Latest news with #OnlyAboutChildren
West Australian
a day ago
- General
- West Australian
Childcare centres added to accused worker's history
NEW CHILDCARE LOCATIONS AND DATES WHERE ACCUSED SEXUAL ABUSER JOSHUA DALE BROWN WORKED: * August 29, 2024: Kids Academy Waratah Estate at Mickleham, in Melbourne's outer north * September 10, 2024 - September 13, 2024: Milestones Early Learning Tarneit, in the city's outer west * December 4, 2024 - December 6, 2024: Milestones Early Learning Braybrook, in the city's inner west * December 5, 2024, January 31, 2024 and February 27, 2025: Milestones Early Learning Greensborough, in the city's outer northeast UPDATED DATES FOR BROWN'S EMPLOYMENT AT CHILDCARE CENTRES: * August 6, 2019 - October 14, 2019, November 10, 2019 and December 17, 2019: Explorers Early Learning at Point Cook, in Melbourne's outer west. Several dates changed, including extended time in August and fewer days in October * November 25, 2019 - June 29, 2020: Adventurers Education at Wyndham Vale, in city's outer southwest. One month less * October 28, 2020 - March 29, 2021: Only About Children at Williamstown, in city's southwest. Additional day in March * June 21, 2021 - July 14, 2021: Nido Early Learning School at Werribee, in city's outerwest. Two fewer days * March 18, 2024 - April 24, 2024: DOTS Occupational Therapy for Children at Footscray, in city's inner west. Fewer weeks * August 21, 2024, September 24, 2024 and January 15, 2025: Aussie Kindies Early Learning at Sunbury, in city's outer northwest. Fewer days * August 19, 2024, September 2, 2024, September 4, 2024, September 6, 2024, September 9 and 10, 2024, September 30, 2024 and October 21, 2024: Milestones Early Learning at Hoppers Crossing, in city's outer southwest. Additional days * September 2, 2024 and September 16, 2024: Kids Academy at Melton, in city's outer west. Different days * September 25, 2024, November 20, 2024, February 3 and 4, 2025, February 7, 2025 and February 11, 2025: Aussie Kindies Early Learning at Keilor, in city's outer northwest. Additional days * August 20, 2024 - May 9, 2025: Papilio Early learning at Essendon, in city's northwest. Additional six months * August 22, 2024 - March, 12 2025: Papilio Early Learning at Hoppers Crossing, in city's outer southwest, removed from list after further investigation found the information was incorrect WHAT HAPPENS NOW? * About 830 extra families impacted in the expanded childcare locations and dates will be contacted by the Department of Health by text message and email from Tuesday * About 800 children will be recommended for testing * Children who have already been recommended for testing will not need any additional testing * Authorities aim to contact all newly affected families within the next three to four days * It is believed Brown worked at 23 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025 * Police have executed search warrants to get handwritten records, shift rosters, interview witnesses and assess more than 270 Crime Stoppers reports in their investigation * The investigation is ongoing and police are advising further updates are likely in coming weeks
The Advertiser
a day ago
- General
- The Advertiser
Childcare centres added to accused worker's history
NEW CHILDCARE LOCATIONS AND DATES WHERE ACCUSED SEXUAL ABUSER JOSHUA DALE BROWN WORKED: * August 29, 2024: Kids Academy Waratah Estate at Mickleham, in Melbourne's outer north * September 10, 2024 - September 13, 2024: Milestones Early Learning Tarneit, in the city's outer west * December 4, 2024 - December 6, 2024: Milestones Early Learning Braybrook, in the city's inner west * December 5, 2024, January 31, 2024 and February 27, 2025: Milestones Early Learning Greensborough, in the city's outer northeast UPDATED DATES FOR BROWN'S EMPLOYMENT AT CHILDCARE CENTRES: * August 6, 2019 - October 14, 2019, November 10, 2019 and December 17, 2019: Explorers Early Learning at Point Cook, in Melbourne's outer west. Several dates changed, including extended time in August and fewer days in October * November 25, 2019 - June 29, 2020: Adventurers Education at Wyndham Vale, in city's outer southwest. One month less * October 28, 2020 - March 29, 2021: Only About Children at Williamstown, in city's southwest. Additional day in March * June 21, 2021 - July 14, 2021: Nido Early Learning School at Werribee, in city's outerwest. Two fewer days * March 18, 2024 - April 24, 2024: DOTS Occupational Therapy for Children at Footscray, in city's inner west. Fewer weeks * August 21, 2024, September 24, 2024 and January 15, 2025: Aussie Kindies Early Learning at Sunbury, in city's outer northwest. Fewer days * August 19, 2024, September 2, 2024, September 4, 2024, September 