G8 Education working with police amid child abuse scandal
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The news: Early learning centre operator G8 Education said it is cooperating with Victoria Police, the state government and other authorities as part of the ongoing investigation into former employee Joshua Brown, who has been charged with sexual assault offences involving children.
The numbers: Victoria Police said on Tuesday that detectives are investigating a number of alleged sexual assaults linked to Brown, after he was arrested and charged with over 70 offences in May.
The charges, which include sexual assault and producing child abuse material, relate to eight victims at a Creative Garden Early Learning Centre — owned and operated by G8 — in the Melbourne suburb of Point Cook.
Victoria’s chief health officer, Christian McGrath, said the government has identified and contacted about 2,600 families and recommended 1,200 children be tested for infectious diseases.
The detectives established that Brown worked at 20 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025. G8 confirmed Brown was employed by the company between October 2021 and February 2024.
The context: The company said that Brown, who is currently in police custody, completed all required employment and background checks, including working with children checks.
Brown will appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 15 September.
What they said: "These allegations are shocking and extremely distressing," the company said in an ASX release on Wednesday.
"G8 Education is committed to providing support to those in our community who have been impacted.
"This includes providing access to counselling for our team, current families and former families in G8 Education's centres, as well as support for the children in our care."
The sources: ASX, Victoria Police
