Distressing content warning
Police have released images of clothing in an attempt to track down 22 unidentified alleged victims of a Sydney man accused of being Australia’s worst-ever childcare paedophile.
Hamish Alexander Edward Tait, 35, was unmasked earlier this week more than a year after being arrested, and has been charged with 329 child sex offences against more than 150 children at four childcare centres and his own private business between 2009 and 2025.
Police have identified 136 alleged victims and notified their families, and on Thursday released seven images allegedly located on electronic devices seized as part of their Operation Moonbi investigation, in an effort to find an additional 22 children.
They include a puffer vest with a distinctive dinosaur, or dinosaur skeleton, pattern, likely taken on 26 June, 2023, at a Rouse Hill childcare centre, shorts with a blue pattern and a t-shirt with an animal pattern on the front and left shoulder, believed to have been taken between 18 February, 2020, and 3 March, 2024, at a Rouse Hill childcare centre, and a two-tone t-shirt likely taken on 9 January, 2018, at a Putney childcare centre.
AFP Detective Acting Inspector Emmanuel Tsardoulias said she hoped the unique items could be recognised by parents, carers or the general public.
“Any information, big or small, may assist the victim identification process. We encourage anyone who has information to please contact the LCP on 02 9765 1000,” she said.
“We understand this week’s news about Operation Moonbi has been tough for members of our community. The abuse of trust we allege has occurred is confronting.
“Our investigation will continue, and we thank the public for their cooperation, patience and support as we continue to make inquiries.”
Tait worked at a large franchise called Fit Kidz and had his own business, Wild Earthlings, which was promoted as a “bush kindy service aimed at reconnecting children to the natural world” by a Fit Kidz centre in Dural South, and photographs from the business show him playing the didgeridoo and interacting with children in the bush.
Hamish Tait being arrested in 2025.
He was unmasked on Monday after having his identity kept secret for a year. pic.twitter.com/N4prRUbFXz
— The Noticer (@NoticerNews) July 13, 2026
Investigators started Operation Moonbi in June 2025 following a report from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about a person uploading a file depicting child abuse online, and linked Tait to the alleged online activity.
They searched Tait’s home in Glossodia, in Sydney’s northwest, and seized electronic devices allegedly containing 2.4 million files and a large volume of child abuse material.
Tait has been behind bars since his arrest in July 2025, and has made no application for bail.
His identity was originally kept suppressed by the AFP so they could contact the families of alleged victims and protect the integrity of the investigation.
Last month the AFP attempted to go public in order to identify the remaining 22 children, but Tait’s legal team managed to extend the non-publication order by two weeks, arguing he was at risk of self-harm and violence in prison, and the order was needed to protect the “mental safety” of his family.
On Monday Judge Stuart Devine lifted the order, saying he was “not convinced” identifying Tait would prejudice a jury, and agreed police needed to identify his workplaces publicly as part of the ongoing investigation, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
“In this case the applicant’s evidence has not persuaded me,” Judge Devine said.
“I do not accept publication of the accused[’s] name and workplaces will cause incurable prejudice … to the contrary I find a [non-publication order] would frustrate attempts of the Australian Federal Police.”
AFP Acting Commander Luke Needham said the alleged victims and their families had been contacted by the AFP and given access to tailored support.
“The AFP has been in contact with 121 families, based around Australia and internationally, who we have positively identified their child as being depicted in child abuse material,” he said.
“As a result of our comprehensive investigation and extensive victim identification process, we allege this matter currently involves 136 victims. 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.
“Operation Moonbi has spanned 12 months and involved the analysis of 2.4 million electronic files, 12 search warrants and countless hours trying to uncover the scale of the man’s alleged offending.”
Tait worked at or attended 62 early childhood education facilities, predominantly in Sydney’s north-west, which are listed below:
- Alasan Cottage Preschool
- Amata Anangu School
- Beaumont Hills OOSH (Jigsaw OOSH or Beaumont Hils OOSH)
- Bright Minds Cranebrook
- Carinya Neighbourhood Childrens Centre Inc
- Cocoon Early Learning Centre
- Cooranbong Valley Community Preschool
- Dee Why Kindergarten
- Endeavour Early Education – Kariong
- Explore & Develop Leichhardt
- Explore & Develop Roseville
- Explore & Develop Waitara
- Fit Kidz Learning Centre Box Hill*
- Fit Kidz Learning Centre Dural North
- Fit Kidz Learning Centre Dural South
- Fit Kidz Learning Centre Glenwood North
- Fit Kidz Learning Centre Glenwood South
- Fit Kidz Learning Centre Putney*
- Fit Kidz Learning Centre Rouse Hill*
- Fit Kidz Learning Centre Turramurra
- Fit Kidz Learning Centre Vineyard
- Fit Kidz Learning Centre Warrawee*
- Friendly Faces Childcare
- Glenning Valley Child Care Centre
- Glenorie Preschool
- Goodstart Early Learning Centre Woodcroft
- Gorokan Preschool
- Gracelands Early Education Centre
- Heritage House Cherrybrook Early Education Centre
- Jasmine Preschool
- Jigsaw OOSH Dural
- Kiddiwinks Play, Laugh & Learn – Warriewood
- Kindy 4 Kids
- Kradle 2 Krayons Long Day Centre
- Leura Child Care Centre
- Little Peoples Early Learning Centre Wollongong
- Maraylya Early Learning Centre
- Milestones Early Learning, Baulkham Hills
- Mimosa Kids
- MindChamps Early Learning & Preschool Lane Cove
- Montessori Academy – Alexandria
- Montessori Academy – Engadine
- Montessori Academy – Gymea
- Montessori Academy – Penrith
- Montessori Academy – Zetland – Victoria Park
- Morisset and District Children’s Centre
- Oakville Preschool
- Pacific Hills OOSH / BAASC
- Pennant Hills Before & After School Care
- Peter Pan Kindergarten
- Quakers Hill Kindergarten and Child Care Centre
- Silverdale Child Care Centre
- Tiny Tykes family day care
- Wiggles & Giggles Cranebrook
- Wild Earthlings Cumberland State Forest
- Wild Earthlings Glenorie*
- Wild Earthlings Sydney Park
- Wild Earthlings Wolli Creek
- Willunga Child Care Centre
- Windsor Preschool
- Woodport Early Learning Centre
- Young Academics Early Learning Centre Rouse Hill
* Indicates locations where police allege offending occurred.
Header image: Left, right, Hamish Tait (Facebook). Inset, some of the clothing (AFP).
