ONE QUESTION IS NOW HAUNTING PARENTS ACROSS AUSTRALIA — HOW DID HE WORK AT 62 CHILDCARE CENTRES BEFORE HIS ARR3ST?
One of Australia’s most prolific alleged daycare abusers spoke about how he loved to watch children ‘exhibit pure love towards another’ and ‘see their spirits grow’ in an unearthed letter to parents sent in the midst of his alleged offending.
Hamish Tait, 35, is accused of 329 offences against up to 150 children between 2009 and 2025 while he worked at 62 different centres, mostly in northwest Sydney.
Should all the charges be upheld, he would be the country’s worst-ever child sex offender.
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 counts of filming a person engaged in a private act or filming their private parts without consent.
In a newsletter sent to parents at Sydney’s Fit Kidz Putney centre in 2015, Tait spoke about his favourite parts of working with children and why he loved coming to work.
‘You will find me playing in the Cheeky Monkeys room where I teach and learn as the Team Leader,’ the newsletter reads.
‘The best part of working with children for me is watching them connect with the world around them. Watching moments where a child truly understands a concept or exhibits pure love towards another is what makes me come to work.
‘Seeing their spirits grow through these events each day is truly a humbling thing to be a part of.’
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Hamish Tait is accused of abusing children across childcare centres between 2009 and 2025
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In a newsletter sent to parents at Sydney’s Fit Kidz Putney centre in 2015, Tait spoke about his favourite parts of working with children
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Police arrested Tait last July and he has since fought to keep his identity a secret for his own and his family’s ‘safety’, losing in court on Monday when a judge ruled his name could be exposed
Tait also spoke about his personal life and his passions for Aboriginal cultures and photography.
‘I always look for every opportunity to be a part of something where I can learn more about a different culture,’ he said.
‘Each of these things I feel connects me to people and the earth in some way and those are the two most important things in my life.’
It comes after police released a series of images allegedly seized from Tait’s electronic devices that showed a dinosaur puffer vest, blue patterned shorts and a two-tone T-shirt in a bid to identify more victims.
Police hope the unique items could be recognised by parents, carers or the general public.
The images, which police believe were taken in Sydney’s north-west, include a photo of a puffer vest with a distinctive dinosaur pattern which was likely taken on June 26, 2023, at a Rouse Hill childcare centre.
Another set of images, which police believe were taken sometime between February 18, 2020 and March 3, 2024 at a Rouse Hill childcare centre, show a pair of shorts with a blue pattern and a t-shirt with an animal pattern on the front and left shoulder.
Police believe a photo of a two-tone t-shirt was likely taken on January 9, 2018 at a Putney childcare centre.
A puffer vest with a distinctive dinosaur, or dinosaur skeleton, pattern. Police say 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. Police say the image is believed to be taken sometime between 18 February, 2020, and 3 March, 2024, at a Rouse Hill childcare centre
Police released this image of a two-tone t-shirt likely taken on 9 January, 2018, at a Putney childcare centre
Detectives have identified 136 of his alleged victims and are working to identify another 22.
‘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,’ AFP Detective Acting Inspector Emmanuel Tsardoulias 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.’
Police seized more than two million files from Tait’s devices allegedly containing child abuse images, as well as 500,000 ‘unique images’ of 122 alleged child victims.
Tait’s name and image could only be publicly identified on Monday after a court lifted a temporary non-publication order.
Police expect more parents may come forward after publishing the list of places where Tait worked. You can read the full list below.
Parents who believe their child had contact with Tait are urged to contact the AFP on (02) 9765 1000 between 7am and 7pm AEST.
Tait will face court at a later date.
SOURCE: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15983741/hamish-tait-sydney-daycare-newsletter.html