6, 2024, September 9 and 10, 2024, September 30, 2024 and October 21, 2024: Milestones Early Learning at Hoppers Crossing, in city's outer southwest. Additional days * September 2, 2024 and September 16, 2024: Kids Academy at Melton, in city's outer west. Different days * September 25, 2024, November 20, 2024, February 3 and 4, 2025, February 7, 2025 and February 11, 2025: Aussie Kindies Early Learning at Keilor, in city's outer northwest. Additional days * August 20, 2024 - May 9, 2025: Papilio Early learning at Essendon, in city's northwest. Additional six months * August 22, 2024 - March, 12 2025: Papilio Early Learning at Hoppers Crossing, in city's outer southwest, removed from list after further investigation found the information was incorrect WHAT HAPPENS NOW? * About 830 extra families impacted in the expanded childcare locations and dates will be contacted by the Department of Health by text message and email from Tuesday * About 800 children will be recommended for testing * Children who have already been recommended for testing will not need any additional testing * Authorities aim to contact all newly affected families within the next three to four days * It is believed Brown worked at 23 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025 * Police have executed search warrants to get handwritten records, shift rosters, interview witnesses and assess more than 270 Crime Stoppers reports in their investigation * The investigation is ongoing and police are advising further updates are likely in coming weeks NEW CHILDCARE LOCATIONS AND DATES WHERE ACCUSED SEXUAL ABUSER JOSHUA DALE BROWN WORKED: * August 29, 2024: Kids Academy Waratah Estate at Mickleham, in Melbourne's outer north * September 10, 2024 - September 13, 2024: Milestones Early Learning Tarneit, in the city's outer west * December 4, 2024 - December 6, 2024: Milestones Early Learning Braybrook, in the city's inner west * December 5, 2024, January 31, 2024 and February 27, 2025: Milestones Early Learning Greensborough, in the city's outer northeast UPDATED DATES FOR BROWN'S EMPLOYMENT AT CHILDCARE CENTRES: * August 6, 2019 - October 14, 2019, November 10, 2019 and December 17, 2019: Explorers Early Learning at Point Cook, in Melbourne's outer west. Several dates changed, including extended time in August and fewer days in October * November 25, 2019 - June 29, 2020: Adventurers Education at Wyndham Vale, in city's outer southwest. One month less * October 28, 2020 - March 29, 2021: Only About Children at Williamstown, in city's southwest. Additional day in March * June 21, 2021 - July 14, 2021: Nido Early Learning School at Werribee, in city's outerwest. Two fewer days * March 18, 2024 - April 24, 2024: DOTS Occupational Therapy for Children at Footscray, in city's inner west. Fewer weeks * August 21, 2024, September 24, 2024 and January 15, 2025: Aussie Kindies Early Learning at Sunbury, in city's outer northwest. Fewer days * August 19, 2024, September 2, 2024, September 4, 2024, September 6, 2024, September 9 and 10, 2024, September 30, 2024 and October 21, 2024: Milestones Early Learning at Hoppers Crossing, in city's outer southwest. Additional days * September 2, 2024 and September 16, 2024: Kids Academy at Melton, in city's outer west. Different days * September 25, 2024, November 20, 2024, February 3 and 4, 2025, February 7, 2025 and February 11, 2025: Aussie Kindies Early Learning at Keilor, in city's outer northwest. Additional days * August 20, 2024 - May 9, 2025: Papilio Early learning at Essendon, in city's northwest. Additional six months * August 22, 2024 - March, 12 2025: Papilio Early Learning at Hoppers Crossing, in city's outer southwest, removed from list after further investigation found the information was incorrect WHAT HAPPENS NOW? * About 830 extra families impacted in the expanded childcare locations and dates will be contacted by the Department of Health by text message and email from Tuesday * About 800 children will be recommended for testing * Children who have already been recommended for testing will not need any additional testing * Authorities aim to contact all newly affected families within the next three to four days * It is believed Brown worked at 23 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025 * Police have executed search warrants to get handwritten records, shift rosters, interview witnesses and assess more than 270 Crime Stoppers reports in their investigation * The investigation is ongoing and police are advising further updates are likely in coming weeks NEW CHILDCARE LOCATIONS AND DATES WHERE ACCUSED SEXUAL ABUSER JOSHUA DALE BROWN WORKED: * August 29, 2024: Kids Academy Waratah Estate at Mickleham, in Melbourne's outer