Alleged Melbourne childcare sex offender revealed to be son of female prison officer involved in jail controversy
Joshua Dale Brown, 26, from Point Cook, faces a staggering list of serious child sex offences relating to eight victims who were in his care.
As he currently remains in custody, new information has confirmed Mr Brown is the son of a prison officer, who admitted to lying about calling a nurse in the hours before an Indigenous woman died in jail on January 1, 2020.
Alleged child sexual abuser Joshua Dale Brown is the son of a prison officer, who admitted to lying about calling a nurse in the hours before an Indigenous woman died in jail. Picture: Supplied
Veronica Nelson was reportedly screaming in pain and complained of cramps in her legs and fingers when Mr Brown's mother, Tracey Brown, told her to drink fluids and gave her a paracetamol through a trap in her cell door, according to the Herald Sun.
Ms Nelson then used her unit cell's intercom system about nine times after the pain medication to call for help, but was told by Ms Brown at 3.33am nothing more could be done to help her.
She was found dead about four hours later at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre. Ms Brown was a prison guard on night shift at the time of the incident.
A medical examination revealed the woman had a serious, undiagnosed gastrointestinal condition.
During an inquest, Ms Brown said she "wished" she helped Ms Nelson when asked by counsel whether she should have checked on her.
Joshua Dale Brown, 26, from Point Cook, faces a staggering list of serious child sex offences relating to eight victims who were in his care. Picture: Supplied.
Victoria Police are understood to be still investigating, as Mr Brown faces horror charges including sexual penetration of a child under 12, producing and transmitting child abuse material, and recklessly contaminating goods to cause alarm or anxiety.
The offences allegedly occurred at Creative Gardens Early Learning Centre in Point Cook, where Mr Brown was employed from October 2021 until February 2024.
Point Cook residents familiar with Mr Brown told the Herald Sun he wasn't someone who was invited into the neighbourhood group chat or a person they spoke much about until now.
Residents were also unaware that his mother had been part of a jail incident involving the death of an Indigenous woman.
Deanna Song, a neighbour with a three-year-old daughter, said "it's scary" the incident occurred so close by to her.
'It's shocking news … it's scary that it happened so close to me. Sometimes my daughter and neighbour's little children are down at this park in the middle of all the units," she told The Herald Sun.
'We were trying to piece the puzzle together (of his arrest) … and then this morning someone sent the article (in the group chat).
'We didn't know much about him … I didn't have any conversations, not like with my other neighbours."
Victoria Police has issued a plea to families of more than 1,200 potentially affected children to have their kids tested "for infectious diseases".
The full list of the 20 centres where Mr Brown was employed between January 2018 and May 2025 has been made public in what police describe as a move made "out of an abundance of caution".
The Victorian Department of Health has also activated a public health response, urging parent to have their children screened for infectious diseases, depending on their potential exposure during the period of alleged offending.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Childcare changes just a 'bandaid' after abuse case
Child safety reforms fast-tracked after a childcare worker was charged with dozens of sex offences have been dismissed as "band-aid measures" that won't stop the alleged crimes being repeated. The Victorian government has ordered an urgent child safety review, the creation of a register of all early childhood educators and brought forward a ban on phones after two men were charged by sex crimes detectives. Childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was accused of abusing eight children aged between five months and two years at one centre in Point Cook. Federal reforms have also been flagged after the allegations were revealed, including cutting funding for childcare centres that fail to meet minimum standards. But the rapid government response doesn't tackle the root causes of issues in a sector where half of all educators had been working for less than three years, early education advocate Lisa Bryant said. The industry had a highly casualised and underpaid workforce and it was dominated by private operators whose motive was to make money, she said. "The primary thing about making money is that you cut the number of educators and the quality of the educators," Ms Bryant told AAP. "If you're working with the same educators and the children all know you, that's really protective. Having a lot of casuals coming through your centre is not." Brown had worked at 20 childcare facilities since 2017 and health authorities have recommended 1200 children get tested for unspecified infectious diseases as a precaution. Families of children who need testing will be entitled to $5000 payments to cover the cost of parents taking time off, travel and other requirements. On Wednesday it emerged a second man, Michael Simon Wilson, 36, from Hoppers Crossing, had appeared in court on the same day as Brown, charged with child abuse material, sex offences and bestiality. The connection between the pair is not known but Wilson was charged by detectives investigating Brown's case. Parents and carers have reported long wait times to access