A Sydney daycare worker facing 329 offences for allegedly abusing 136 children at multiple childcare centres has been identified as Hamish Tait.
Details of the charges
The 35-year-old child practitioner carried out the alleged abuse over a 16-year period, from 2009 to 2025. He was arrested last year but only identified after police sought a court order on Monday, July 13, to help identify further victims.
His charges include 162 counts of producing child abuse material, 81 counts of filming a person engaged in a private act without consent, 22 counts of aggravated use of a child under 14 for producing child abuse material, and 18 counts of intentionally sexually touching a child under 10. Tait remains in custody.
Police investigation and victim identification
Australian Federal Police said they had contacted 121 families affected by the alleged offending but are still trying to identify 22 victims. The force confirmed Tait worked at or attended over 55 early years education facilities in Sydney between 2009 and 2025, primarily in the city's north-west, where most incidents are believed to have occurred.
The alleged abuse took place at five facilities, including four Fit Kidz childcare centres and his own business, Wild Earthlings Glenorie. Police have published a website identifying the centres where he worked to help find further victims and support families.
Statements from authorities and affected families
Australian Federal Police Acting Commander Luke Needham said: "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."
On Thursday, the AFP shared images of distinctive clothing, including a puffer vest with a dinosaur pattern, likely taken on June 26, 2023, at a Rouse Hill childcare centre. AFP Detective Acting Inspector Emmanuel Tsardoulias said the release of images is part of the "painstaking and detailed" victim identification work and that the AFP had received over 300 calls during the operation.
One mother, who wished to remain anonymous, told Nine news: "My first reaction was shock and disbelief but I held it together. We needed more information before I let panic take over." She added that she did not recognise him and her child's daycare reassured them that Tait had only visited the centre. She said: "Our hearts just go out to those parents with kids at centres who were [allegedly] impacted by this horrific individual."
Response from Fit Kidz Learning Centres
Fit Kidz Learning Centres, where Tait worked, shared a statement saying they are 'heartbroken' and 'sorry'. Owners Mick and Melissa Scaife stated that under a non-publication order they were unable to reach out to past families before Monday. The statement said: "The order was only discontinued in court late yesterday, meaning that we can now contact families and identify the alleged offender as Hamish Tait, who worked with us for many years and also conducted an outside business in nature play and vacation care, and consulted to other Child Care Centres. We are shocked, saddened, disgusted, and sorry for the pain that has been caused to our extended community."
The statement continued: "Nothing is more important to us, or more fundamental to the trust you place in us, than keeping children safe while they are in our care. The actions of this former employee represent a profound betrayal of that trust and have left us, and our entire team, heartbroken."
Tait was linked to illegal online activity last June. Officers found child abuse material on 25 electronic devices containing 2.4 million files, including alleged child abuse images.
