Daycare worker unmasked as he faces sickening 329 child abuse charges

Hamish Tait has been identified with 329 child abuse charges (Image: undefined)

A daycare worker facing 329 offences over his alleged abuse of 136 children at multiple childcare centers has been unmasked.

Hamish Tait, the Sydney-based child practitioner, carried out the alleged abuse across a 16-year period, from 2009 to 2025.

The 35-year-old was arrested last year but has finally been identified as the suspect after police sought a court order on Monday, July 13, in an attempt to identify further victims.

His charges include 162 counts of producing child abuse material and 81 counts of filming a person engaged in a private act without consent. Tait remains in custody.

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 that he worked at or attended over 55 early years education facilities in Sydney between 2009 and 2025.

He primarily worked in the city's north-west though, 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.

Following the naming of Tait, the police have published a website identifying the centres where he worked to help find further victims and support families.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) 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 have also shared images of distinctive clothing in an attempt to help further identify victims.

One included a puffer vest with a dinosaur pattern, with police adding that the photo was likely taken on June 26, 2023 at a Rouse Hill childcare centre.

AFP Detective Acting Inspector Emmanuel Tsardoulias said the release of the images is part of the "painstaking and detailed" victim identification work.

He added the AFP had received over 300 calls while the operation has been ongoing.

The fresh information has caused a wave of 'panic' for parents whose children's daycare centres featured in the list.

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.”

The AFP are working to identify a further 22 victims (Image: AFP)

She added that she did not recognise him and her child's daycare reassured them that Tait had only visited the centre and did not work at that venue.

She added: “Our hearts just go out to those parents with kids at centres who were [allegedly] impacted by this horrific individual."

Kid Fitz Learning Centres, where Tait worked, shared a lengthy statement with further information stating they are 'heartbroken' and 'sorry'.

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."

The charges also include 22 counts of aggravated use of a child under 14 years for the production of child abuse material and 18 counts of intentionally sexually touching a child under 10 years.

Tait was linked to illegal online activity last June. Officers found child abuse material on 25 electronic devices containing 2.4million files including alleged child abuse images.