north * September 10, 2024 - September 13, 2024: Milestones Early Learning Tarneit, in the city's outer west * December 4, 2024 - December 6, 2024: Milestones Early Learning Braybrook, in the city's inner west * December 5, 2024, January 31, 2024 and February 27, 2025: Milestones Early Learning Greensborough, in the city's outer northeast UPDATED DATES FOR BROWN'S EMPLOYMENT AT CHILDCARE CENTRES: * August 6, 2019 - October 14, 2019, November 10, 2019 and December 17, 2019: Explorers Early Learning at Point Cook, in Melbourne's outer west. Several dates changed, including extended time in August and fewer days in October * November 25, 2019 - June 29, 2020: Adventurers Education at Wyndham Vale, in city's outer southwest. One month less * October 28, 2020 - March 29, 2021: Only About Children at Williamstown, in city's southwest. Additional day in March * June 21, 2021 - July 14, 2021: Nido Early Learning School at Werribee, in city's outerwest. Two fewer days * March 18, 2024 - April 24, 2024: DOTS Occupational Therapy for Children at Footscray, in city's inner west. Fewer weeks * August 21, 2024, September 24, 2024 and January 15, 2025: Aussie Kindies Early Learning at Sunbury, in city's outer northwest. Fewer days * August 19, 2024, September 2, 2024, September 4, 2024, September 6, 2024, September 9 and 10, 2024, September 30, 2024 and October 21, 2024: Milestones Early Learning at Hoppers Crossing, in city's outer southwest. Additional days * September 2, 2024 and September 16, 2024: Kids Academy at Melton, in city's outer west. Different days * September 25, 2024, November 20, 2024, February 3 and 4, 2025, February 7, 2025 and February 11, 2025: Aussie Kindies Early Learning at Keilor, in city's outer northwest. Additional days * August 20, 2024 - May 9, 2025: Papilio Early learning at Essendon, in city's northwest. Additional six months * August 22, 2024 - March, 12 2025: Papilio Early Learning at Hoppers Crossing, in city's outer southwest, removed from list after further investigation found the information was incorrect WHAT HAPPENS NOW? * About 830 extra families impacted in the expanded childcare locations and dates will be contacted by the Department of Health by text message and email from Tuesday * About 800 children will be recommended for testing * Children who have already been recommended for testing will not need any additional testing * Authorities aim to contact all newly affected families within the next three to four days * It is believed Brown worked at 23 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025 * Police have executed search warrants to get handwritten records, shift rosters, interview witnesses and assess more than 270 Crime Stoppers reports in their investigation * The investigation is ongoing and police are advising further updates are likely in coming weeks NEW CHILDCARE LOCATIONS AND DATES WHERE ACCUSED SEXUAL ABUSER JOSHUA DALE BROWN WORKED: * August 29, 2024: Kids Academy Waratah Estate at Mickleham, in Melbourne's outer north * September 10, 2024 - September 13, 2024: Milestones Early Learning Tarneit, in the city's outer west * December 4, 2024 - December 6, 2024: Milestones Early Learning Braybrook, in the city's inner west * December 5, 2024, January 31, 2024 and February 27, 2025: Milestones Early Learning Greensborough, in the city's outer northeast UPDATED DATES FOR BROWN'S EMPLOYMENT AT CHILDCARE CENTRES: * August 6, 2019 - October 14, 2019, November 10, 2019 and December 17, 2019: Explorers Early Learning at Point Cook, in Melbourne's outer west. Several dates changed, including extended time in August and fewer days in October * November 25, 2019 - June 29, 2020: Adventurers Education at Wyndham Vale, in city's outer southwest. One month less * October 28, 2020 - March 29, 2021: Only About Children at Williamstown, in city's southwest. Additional day in March * June 21, 2021 - July 14, 2021: Nido Early Learning School at Werribee, in city's outerwest. Two fewer days * March 18, 2024 - April 24, 2024: DOTS Occupational Therapy for Children at Footscray, in city's inner west. Fewer weeks * August 21, 2024, September 24, 2024 and January 15, 2025: Aussie Kindies Early Learning at Sunbury, in city's outer northwest. Fewer days * August 19, 2024, September 2, 2024, September 4, 2024, September 6, 2024, September 9 and 10, 2024, September 30, 2024 and October 21, 2024: Milestones Early Learning at Hoppers Crossing, in city's outer southwest. Additional days * September 2, 2024 and September 16, 2024: Kids Academy at Melton, in city's outer west. Different days * September 25, 2024, November 20, 2024, February 3 and 4, 2025, February 7, 2025 and February 11, 2025: Aussie Kindies Early Learning at