Detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad have confirmed a further four work locations as part of the ongoing priority investigation into alleged sexual assaults by Joshua Brown.
The four additional work locations are as follows:
- Kids Academy Waratah Estate in Mickleham on 29 August 2024
- Milestones Early Learning Tarneit in Tarneit on 10 September 2024 and 13 September 2024
- Milestones Early Learning Braybrook in Braybrook on 4 December 2024 and 6 December 2024
- Milestones Early Learning Greensborough in Greensborough on 5 December 2024, 31 January 2025 and 27 February 2025.
A dedicated website has been established by the Victorian Government with a full list of employment locations and dates, and is accessible at https://www.vic.gov.au/childcare-centres-investigation.
Employment dates for 10 childcare centres listed on the website have now been updated as new information has come to light through the investigation. These centres are:
- Explorers Early learning in Point Cook - 6 August 2019 to 14 October 2019, 10 November 2019 and 17 December 2019
- Adventurers Education in Wyndham Vale - 25 November 2019 to 29 June 2020
- Only About Children in Williamstown - 28 October 2020 to 29 March 2021
- Nido Early Learning School in Werribee - 21 June 2021 to 14 July 2021
- DOTS Occupational Therapy for Children in Footscray - 18 March 2024 to 24 April 2024
- Aussie Kindies Early Learning in Sunbury - 21 August 2024, 24 September 2024 and 15 January 2025
- Milestones Early Learning in Hoppers Crossing - 19 August 2024, 2 September 2024, 4 September 2024, 6 September 2024, 9-10 September 2024, 30 September 2024, and 21 October 2024
- Kids Academy in Melton - 2 September 2024 and 16 September 2024
- Aussie Kindies Early Learning in Keilor - 25 September 2024, 20 November 2024, 3-4 February 2025, 7 February 2025, and 11 February 2025
- Papilio Early learning in Essendon - 20 August 2024 to 9 May 2025.
Although records obtained by police recorded that Brown had worked at Papilio Early Learning in Hoppers Crossing between 22 August 2024 and 12 March 2025, further investigation has since determined this information was incorrect and the centre has been removed from the list.
Police now believe Brown worked at 23 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025.
Agencies are in the process of contacting the families who had children placed at the four new impacted centres during the time of Brown's employment.
Where additional dates have been identified, impacted families will be contacted by the Department of Health from 15 July 2025.
Since the arrest of Brown, an urgent investigation has been led by detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad.
A key focus of the investigation has been establishing a complete work history for Brown. This has been extremely complex due to Childcare Approved providers not having centralised records, requiring detectives to execute search warrants to obtain handwritten records, shift rosters and other critical information.
They have also had to interview witnesses to verify details and provide an accurate account of Brown's employment history, as well as assessing more than 270 Crimestoppers reports.
The information released today is the most accurate and up to date record available. However this remains an ongoing, active investigation which is assessing new information daily, and as such, Victoria Police advises that further updates are likely in the coming weeks.
Detectives are continuing to work with a range of other agencies including the Department of Health, Commission for Children and Young Persons, Family Safety Victoria, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Gatehouse, Department of Education, and the Royal Children's Hospital to ensure the right support services are in place and that families are given as much information as possible about the process.
All of the childcare providers are continuing to cooperate fully with police on this matter.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on www.crimestoppersvic.com.au or via 1800 333 000.
Quotes attributable to Acting Commander Janet Stevenson, Crime Command:
"We understand many people in the community will still be feeling shocked and anxious in relation to this matter.
"This investigation remains the highest priority for Victoria Police. We are working through a large amount of information that has been provided to us.
"Each piece of information has to be individually assessed and verified before it can be used as part of the investigation or released to the public.
"I understand there are people who will be frustrated and I want to reinforce that this is a continually evolving and changing situation. What hasn't changed is that this investigation remains the highest priority for Victora Police.
"I also want to remind people, especially those struggling with this news, that there is a number of support services readily available for impacted parties and I strongly encourage people to seek those out."
Background only - information in relation to work locations:
During the investigation, detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad were provided with information from Brown's employers in order to determine his work history.
This included which childcare centres he had worked at and on what dates.
This information subsequently informed the first notifications to impacted families and was also published on the government website on 1 July 2025.
Since that time, police became aware of a number of discrepancies with the information they had received from the childcare providers. These discrepancies were both identified by investigators themselves and as a result of information provided to police by members of the public.
Police subsequently executed further warrants on the childcare providers in order to obtain additional information to assist with clarifying and correcting Brown's employment history.
Detectives have methodically worked through this information in order to ensure accuracy and have had to review it in conjunction with a range of other agencies.
A key challenge for detectives has been that Childcare Approved providers do not have centralised records.
Each centre has their own processes for recording information.
Police have endeavoured to establish not just where Brown worked, but the specific shifts he worked and duties undertaken.
