Sydney Daycare Worker Charged with 329 Offences Involving 158 Child Victims

An Australian Federal Police investigation has resulted in charges against a 35-year-old daycare worker for 329 offences allegedly committed over a 16-year period, involving 158 identified child victims. The man's identity, Hamish Alexander Edward Tait, was suppressed under a gag order for over a year before being revealed. The scale of alleged offending makes this case Australia's most prolific abuse within a daycare setting, surpassing any previous case involving a childcare worker.

The Investigation and Discovery

Operation Moonbi commenced after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported an online user uploading a file depicting child abuse. AFP investigators linked the Sydney daycare worker to the illegal online activity and executed a search warrant in June 2025 in Glossodia, northwest Sydney. Forensic analysis of seized electronic devices identified child abuse material and led to initial charges of eight offences related to online child abuse in July 2025.

Subsequent searches uncovered approximately 2.5 million files across his devices. Of the 158 identified victims, 136 have been positively identified and 22 remain unidentified, despite extensive work by victim identification teams. The AFP has been in contact with 121 families across Australia and internationally whose children were identified in the material. An additional 137 charges were laid, bringing the total to 329 offences including producing child abuse material, filming individuals in private acts, and sexual touching related to posing children for photographs.

Scope and Support Response

Record examination revealed that Tait worked across 62 childcare centers throughout his career, though alleged abuse has only been identified at specific locations. A Local Contact Point has been activated to provide parents and carers with information about his employment history and access to support resources. A mother of multiple children in his care told reporters outside Parramatta Local Court that the suppression order's removal was necessary to identify remaining victims, describing the situation as "horrifying" and emphasizing the importance of parents checking whether their children had contact with the accused worker.

Next Steps

The AFP has urged victim-survivors and affected families to seek support or contact trusted individuals if the case has caused distress. Additional victims may come forward as details of the investigation become public. The case will proceed through the courts, with the potential for conviction to constitute a record for child abuse offences by a single childcare worker in Australian history.