Keilor, in city's outer northwest. Additional days * August 20, 2024 - May 9, 2025: Papilio Early learning at Essendon, in city's northwest. Additional six months * August 22, 2024 - March, 12 2025: Papilio Early Learning at Hoppers Crossing, in city's outer southwest, removed from list after further investigation found the information was incorrect WHAT HAPPENS NOW? * About 830 extra families impacted in the expanded childcare locations and dates will be contacted by the Department of Health by text message and email from Tuesday * About 800 children will be recommended for testing * Children who have already been recommended for testing will not need any additional testing * Authorities aim to contact all newly affected families within the next three to four days * It is believed Brown worked at 23 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025 * Police have executed search warrants to get handwritten records, shift rosters, interview witnesses and assess more than 270 Crime Stoppers reports in their investigation * The investigation is ongoing and police are advising further updates are likely in coming weeks
Perth Now
a day ago
- General
- Perth Now
Childcare centres added to accused worker's history
NEW CHILDCARE LOCATIONS AND DATES WHERE ACCUSED SEXUAL ABUSER JOSHUA DALE BROWN WORKED: * August 29, 2024: Kids Academy Waratah Estate at Mickleham, in Melbourne's outer north * September 10, 2024 - September 13, 2024: Milestones Early Learning Tarneit, in the city's outer west * December 4, 2024 - December 6, 2024: Milestones Early Learning Braybrook, in the city's inner west * December 5, 2024, January 31, 2024 and February 27, 2025: Milestones Early Learning Greensborough, in the city's outer northeast UPDATED DATES FOR BROWN'S EMPLOYMENT AT CHILDCARE CENTRES: * August 6, 2019 - October 14, 2019, November 10, 2019 and December 17, 2019: Explorers Early Learning at Point Cook, in Melbourne's outer west. Several dates changed, including extended time in August and fewer days in October * November 25, 2019 - June 29, 2020: Adventurers Education at Wyndham Vale, in city's outer southwest. One month less * October 28, 2020 - March 29, 2021: Only About Children at Williamstown, in city's southwest. Additional day in March * June 21, 2021 - July 14, 2021: Nido Early Learning School at Werribee, in city's outerwest. Two fewer days * March 18, 2024 - April 24, 2024: DOTS Occupational Therapy for Children at Footscray, in city's inner west. Fewer weeks * August 21, 2024, September 24, 2024 and January 15, 2025: Aussie Kindies Early Learning at Sunbury, in city's outer northwest. Fewer days * August 19, 2024, September 2, 2024, September 4, 2024, September 6, 2024, September 9 and 10, 2024, September 30, 2024 and October 21, 2024: Milestones Early Learning at Hoppers Crossing, in city's outer southwest. Additional days * September 2, 2024 and September 16, 2024: Kids Academy at Melton, in city's outer west. Different days * September 25, 2024, November 20, 2024, February 3 and 4, 2025, February 7, 2025 and February 11, 2025: Aussie Kindies Early Learning at Keilor, in city's outer northwest. Additional days * August 20, 2024 - May 9, 2025: Papilio Early learning at Essendon, in city's northwest. Additional six months * August 22, 2024 - March, 12 2025: Papilio Early Learning at Hoppers Crossing, in city's outer southwest, removed from list after further investigation found the information was incorrect WHAT HAPPENS NOW? * About 830 extra families impacted in the expanded childcare locations and dates will be contacted by the Department of Health by text message and email from Tuesday * About 800 children will be recommended for testing * Children who have already been recommended for testing will not need any additional testing * Authorities aim to contact all newly affected families within the next three to four days * It is believed Brown worked at 23 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025 * Police have executed search warrants to get handwritten records, shift rosters, interview witnesses and assess more than 270 Crime Stoppers reports in their investigation * The investigation is ongoing and police are advising further updates are likely in coming weeks
The Age
04-07-2025
- The Age
Childcare horrors are shocking, but they're no surprise to me
