Joshua Dale Brown Fired from Melbourne Childcare Employer Amid Sex Offence Charges

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Joshua Dale Brown, a 26-year-old Melbourne childcare worker, was sacked from a Werribee childcare centre before allegedly committing sexual offences at another facility. Charged with over 70 offences, including child rape and producing child abuse material, Brown’s case has sparked outrage and exposed gaps in the childcare sector’s oversight. This article examines his dismissal, the allegations, and the broader implications for child safety.

Brown’s termination from Nido Early School in Werribee came just 18 days after he started in 2021, following a breach of incident report protocols, as reported by ABC News. A parent, Emma, who requested anonymity, raised concerns about Brown’s “rude and cold” behavior toward children, prompting his dismissal, though no sexual misconduct was alleged at Nido. Months later, Brown joined Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook, where he allegedly abused eight children aged five months to two years between April 2022 and January 2023. Victoria Police revealed Brown worked at 24 childcare centres from 2017 to 2025, leading to 1,200 children being recommended for infectious disease testing due to allegations of food contamination with bodily fluids.

The case has fueled public anger, with X posts decrying the system’s failure to flag Brown earlier, despite his valid Working with Children Check (WWCC). Two prior investigations into Brown’s conduct at Creative Garden, including an April 2023 incident of “aggressively” handling a child, resulted in only a warning and a performance plan, as per ABC News. Critics argue the Labor government’s regulatory framework allowed Brown to move between centres undetected, highlighting a lack of centralized oversight. Early education consultant Lisa Bryant told ABC News the absence of a national worker database is “unusual,” enabling predators to exploit gaps.

The Victorian government’s response, including a proposed CCTV mandate and a rushed review, is seen by some as reactive. Parents like Helen, whose child Brown allegedly dropped in 2023, told 7.30 the system failed to act on early red flags. As Brown awaits a September 2025 court date, the case demands urgent reforms to protect children and restore trust in a sector riddled with vulnerabilities.