Sydney childcare worker charged with abusing more than 136 children is unmasked as police set out notifying dozens of horrified families

By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA and CANDACE SUTTON, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 09:13, 13 July 2026 | Updated: 09:18, 13 July 2026 A former childcare worker facing 329 child abuse-related charges has been named after a bid to keep his name hidden was dismissed by the court. Hamish Tait, 35, was arrested in July 2025 and accused of abusing children across five childcare centres between 2009 and 2025. He worked at or attended 62 early childhood education facilities during that 16-year period.  The charges against him include 134 relating to the production of child abuse material or data.  He also faces 12 counts of intentionally sexually touching a child aged under 10 and 44 aggravated charges of filming a person in a private act or filming their private parts without consent. Police seized more than two million files from Tait's devices allegedly containing child abuse images and 500,000 'unique images' of 122 alleged child victims. Detectives have accused him of abusing more alleged victims than any other child abuser in Australian history. Tait has also been charged with inciting a victim under the age of ten to commit an indecent act, and intentionally inciting a child under ten to perform a sexual act on themselves. Hamish Tait (above) was arrested in July 2025 and accused of abusing children across five childcare centres between 2009 and 2025 Tait (pictured during his arrest) faces 329 child abuse-related charges The number of charges laid exceed those against former Brisbane childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith, dubbed Australia's worst paedophile, who is serving life in jail for raping and abusing nearly 70 young girls.  In contrast to Griffith, whose identity was revealed in 2023 after Queensland scrapped protection laws, Tait argued he needed anonymity for his 'family's safety'.  The move outraged parents, who called for Tait's identity to be made public.  Police have identified 136 alleged victims and are working to find another 22.  AFP Detective Superintendent Luke Needham said investigators were studying more than two million files. He added: 'We know matters like this are a parent's worst nightmare. 'We have investigators and digital forensic experts working around the clock to methodically review 2.4million electronic files.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.