support and health information from a government hotline since news of the childcare worker's arrest was made public. Chief Health Officer Christian McGrath acknowledged the delays but said 1300 families were supported over the phone on Tuesday. The Victorian government has ordered the child safety review, which must be completed by August 15, to consider making CCTV mandatory in centres. "It's a deterrent, if nothing else," Premier Jacinta Allan said. There have also been calls for a national register of childcare workers and a comprehensive overhaul of working with children checks. The checks were in urgent need of an overhaul with nationwide changes, industry body Early Learning Association Australia, the Act for Kids charity and Scouts Australia all said. "We have found that a charge in one jurisdiction - even if it is dismissed - can prohibit an applicant from receiving a card there, but not in another," Scouts Australia chief commissioner Brendan Watson said. But Ms Bryant said a national register would just be more paperwork for services and would become a "compliance system with no teeth", while the push for video cameras could deter possible offenders but discourage great educators. Brown was not known to Victoria Police until the start of the investigation and there were no formal complaints against him. He had a valid working with children check. NSW plans to move forward with a ban on people appealing their denial of working with children clearances, while it has already announced a move to get CCTV installed in childcare centres in the state. Parent advocate group The Parenthood has ramped up calls for a national early childhood watchdog, while the Greens are pushing for a royal commission into the childcare sector. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Child safety reforms fast-tracked after a childcare worker was charged with dozens of sex offences have been dismissed as "band-aid measures" that won't stop the alleged crimes being repeated. The Victorian government has ordered an urgent child safety review, the creation of a register of all early childhood educators and brought forward a ban on phones after two men were charged by sex crimes detectives. Childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was accused of abusing eight children aged between five months and two years at one centre in Point Cook. Federal reforms have also been flagged after the allegations were revealed, including cutting funding for childcare centres that fail to meet minimum standards. But the rapid government response doesn't tackle the root causes of issues in a sector where half of all educators had been working for less than three years, early education advocate Lisa Bryant said. The industry had a highly casualised and underpaid workforce and it was dominated by private operators whose motive was to make money, she said. "The primary thing about making money is that you cut the number of educators and the quality of the educators," Ms Bryant told AAP. "If you're working with the same educators and the children all know you, that's really protective. Having a lot of casuals coming through your centre is not." Brown had worked at 20 childcare facilities since 2017 and health authorities have recommended 1200 children get tested for unspecified infectious diseases as a precaution. Families of children who need testing will be entitled to $5000 payments to cover the cost of parents taking time off, travel and other requirements. On Wednesday it emerged a second man, Michael Simon Wilson, 36, from Hoppers Crossing, had appeared in court on the same day as Brown, charged with child abuse material, sex offences and bestiality. The connection between the pair is not known but Wilson was charged by detectives investigating Brown's case. Parents and carers have reported long wait times to access support and health information from a government hotline since news of the childcare worker's arrest was made public. Chief Health Officer Christian McGrath acknowledged the delays but said 1300 families were supported over the phone on Tuesday. The Victorian government has ordered the child safety review, which must be completed by August 15, to consider making CCTV mandatory in centres. "It's a deterrent, if nothing else," Premier Jacinta Allan said. There have also been calls for a national register of childcare workers and a comprehensive overhaul of working with children checks. The checks were in urgent need of an overhaul with nationwide changes, industry body Early Learning Association Australia, the Act for Kids charity and Scouts Australia all said. "We have found that a charge in one jurisdiction - even if it is dismissed - can prohibit an applicant from receiving a card there, but not in another," Scouts Australia chief commissioner Brendan Watson said. But Ms Bryant said a national register would just be more paperwork for services and would become a "compliance system with no teeth", while the push for video cameras could deter possible offenders but discourage great educators. Brown was not known to Victoria Police until the start of the investigation and there were no formal complaints against him. He had a valid working with children check. NSW plans to move forward with a ban on people appealing their denial of working with children clearances, while it has already announced a move to get CCTV installed in childcare centres in the state. Parent advocate group The Parenthood has ramped up calls for a national early childhood watchdog, while the Greens are pushing for a royal commission into the childcare sector. