STI update on childcare kids
About 2000 children required testing as part of a police investigation into alleged child abuser Joshua Dale Brown.
Deputy Premier Ben Carroll told reporters on Wednesday that the latest advice came from health authorities.
'I think they've tested just about everyone — but I can get that clarified — and all the tests have been negative,' he said.
'This is something we hoped for and wished for.'
Mr Brown, 26, is facing more than 70 charges, including sexual activity in presence of a child under 16, sexual assault of a child under 16 and possessing child abuse material.
He has yet to enter pleas to the charges.
The charges involve eight children, aged between five months and two years, between April 2022 and January 2023.
As a precaution, testing was required for children who attended all of the centres where he worked.
Mr Brown worked at 23 childcare centres in Melbourne between January 2017 and May 2025. Joshua Dale Brown's lawyer Rishi Nathwani has flagged more charges could be laid. NewsWire / Diego Fedele Credit: News Corp Australia
It was revealed on Tuesday in court that more charges could be laid.
High-profile barrister Rishi Nathwani appeared in court as prosecutors requested additional time to prepare a hand-up brief of their evidence against Mr Brown.
Mr Brown did not appear in court for the brief hearing.
Magistrate Donna Bakos approved the request for police to provide their case to Mr Brown's lawyers by December 4.
The court was told police had provided a sworn affidavit in support of the delay, which was unopposed by Mr Nathwani.
The barrister said the affidavit was 'helpful and detailed' in setting out the significant investigational steps police still need to undertake.
Mr Nathwani also flagged the informant — the detective who laid the charges — had written that there was the potential for further charges and amendments to the existing charges.
Mr Brown is expected to return to court in February.
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