Identity of Sydney daycare worker facing 329 child abuse offences revealed
Hamish Tait is accused of abusing 136 children at five childcare facilities over a 16-year period.
The identity of a Sydney daycare worker facing 329 charges related to child abuse has been disclosed. Hamish Tait is accused of abusing over 100 children across five childcare facilities in Sydney.
Tait, who was arrested in July of the previous year, had his name revealed on Monday after a court order requested by police to help identify victims and reach out to families was lifted. The 35-year-old remains in custody, facing charges that include 162 counts of producing child abuse material and 81 counts of filming individuals engaged in private acts without their consent.
Authorities have reached out to 121 families impacted by the alleged offenses but are still working to identify 22 additional victims. A police handout photo shows Tait being handcuffed, with his face obscured.
"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," stated Acting Commander Luke Needham of the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
Between 2009 and 2025, Tait was associated with 62 early childhood education facilities in Sydney, primarily in the north-west region. The alleged offenses took place at five locations, including four childcare centers and his own private business. Police have launched a website to identify the centers where he worked and to provide support for affected families.
The charges also encompass 22 counts of aggravated use of a child under 14 for the production of child abuse material and 18 counts of intentionally sexually touching a child under 10. Authorities first connected Tait to illegal online activities in June of last year, subsequently discovering child abuse material on electronic devices seized during a raid at a property in Glossodia, located just outside Sydney.
Recent years have seen Australians alarmed by a series of alleged child abuse incidents at daycare centers. Notable cases include Ashley Paul Griffith, who in 2024 admitted to 307 offenses committed at childcare centers in Queensland and abroad over a span of 20 years. Additionally, last year, police recommended that over 1,200 children in Victoria be tested for sexually transmitted diseases following the charges against Joshua Dale Brown for multiple child abuse offenses allegedly committed at four daycare centers.
"Childcare abuse cases panic Australian parents," reflects the growing concern among families.