Three Northern Beaches childcare centres have been named on a list of 55 early education facilities linked to Hamish Tait, a 35-year-old former childcare worker charged with 329 offences including production of child abuse material and child sexual abuse. It is alleged the crimes were committed over 16 years against more than 130 children.
Dee Why Kindergarten, Kiddiwinks Play, Laugh & Learn in Warriewood, and Mimosa Kids Preschool & Early Learning Centre in Frenchs Forest were identified among 52 others after a non publication order was discontinued in court this week.
The Northern Beaches centres have stated Tait, whose matters is still before the court, had no interactions with children while attending as he was there as an educational supervisor for childcare trainees.
Tait has been remanded in custody since his arrest by Australian Federal Police (AFP) more than a year ago on 10 July 2025.
AFP, who set up this support page, claims impacted families have been contacted by the AFP and NSW Health, and support services have been offered and continue to be provided.
However, it is also understood that almost two dozen children are yet to be identified.
Today (16 July) AFP released images of clothing to assist with victim identification of children at centres in Sydney’s northwest. This is covered in more detail further down.
No interaction with children at Northern Beaches centres
Dee Why Kindergarten, Kiddiwinks Play, Laugh & Learn in Warriewood and Mimosa Kids Preschool & Early Learning Centre in Frenchs Forest confirmed Tait was never employed by either centre. Instead, he supervised trainee educators at multiple centres for practical assessment.
The International Child Care College, a registered early childhood education and training organisation, confirmed Tait was a Training & Assessment assessor, and assessed students studying childcare.
“Tait assessed two trainees at Kiddiwinks in March 2021 and May 2021,” Toni Isaac, Owner and Approved Provider of Kiddiwinks, said.
“He did not work with children and was never left alone with any children.”
“He did not work with children and was never left alone with any children.”
Dee Why Kindergarten said the AFP confirmed Tait’s records showed he attended the centre in 2021 through a third-party registered training organisation.
“[He] was not employed by Dee Why Kindergarten and attended the service for a limited number of scheduled visits as part of their role assessing educators undertaking early childhood qualifications,” Coordinator Kerry Smith told Manly Observer.
“During these visits, [his] role was to observe and assess educators’ interactions with children. At no time was the individual left alone with children.
“The AFP has confirmed that Dee Why Kindergarten is not directly involved in the investigation and that there is no evidence or information indicating that any offending occurred at our service.
“We understand that the inclusion of our service on a publicly released list may cause concern for families and our local community. The safety, wellbeing and protection of children remain our highest priority.”
In a statement to their families, Mimosa Kids Preschool & Early Learning Centre in Frenchs Forest said, “Tait visited our service in his capacity as a Trainer and Assessor employed by the RTO, not as an educator.”
They confirmed the visits to Mimosa Kids occured on 3 March 2021, 14 April 2021 and 12 May 2021.
The AFP identified five of the 55 facilities on the list (four childcare centres and his own early education business) as locations where police allege offending occurred. They are in Sydney’s northwest: Fit Kidz Learning Centre Box Hill, Fit Kidz Learning Centre Putney, Fit Kidz Learning Centre Rouse Hill, Fit Kidz Learning Centre Warrawee, and, Wild Earthlings Glenorie.
Potentially more victims
Today, the AFP released images located during the ongoing child abuse investigation to help find 16 alleged victims yet to be identified. The images were allegedly located on electronic devices seized as part of the investigation and the AFP are seeking any information the community might have about them.
All images are believed to have been taken in Sydney’s northwest.
A puffer vest with a distinctive dinosaur, or dinosaur skeleton, pattern. The images were 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. The image is believed to be taken sometime between 18 February 2020, and 3 March 2024, at a Rouse Hill childcare centre.
A two-tone t-shirt likely taken on 9 January 2018, at a Putney childcare centre.
Scale of the investigation
Operation Moonbi began in June 2025 after a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children flagged an online user uploading child abuse material. A search warrant executed in Glossodia in June 2025 led to devices being seized and forensically examined, with additional charges laid in April, June and July 2026.
Multiple search warrants were executed at childcare facilities across north-west Sydney in 2025 as part of the evidence-gathering process for the ongoing investigation.
AFP Acting Commander Luke Needham said the investigation had run for 12 months and involved analysis of 2.4 million electronic files and 12 search warrants.
“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,” Acting Commander Needham said in a statement.
“As a result of our comprehensive investigation and extensive victim identification process, we allege this matter currently involves 136 victims.
The investigation had run for 12 months and involved analysis of 2.4 million electronic files and 12 search warrants
“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.
“We wholeheartedly thank the investigators, forensics members and victim identification teams who have worked tirelessly and diligently to review 16 years of alleged offending on the man’s devices. This took time, skill and determination.
“We urge any victim-survivors to seek support or talk to a trusted person if today’s news has caused distress.”
Tait’s last listed court appearance was at Parramatta Local Court on 13 July 2026. The matter is next listed for the same court on 10 September 2026.
Support and information
A multi-agency Local Contact Point has been established, coordinated by the AFP, NSW Health, the NSW Department of Communities and Justice and the NSW Early Learning Commission, to give parents and carers information about the man’s employment history and access to support services.
The AFP is encouraging anyone with concerns to contact NSW Health Sexual Assault Services, which offers information and counselling to children, young people and parents or carers affected by child sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or non-consensual sexual activity, whether recent or historical.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
