Police have been granted additional time to prepare their case against Joshua Dale Brown, who faces over 70 charges related to child abuse in Melbourne childcare centres.

Acting Commander Janet Stevenson confirmed that the investigation remains a top priority and is still active, with more updates expected soon.

During a court session, high-profile barrister Rishi Nathwani SC represented the prosecution as the police's request for extra preparation time was approved.

Magistrate Donna Bakos approved the police's request, setting a deadline of December 4, 2025, for the submission of evidence to Mr. Brown's lawyers.

Mr. Brown, who has been remanded in custody, is scheduled to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on September 15, 2025.

The case was made public on July 1, 2025, after a suppression order was lifted, revealing that Mr. Brown allegedly abused eight children aged between five months and two years.

Charges against Mr. Brown include sexual activity in the presence of a child under 16, sexual assault of a child under 16, and possession of child abuse material, with no pleas entered yet.

Victoria Police noted that investigating Mr. Brown's work history has been challenging due to the lack of centralized records from childcare providers.

Police revealed that Mr. Brown worked at 23 childcare centres across Melbourne from January 2017 to May 2025, and have urged parents of approximately 2,000 children to get tested for sexually transmitted infections.

Support services are available for those affected by this case, and community members are encouraged to seek help.