LATEST UPDATE: CHILDCARE CENTRES TAKE DRASTIC ACTION AFTER HAMISH TAIT ALLEGATIONS 💥 MAJOR RULE CHANGE LEAVES PARENTS ASKING WHY IT TOOK SO LONG
Four of the childcare centres where one of Australia’s worst alleged child abusers is accused of carrying out his alleged crimes have barred male educators from toileting and bathroom duties.
Hamish Tait can now be unmasked as the childcare worker facing 329 charges relating to the alleged sexual abuse of more than 136 children after a Sydney court overturned a suppression order on Monday.
Mr Tait, aged 35, is accused of carrying out the alleged abuse between 2009 to 2025 across multiple childcare centres in Sydney’s northwest.
A full list of the early childhood learning centres Mr Tait worked at or visited over the 16-year period has been released by the Australian Federal Police. It indicates he allegedly abused children at four Fit Kidz Learning Centres at Box Hill, Putney, Rouse Hill and Warrawee.
Fit Kidz has since banned male educators from toileting and bathroom duties across all of its centres unless they have received written consent from parents, according to a statement on the company’s website last week.
The move is a precautionary one and there is no allegation that those male educators engaged in wrongdoing.
Hamish Tait can now be unmasked as the Sydney childcare worker facing 329 charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of more than 136 children after he lost a bid for secrecy in court. Picture: Facebook
The alleged offending spans a 16-year period. Picture: Facebook
“Philosophically this doesn’t always sit well, but for now, and the foreseeable future, we have our males on stand down from bathroom and toileting since last year,” the statement read.
Phones that were kept in the centres to take photos have also been taken out, with the company issuing an apology and rejecting accusations swirling on social media that it had tried to “cover up” Mr Tait’s alleged offending.
“The devastation caused by this situation is difficult to put into words, and our thoughts remain firmly with the children, families, educators and wider community who have been impacted,” the apology read.
“Regardless, a number of these alleged offences have occurred on our watch, and we are profoundly sorry.
“Nothing is more important to us or more sacred to our contract with our parents than to keep children safe in our care. It is utterly sickening and absolutely devastating to us and our entire team.”
The company rejected allegations aired on social media that it had tried to help “cover up” Mr Tati’s alleged abuse, explaining it had no involvement in orders made by a court that prevented Mr Tait’s identity from being revealed.
The statement said the company had “never had any interest in protecting a person whose (alleged) actions have caused such profound harm to so many”, asking people to let facts guide any criticism of the centres.
“There has been no cover up! And contrary to a persistent theme online – nobody is protecting the alleged offender,” the statement read.
It’s understood a series of social media posts were made about Mr Tait and his work history over the last year despite a court order prohibiting the publication of his identity.
Grim search for 22 alleged childcare victims.
The AFP has identified 136 alleged victims from 121 families across Sydney, but there are a further 22 potential victims investigators are trying to identify.
Mr Tait was arrested by the Australian Federal Police last year. Picture: Supplied
Mr Tait worked across more than 50 childcare centres. Picture: 7News
All the alleged victims were either preschool or primary school aged, with AFP Acting Commander Luke Needham calling the alleged abuse “devastating”.
“All I can say is we never gave up, and we never will.”
Mr Tait now faces a total of 329 charges after he was hit with more than 100 fresh charges last week, making him one of the country’s worst alleged child abusers.
He had fought to keep his identity suppressed, but a judge on Monday ruled in favour of the AFP, prosecutors, and the media who had all opposed his bid for secrecy.
Mr Tait came to the attention of the AFP in June 2025 after they were alerted by the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children that child abuse had allegedly been uploaded online.
35yo accused of abusing 136 children
Hamish Tait can now be unmasked as…
More than two million files were seized from the man’s devices during a search warrant, with a large volume of CAM allegedly found.
The AFP further allege Mr Tait shared child abuse material overseas on three occasions, but Mr Needham said there was no evidence to suggest he had uploaded anything to the dark web.
Most of the alleged offending occurred in NSW, however Mr Needham said there was some “limited offending” in another state.
The AFP have listed all of the early childhood education facilities Mr Tait worked at or visited on their website for the taskforce Operation Moonbi, which includes a series of Fit Kidz learning centres.
The website also includes advice on support services and who to contact should people require further assistance.
AFP Acting Commander Luke Needham calling the alleged abuse ‘devastating’. Picture: NewsWire/Clareese Packer.
“There are 22 victims who we are yet to positively identify and that’s why I would point the community to our website … We would ask the community to consider what they might be able to share with the AFP which we hope goes some way in assisting us in identifying those other 22 (alleged) victims,” he said.
“As a parent myself, I’m acutely aware of how distressing this news is.”
Some of Mr Tait’s alleged victims could now be adults due to how far back the alleged abuse spans, Mr Needham said.
Alleged child abuser loses secrecy bid
Mr Tait is facing more than 160 counts related to allegations he produced child abuse material (CAM) and 46 allegations he used a child under the age of 14 to make CAM.
The remaining charges include a series of accusations that he sexually touched children aged under 10, filmed a person in a private act without consent, filmed a person’s private parts without consent, and used a carriage service to make child abuse available.
His identity had been subject to a temporary suppression order originally sought by the AFP to protect their investigation, however the agency fought against Mr Tait’s bid for an extended order which would have kept his identity a secret.
He failed to keep his identity secret. Picture: 7News
Mr Tait’s lawyers argued naming him and his former workplaces could prejudice a potential jury or juries and suggested the AFP could pursue other options in seeking to identify further alleged victims without naming Mr Tait.
The AFP in turn argued its ongoing investigation could be prejudiced if an order were to be made, and authorities should have the opportunity to identify any remaining potential victims.
Judge Peter Feather ultimately ruled against Mr Tait, telling the court his evidence “has not persuaded me”.
He rejected submissions that the publication of his name would incurably prejudice and hinder the administration of justice against Mr Tait.
“I find to make a non-publication order would frustrate the investigative attempts of the AFP which is part of the proper administration of justice,” Mr Feather told the Parramatta Local Court on Monday.
The court ruled the publication of his name wouldn’t prejudice or hinder his defence. Picture: Facebook
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said she was “deeply sickened and heartbroken” by reports of the alleged abuse.
“My thoughts are with all the victims and families who have been affected,” Ms Rowland said in a statement posted on social media.
“Every child and young person has the right to be safe, and parents should be able to drop their children off at childcare without fear for their safety.
“Child sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime, and anyone who has committed such vile acts must face the full force of the law.”
Minister for Education Jason Clare said “not enough has been done in the past to keep our kids safe”, but that “that’s now changing” while speaking generally on Monday.
The government is investing half a billion dollars to support safety reforms across the childcare sector, and have passed legislation to allow funding to be cut from centres that aren’t up to scratch.
“This is not the end. It’s just the start. The terrible truth is this work will never end,” Mr Clare said while speaking generally.
To report child abuse
To report an urgent crime, call 000.
To report a non urgent crime, call 131 444.
Cyber bullying, image-based abuse or illegal and harmful content can be reported to www.esafety.gov.au and inappropriate behaviour towards children online, grooming or sextortion can be reported to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation at www.accce.gov.au
SOURCE: https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/courts-law/sydney-childcare-worker-facing-329-allegations-of-child-abuse-as-police-hit-him-with-more-than-100-new-charges/news-story/055a1aea2d794889a12e894e838c8791
