The Investment Whisperer
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Investing
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Investing
  • World

The Investment Whisperer

World

Hundreds of children told to test for disease in Australia after childcare worker charged with child sex abuse

by admin July 1, 2025
July 1, 2025
Hundreds of children told to test for disease in Australia after childcare worker charged with child sex abuse

Parents of 1,200 children in the Australian state of Victoria are being advised to get them tested for infectious diseases after a childcare worker was charged with more than 70 offenses including sexual assault.

Officials issued the call after Victoria Police announced the arrest of Joshua Dale Brown, 26, who is accused of sexually abusing eight children between the ages of 5 months and 2 years at a childcare center in Melbourne in 2022 and 2023.

All of the offenses relate to the eight alleged victims, who attended one center, but police haven’t ruled out other potential victims at 19 other childcare centers he’s known to have worked since 2017.

Victoria Police Acting Commander Janet Stevenson said Brown’s name was being publicized so that parents could check if their child came into contact with him.

“It’s very important to ensure that every parent out there that has a child in childcare knows who he is and where he worked,” Stevenson said in a news conference Tuesday.

Victoria Police’s Sexual Crime Squad began investigating in May of this year after detectives discovered child abuse material, authorities said. Police then executed a search warrant at Brown’s home, leading to his arrest. Police then worked to identify the alleged victims.

“Last week, we notified eight families that we had charged Brown with sexually offending against their children,” Stevenson said.

“As you could imagine, this was deeply distressing for the families to hear. We worked with our partner agencies to put all supports in place to assist them through this difficult period.”

Brown had a valid “Working with Children Check,” a compulsory screening for people engaging in child-related work in Australia, Stevenson said. Some of the childcare centers Brown worked at for “a very short period of time.”

Health authorities and police have identified and contacted around 2,600 families whose children attended the childcare centers where Brown worked, Chief Health Officer Christian McGrath said during the news conference.

About 1,200 children are being recommended to undergo testing for infectious diseases, McGrath said.

“We are recommending that some children undergo testing for infectious diseases due to potential exposure risk in that period. We do understand that this is another distressing element to the situation, and we’re taking this approach as a precaution,” McGrath said.

He declined to say what diseases the children are being asked to test for but said they can be treated with antibiotics.

Brown is accused of sexually assaulting children as well as producing and transmitting child abuse material, among other charges, according to authorities. The eight alleged victims attended the Creative Gardens Early Learning Centre in Point Cook, a suburb of Melbourne. Police did not disclose the gender of the victims.

Detectives are also examining evidence of possible offenses at another childcare center in Essendon, northwest Melbourne, “as a priority,” according to the news release.

Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan said she was “sickened” by the allegations.

“They are shocking and distressing, and my heart just breaks for the families who are living every parent’s worst nightmare, and as a parent too, I can only imagine the unbearable grief and pain the affected families are experiencing right now,” Allan said.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Trump to sign order lifting sanctions on Syria
next post
Thailand’s prime minister suspended over leaked phone call with former strongman

Related Posts

Cardinals prepare to battle over the future direction...

April 23, 2025

Volcano erupts on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula weeks after...

December 20, 2023

Devastation on the streets of Lebanon after days...

September 30, 2024

Israel ‘probably’ killed Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar, Netanyahu...

May 22, 2025

It’s Texas 60 miles from North Korea: the...

September 2, 2024

Canada police hunt for three suspects after 12...

March 8, 2025

The US still has not had a woman...

December 23, 2024

Xi and Putin hail tightening ties in call...

January 22, 2025

Kenyan President Ruto withdraws controversial finance bill following...

June 28, 2024

Israeli Supreme Court orders government to stop funding...

March 30, 2024

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Categories

    • Business (1,440)
    • Investing (3,557)
    • Politics (4,804)
    • World (4,698)
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: TheInvestmentWhisperer.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 TheInvestmentWhisperer.com | All Rights Reserved