Sydney daycare worker identified behind 329 child‑abuse charges

Sun Sep 06 2026 02:02:14 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Australian Federal Police name Hamish Tait amid 329 offences involving 136 children in Sydney across 16 years.

Hamish Tait, a former Sydney childcare worker, is now known to authorities after a court order was lifted. He faces 329 counts, including 162 of producing child‑abuse material and 81 of filming a private act without consent. Police say he worked at 62 early‑child education sites between 2009 and 2025, and has contacted 121 families while still seeking 22 more victims. The case follows a series of high‑profile daycare abuse scandals in Australia.

Hamish Tait, a once‑trusted Sydney childcare worker, has been officially named by police after a court order revealing his identity for 329 child‑abuse offences over 16 years. The charges include 162 counts of producing illegal content and 81 counts of filming private acts without consent.

Police say Tait worked at 62 early‑childsites between 2009 and 2025, mainly in the city’s north‑west, and has allegedly abused 136 children across five locations, including four licensed centres and his own private venture.

Authorities have reached 121 families so far and continue to identify 22 more victims. A website was launched by the Australian Federal Police to list affected centres and offer support to those impacted: Operation Moonbi.

AFP Acting Commander Luke Needham emphasised the horror of the offences: "Any form of child sexual abuse is confronting and horrific, even more so when the alleged perpetrator is an individual trusted with the care of our youth."

Tait’s case echoes several other recent Australian daycare scandals, such as the 2024 confession of 307 offences by Ashley Paul Griffith in Queensland, and last year’s indictment of Joshua Dale Brown for dozens of abuses at Victoria’s care centres.

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