A former Sydney childcare worker has been charged with 329 child abuse-related offences involving 136 alleged child victims over a 16-year period, after a court lifted a suppression order allowing authorities to publicly identify the accused as Hamish Tait, 35.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said Tait allegedly committed offences between 2009 and 2025 while working at or attending 62 early childhood education centres, primarily across Sydney’s north-west. Investigators allege the offending occurred at five childcare facilities, while his employment history spans dozens of centres across New South Wales.
The case came to light after the U.S.-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) alerted Australian authorities in June 2025 about an online account allegedly uploading child abuse material. AFP investigators linked the activity to Tait and executed a search warrant at his home in Glossodia, in Sydney’s north-west, on June 20, 2025.
During the raid, officers seized multiple electronic devices. A forensic examination allegedly uncovered a vast collection of child abuse material, prompting investigators to launch Operation Moonbi, one of the AFP’s largest child exploitation investigations in recent years.
Police allege Tait now faces 329 charges, including:
- 162 counts of producing child abuse material;
- 81 counts of filming a person engaged in a private act without consent;
- 24 counts of using a child under the age of 14 to produce child abuse material; and
- numerous additional offences relating to the possession and creation of child exploitation material.
According to the AFP, investigators have reviewed more than 2.4 million electronic files during the investigation. Acting Commander Luke Needham said officers have contacted 121 families in Australia and overseas after positively identifying their children in the seized material.
“We allege this matter currently involves 136 victims,” Needham said, adding that investigators are still working to identify 22 additional alleged victims.
Authorities said the identities of the children have been established through an extensive victim-identification process involving digital forensics, image analysis and cooperation with domestic and international law enforcement agencies.
Tait was initially charged with eight online child abuse material offences in July 2025, before additional charges were laid in April, June and July 2026 as investigators continued examining digital evidence.
Police said Tait has remained in custody since his arrest last year and has not applied for bail. His case is scheduled to return to court at a later date.
The AFP has launched a dedicated public information website listing every childcare centre where Tait worked or attended between 2009 and 2025. Authorities are urging parents and guardians to review the list and seek support if they believe their child may have been affected.
Investigators emphasized that there is no evidence every child who attended those centres was harmed, but said the website was created to ensure transparency and provide access to counselling, mental health services and victim support.
The investigation remains ongoing, with police indicating that further charges could be laid as forensic analysis continues.
