Government denies child 'tests positive for STD' after nursery worker arrested

A child has reportedly contracted an STD after thousands of children in Australia were tested following the arrest of a nursery worker accused of child abuse. Joshua Dale Brown, a 26-year-old nursery worker, is alleged to have abused eight children aged between five months and two-years-old.

Mr Brown reportedly worked at more than 20 childcare centres in Melbourne between January 2017 and May 2025. All the children alleged to have been attacked attended one childcare centre in the city of Victoria. Mr Brown's alleged offences prompted authorities to urge that some 2,000 children be tested for sexually transmitted diseases as a precautionary measure.

Sources close to the investigation claim a young child has since been diagnosed with gonorrhoea, Daily Mail Australia reported on Tuesday.

Police have not confirmed whether Brown tested positive for any STIs but said precautionary testing was necessary due to the nature of the alleged abuse. There is no evidence at this stage to suggest the reported positive test is linked in any way to Mr Brown.

On Wednesday, the Victoria Government appeared to contradict the reporting, with Deputy Premier Ben Carroll saying advice from the Royal Children's Hospital was that tests were continuing, though there hadn't been any positives so far.

He said: "I think they've [hospital staff] tested just about everyone - but I can get that clarified - and all the tests have been negative."

"This is something we hoped for and wished for," he added.

24 hours earlier, a Health Department spokesperson said: "Test results we've received to date as part of this investigation reaffirm that the risk is low."

Mr Brown is reportedly facing more than 70 charges, including sexual penetration of a child under 12, attempted sexual penetration of a child under 12, and sexual assault of a child under 16. The charges relate to the eight alleged victims.

It is alleged that the offences occurred at a childcare centre between April 2022 and January 2023.

The childcare centre has been approached for comment via email.

Mr Brown's legal team has said further charges could potentially be brought.

He is yet to enter pleas to the charges, News.com.au reported on Thursday.

Mr Brown was due to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court in September, but following a brief administrative hearing on Tuesday, the date was changed to early February 2026.