Fresh abuse charges laid against childcare worker Hamish Tait
A childcare worker has been hit with an additional 115 child abuse charges, taking the staggering total of alleged offences to more than 400 in what could be one of Australia’s worst paedophile cases.
Police say the charges do not relate to any additional alleged victims of former childcare centre employee Hamish Tait, after the 35-year-old was charged with 329 child abuse offences earlier this year.
Hamish Tait, 35, is facing more than 400 child abuse offences. Nine
On Friday, the Australian Federal Police announced they had laid 115 additional charges relating to the exploitation of children who attended five early childhood education facilities in Sydney’s north-west between 2009 and 2025.
Tait stands accused of a total of 444 charges spanning a number of the 62 childcare centres he worked at over a 16-year career.
Police say they are aware of 145 alleged victims but a further 13 are yet to be identified.
AFP Acting Commander Luke Needham previously said the victims were of pre-school or primary age during the alleged offending.
“At this stage, the total number of victims identified in Operation Moonbi has not increased,” the force said in a statement on Friday.
The additional charges include 105 counts of producing child abuse material and four counts of possessing child abuse material.
Hamish Tait was arrested in June 2025. Supplied
They also include one count of carrying out a sexual act with a child under 10 years of age and five counts of filming a person engaged in a private act in circumstances of aggravation.
The matter is scheduled to be heard in Parramatta Local Court on October 8.
Tait has been in custody since he was arrested and charged in July 2025, when police seized almost 2.5 million files from electronic devices at his home.
He was initially charged with eight counts of online child abuse material offences, and was hit with additional offences through April, June and July 2026 which now total 444 charges.
The investigation and victim identification process continues, with anyone with information urged to contact police.
The pattern of alleged abuse spanning years and multiple childcare centres prompted calls for the industry to further tighten regulations to protect children.
A recent Senate inquiry into child safety recommended updated working with children checks, using CCTV monitoring where appropriate, making it easier for employers to suspend staff if there are potential risks and harsher minimum sentences for abusers.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
AAP
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