Victorian Police have warned that alleged paedophile Joshua Brown could have worked in more childcare centres than currently known, after the number of affected centres rose to 24.

Melbourne

Victorian authorities are continuing to investigate a widening childcare scandal, with another centre, World of Learning in Point Cook, identified in the employment history of alleged offender Joshua Brown. The number of affected centres has risen to 24, with more than 2,000 children now advised to undergo testing for infectious diseases. The investigation has been complicated by a lack of centralised records, leading to calls from the Federal Education Minister for a national register to better track childcare workers.

In response, the government plans to fast-track child safety laws when Parliament resumes. The government has ruled out subsidies for nannies and grandparents, as well as a ban on men working in the sector. Separately, two female childcare workers in New South Wales have been charged with assaulting a child at an early learning centre.

Police warn more childcare centres could be linked to paedophile

As Victoria's childcare scandal deepens, authorities are struggling to keep up. Today, another centre was identified as part of alleged pedophile Joshua Brown's employment history. World of Learning in Point Cook. Childcare giant G8 notified parents in an email last night. The 26-year-old accused worked at the centre on August 24, 2023. There are no records of Mr Brown working at World of Learning Point Cook on any other day. Victoria Police confirmed four additional childcare centres yesterday. The company that runs those centres should have known where this bloke was and when he was working there. It brings the total number of centres to 24, a number that's expected to climb. Detectives say the process has been extremely complex due to a lack of centralised records. From the additional four centres listed, the families of a further 800 children have been notified to get them tested for infectious diseases, bringing the total number needing tests to more than 2,000. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare says it highlights the need for a national register. There'll be sometimes people who will move between centre and centre because they're labour hire, but there may be instances where people are moving from centre to centre because they're quietly being moved on. Child safety laws will be fast-tracked when Parliament resumes in Canberra next week. The government says it won't consider subsidies for nannies and grandparents. We know what we need to do here. Nor will it consider banning men from the sector. Today, in New South Wales, two female childcare workers in Western Sydney were charged with assault occasioning bodily harm of a 17-month-old boy at an early learning centre. It needs to happen quicker. Jessica Maggio, 10 News.

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