New South Wales Police have released a series of distinctive images as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged child sexual abuse by former childcare worker Hamish Tait. Investigators hope the images will help identify additional victims of the man accused of being Australia's worst day care paedophile.
Tait, who allegedly committed offenses at numerous childcare facilities across Sydney, was arrested in July of the previous year. He has since attempted to keep his identity private, citing safety concerns for himself and his family, but a judge ruled against this, allowing his name to be publicly disclosed.
The released images depict clothing items, including a two-tone t-shirt, shorts with a blue pattern, a t-shirt with an animal motif, and a puffer vest with a dinosaur skeleton pattern. Police state the t-shirt was likely photographed on January 9, 2018, at a Putney childcare center. The shorts and animal-patterned t-shirt are believed to have been photographed between February 18, 2020, and March 3, 2024, at a Rouse Hill childcare center. The dinosaur-patterned puffer vest was likely photographed on June 26, 2023, also at a Rouse Hill childcare center.
Police are urging any parents who believe their child may have had contact with Tait to come forward. They can be reached by contacting the Australian Federal Police at (02) 9765 1000 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time.
The alleged offending sites, as listed by police, include a wide range of preschools, early learning centers, and outside school hours care services across various Sydney suburbs, including Alasan Cottage Preschool, Beaumont Hills OOSH, Fit Kidz Learning Centre locations, Montessori Academy branches, and others. Some locations are marked with an asterisk, indicating specific alleged offending sites. A comprehensive list of these locations has been provided by authorities.