Brisbane childcare worker charged with rape and possessing child exploitation material

A Queensland childcare worker has been charged with rape and making child abuse material following a complaint about him at the Brisbane center where he worked.

The 29-year-old was brought before a judge on Saturday and was refused bail to appear again next month.

He has been charged with one count of rape and one count of indecent treatment of a child under 16.

The man also faces two charges of possessing child exploitation material and another charge of producing such material involving a child.

The daycare center where he worked prior to his dismissal in Brisbane’s north sent an email to parents and caregivers on Saturday morning.

“We realize this news will be distressing for families,” said the message, a copy of which has been seen by AAP.

‘We want to be open and honest with you and keep you informed.’

It confirmed the man’s arrest came after a formal complaint earlier this week which led to a police investigation.

“The employee was dismissed on the day of the complaint and his employment was terminated on Thursday,” the email said.

The center said the center had already contacted a small number of families involved with the center and confirmed the man had worked with older children.

“We are all shocked and saddened by this news,” it said.

The case follows unrelated allegations that a 45-year-old Queensland man abused 91 children between 2007 and 2022 while working at 10 childcare centers in Brisbane, one in Sydney and another center overseas.

He is currently in court facing more than 1,600 charges.

Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath told a parliamentary hearing earlier this month that the state’s screening of the alleged prolific Gold Coast offender raised no red flags.

“Before someone is issued a blue card, every blue card application in Queensland involves a national criminal history check,” she said.