It's the stuff of nightmares. Broken bones. Burnt hands. Children strapped into high chairs for hours and force-fed until they vomit. Toddlers yanked, shaken, dragged along the ground. Kids found unsupervised in carparks or roaming next to busy main roads. Babies left in soiled nappies all day. Ignored, neglected, left to cry. And then there's the video – just nine seconds long. A defenceless baby, strapped into a bouncer, crying hysterically as a childcare worker slaps her across the face repeatedly for fun. Her colleague films it, laughing, and uploads it to Snapchat. It's hard to believe this is happening in Australia's childcare centres, but it's been going on for years, all in plain sight. But there's even more heinous crimes. It took the announcement of a 26-year-old male educator being charged with more than 70 counts of child sexual abuse at a Melbourne childcare centre before people started asking the question … is childcare safe? For someone like me, who has been investigating childcare for almost a year now, the news was horrifying but not a surprise. In Victoria, NSW and Western Australia, at least one report of sexual misconduct is made every day. And that's just what's tracked and reported. In Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory, there's no reportable conduct scheme, so we simply don't know. The Victorian man facing charges, Joshua Dale Brown, worked at 20 childcare centres, most of them owned by big private operators including private equity-owned Affinity Education, listed ASX giant G8 Education and United States-owned Only About Children. His case is ongoing and remains before the courts. Loading Scratch the surface, and you find more. On Wednesday, a worker from Affinity childcare group is scheduled to face a NSW court charged with nine counts of sexually touching a child. This case is also ongoing. In March, Quoc Phu Tong, who worked at a Seaforth centre run by Only About Children, was sentenced to two years in prison for the intentional touching of a child. Then there's Ashley Paul Griffith, a childcare worker sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to a series of offences at early learning centres, mostly in Queensland. His crimes, described as 'depraved', included rape and the production of child-exploitation material. Griffith's abuse went undetected for years, despite holding a valid Blue Card – Queensland's working-with-children check – due to systemic failures in the child-protection systems.
Sydney Morning Herald
04-07-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Childcare horrors are shocking, but they're no surprise to me
It's the stuff of nightmares. Broken bones. Burnt hands. Children strapped into high chairs for hours and force-fed until they vomit. Toddlers yanked, shaken, dragged along the ground. Kids found unsupervised in carparks or roaming next to busy main roads. Babies left in soiled nappies all day. Ignored, neglected, left to cry. And then there's the video – just nine seconds long. A defenceless baby, strapped into a bouncer, crying hysterically as a childcare worker slaps her across the face repeatedly for fun. Her colleague films it, laughing, and uploads it to Snapchat. It's hard to believe this is happening in Australia's childcare centres, but it's been going on for years, all in plain sight. But there's even more heinous crimes. It took the announcement of a 26-year-old male educator being charged with more than 70 counts of child sexual abuse at a Melbourne childcare centre before people started asking the question … is childcare safe? For someone like me, who has been investigating childcare for almost a year now, the news was horrifying but not a surprise. In Victoria, NSW and Western Australia, at least one report of sexual misconduct is made every day. And that's just what's tracked and reported. In Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory, there's no reportable conduct scheme, so we simply don't know. The Victorian man facing charges, Joshua Dale Brown, worked at 20 childcare centres, most of them owned by big private operators including private equity-owned Affinity Education, listed ASX giant G8 Education and United States-owned Only About Children. His case is ongoing and remains before the courts. Loading Scratch the surface, and you find more. On Wednesday, a worker from Affinity childcare group is scheduled to face a NSW court charged with nine counts of sexually touching a child. This case is also ongoing. In March, Quoc Phu Tong, who worked at a Seaforth centre run by Only About Children, was sentenced to two years in prison for the intentional touching of a child. Then there's Ashley Paul Griffith, a childcare worker sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to a series of offences at early learning centres, mostly in Queensland. His crimes, described as 'depraved', included rape and the production of child-exploitation material. Griffith's abuse went undetected for years, despite holding a valid Blue Card – Queensland's working-with-children check – due to systemic failures in the child-protection systems.
