continues.
Brown had a valid Working With Children Check and no criminal history prior to his arrest, which has triggered calls for a national overhaul of the screening system.
Clare commented, “Working with Children Checks aren’t a silver bullet. This alleged perpetrator had no criminal record; it’s why they had a Working with Children Check. That doesn’t mean, though, that Working with Children Checks can’t be improved right across the country.”
Both Brown and Wilson are due to appear in court in September.
Help is available.
If you’re in distress, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat online. If it’s an emergency, please call 000.
Under 25? You can reach the Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
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