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Child safety reforms fast-tracked after a childcare worker was charged with dozens of sex offences have been dismissed as "band-aid measures" that won't stop the alleged crimes being repeated. The Victorian government has ordered an urgent child safety review, the creation of a register of all early childhood educators and brought forward a ban on phones after two men were charged by sex crimes detectives. Childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was accused of abusing eight children aged between five months and two years at one centre in Point Cook. Federal reforms have also been flagged after the allegations were revealed, including cutting funding for childcare centres that fail to meet minimum standards. But the rapid government response doesn't tackle the root causes of issues in a sector where half of all educators had been working for less than three years, early education advocate Lisa Bryant said. The industry had a highly casualised and underpaid workforce and it was dominated by private operators whose motive was to make money, she said. "The primary thing about making money is that you cut the number of educators and the quality of the educators," Ms Bryant told AAP. "If you're working with the same educators and the children all know you, that's really protective. Having a lot of casuals coming through your centre is not." Brown had worked at 20 childcare facilities since 2017 and health authorities have recommended 1200 children get tested for unspecified infectious diseases as a precaution. Families of children who need testing will be entitled to $5000 payments to cover the cost of parents taking time off, travel and other requirements. On Wednesday it emerged a second man, Michael Simon Wilson, 36, from Hoppers Crossing, had appeared in court on the same day as Brown, charged with child abuse material, sex offences and bestiality. The connection between the pair is not known but Wilson was charged by detectives investigating Brown's case. Parents and carers have reported long wait times to access support and health information from a government hotline since news of the childcare worker's arrest was made public. Chief Health Officer Christian McGrath acknowledged the delays but said 1300 families were supported over the phone on Tuesday. The Victorian government has ordered the child safety review, which must be completed by August 15, to consider making CCTV mandatory in centres. "It's a deterrent, if nothing else," Premier Jacinta Allan said. There have also been calls for a national register of childcare workers and a comprehensive overhaul of working with children checks. The checks were in urgent need of an overhaul with nationwide changes, industry body Early Learning Association Australia, the Act for Kids charity and Scouts Australia all said. "We have found that a charge in one jurisdiction - even if it is dismissed - can prohibit an applicant from receiving a card there, but not in another," Scouts Australia chief commissioner Brendan Watson said. But Ms Bryant said a national register would just be more paperwork for services and would become a "compliance system with no teeth", while the push for video cameras could deter possible offenders but discourage great educators. Brown was not known to Victoria Police until the start of the investigation and there were no formal complaints against him. He had a valid working with children check. NSW plans to move forward with a ban on people appealing their denial of working with children clearances, while it has already announced a move to get CCTV installed in childcare centres in the state. Parent advocate group The Parenthood has ramped up calls for a national early childhood watchdog, while the Greens are pushing for a royal commission into the childcare sector. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Child safety reforms fast-tracked after a childcare worker was charged with dozens of sex offences have been dismissed as "band-aid measures" that won't stop the alleged crimes being repeated. The Victorian government has ordered an urgent child safety review, the creation of a register of all early childhood educators and brought forward a ban on phones after two men were charged by sex crimes detectives. Childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was accused of abusing eight children aged between five months and two years at one centre in Point Cook. Federal reforms have also been flagged after the allegations were revealed, including cutting funding for childcare centres that fail to meet minimum standards. But the rapid government response doesn't tackle the root causes of issues in a sector where half of all educators had been working for less than three years, early education advocate Lisa Bryant said. The industry had a highly casualised and underpaid workforce and it was dominated by private operators whose motive was to make money, she said. "The primary thing about making money is that you cut the number of educators and the quality of the educators," Ms Bryant told AAP. "If you're working with the same educators and the children all know you, that's really protective. Having a lot of casuals coming through your centre is not." Brown had worked at 20 childcare facilities since 2017 and health authorities have recommended 1200 children get tested for unspecified infectious diseases as a precaution. Families of children who need testing will be entitled to $5000 payments to cover the cost of parents taking time off, travel and other requirements. On Wednesday it emerged a second man, Michael Simon