This article contains references to child abuse.
A former childcare worker whose alleged sexual abuse crimes ignited a sector-wide reckoning has been hit with 83 more charges.
Police on Thursday issued more charges against Joshua Dale Brown as their continuing investigation into alleged sexual assaults at Melbourne childcare centres.
He had previously been charged with more than 70 sex offences against eight alleged victims under the age of two, prompting advice to parents of more than 2,000 children to test them for infectious diseases.
The fresh charges include six counts of penetration of a child under 12, eight counts of producing child abuse material for use through a carriage service, seven counts of transmitting child abuse material, eight counts of sexual assault of a child under 16 and 12 counts of bestiality.
Brown is accused of abusing children between April 2022 and January 2023 at G8-owned Creative Garden centre, located in the southwest Melbourne suburb of Point Cook.
Authorities have previously said there were no known complaints against him but childcare giant Nido Early Learning has confirmed Brown was sacked while on probation after completing 18 shifts at a centre in Werribee, in Melbourne's west.
The shocking allegations paved the way for widespread distrust in the early education system.
In response, the federal government fast-tracked a slew of regulations, including a website that named and shamed early learning centres that breached child safety laws and reforms to strip childcare providers of their funding if they fail to meet quality, safety and compliance standards.
Readers seeking support can ring Lifeline crisis support on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25). More information is available at beyondblue.org.au and lifeline.org.au.
Anyone seeking information or support relating to sexual abuse can contact Bravehearts on 1800 272 831 or Blue Knot on 1300 657 380.
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