Wilson, 36, from Hoppers Crossing, had appeared in court on the same day as Brown, charged with child abuse material, sex offences and bestiality. The connection between the pair is not known but Wilson was charged by detectives investigating Brown's case. Parents and carers have reported long wait times to access support and health information from a government hotline since news of the childcare worker's arrest was made public. Chief Health Officer Christian McGrath acknowledged the delays but said 1300 families were supported over the phone on Tuesday. The Victorian government has ordered the child safety review, which must be completed by August 15, to consider making CCTV mandatory in centres. "It's a deterrent, if nothing else," Premier Jacinta Allan said. There have also been calls for a national register of childcare workers and a comprehensive overhaul of working with children checks. The checks were in urgent need of an overhaul with nationwide changes, industry body Early Learning Association Australia, the Act for Kids charity and Scouts Australia all said. "We have found that a charge in one jurisdiction - even if it is dismissed - can prohibit an applicant from receiving a card there, but not in another," Scouts Australia chief commissioner Brendan Watson said. But Ms Bryant said a national register would just be more paperwork for services and would become a "compliance system with no teeth", while the push for video cameras could deter possible offenders but discourage great educators. Brown was not known to Victoria Police until the start of the investigation and there were no formal complaints against him. He had a valid working with children check. NSW plans to move forward with a ban on people appealing their denial of working with children clearances, while it has already announced a move to get CCTV installed in childcare centres in the state. Parent advocate group The Parenthood has ramped up calls for a national early childhood watchdog, while the Greens are pushing for a royal commission into the childcare sector. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
For-profit childcare operators defend ‘highly regulated' system amid calls for reform
Private childcare operators that employed an alleged child sexual abuser in their Melbourne centres have defended the existing system, one saying that things were already 'highly regulated' as childcare advocates call for a national register and higher staffing ratios to weed out paedophiles. On Wednesday, as the Victorian government unveiled a suite of new measures including $50,000 fines for centres that do not enforce a ban on staff carrying smartphones and establishment of a statewide register of workers, there were also calls to bolster protocols nationally to address claims of slipping standards, particularly among for-profit operators. All 15 childcare centres where accused child sex abuser Joshua Dale Brown worked over eight years – some for just days – were privately owned. The case underlines recent concerns about which corners are being cut by private operators, who critics say are putting profit ahead of child welfare. A recent ABC report highlighted testimony from a former manager at privately owned Affinity Education who described the culture as 'profit at all times'. Brown worked at four different Affinity centres, which are owned by Quadrant Private Equity. Two centres were owned by G8 Education, which had a market capitalisation of around $1 billion before news of Brown's arrest became public. Its share price has slipped almost 10 per cent in the less than two days since the allegations were made public. G8's chief executive Pejman Okhovat received remuneration totalling $3.3 million in 2024. His total actual remuneration, which is sometimes used as a more accurate reflection of pay, totalled $1.53 million.
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
For-profit childcare operators defend ‘highly regulated' system amid calls for reform
Private childcare operators that employed an alleged child sexual abuser in their Melbourne centres have defended the existing system, one saying that things were already 'highly regulated' as childcare advocates call for a national register and higher staffing ratios to weed out paedophiles. On Wednesday, as the Victorian government unveiled a suite of new measures including $50,000 fines for centres that do not enforce a ban on staff carrying smartphones and establishment of a statewide register of workers, there were also calls to bolster protocols nationally to address claims of slipping standards, particularly among for-profit operators. All 15 childcare centres where accused child sex abuser Joshua Dale Brown worked over eight years – some for just days – were privately owned. The case underlines recent concerns about which corners are being cut by private operators, who critics say are putting profit ahead of child welfare. A recent ABC report highlighted testimony from a former manager at privately owned Affinity Education who described the culture as 'profit at all times'. Brown worked at four different Affinity centres, which are owned by Quadrant Private Equity. Two centres were owned by G8 Education, which had a market capitalisation of around $1 billion before news of Brown's arrest became public. Its share price has slipped almost 10 per cent in the less than two days since the allegations were made public. G8's chief executive Pejman Okhovat received remuneration totalling $3.3 million in 2024. His total actual remuneration, which is sometimes used as a more accurate reflection of pay, totalled $1.53 million.
