Federal authorities have released images of distinctive children's clothing in a critical public appeal to identify the remaining victims of a Sydney childcare worker accused of abusing more than 130 children.

Hamish Tait faces 329 charges related to alleged abuse spanning a 16-year period between 2009 and 2025. The charges include 162 counts of producing child abuse material, 81 counts of filming a person engaged in a private act without consent, and 24 counts of using a child under 14 for the production of child abuse material. The matter remains before the courts.

Crucial Clues Released to Public

Under Operation Moonbi, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have published seven images of clothing recovered from seized electronic devices. Investigators are urging parents, carers, and community members to look closely at the items, which include:

• A puffer vest with a distinctive dinosaur pattern, likely photographed on June 26, 2023, at a Rouse Hill childcare centre.
• Blue patterned shorts and a t-shirt featuring an animal design on the front and left shoulder, believed to have been photographed between February 18, 2020, and March 3, 2024, also at a Rouse Hill childcare centre.
• A two-tone shirt, with the photo likely taken on January 9, 2018, at a Putney childcare centre.

AFP Detective Acting Inspector Emmanuel Tsardoulias described the task of identifying the children as "painstaking and detailed." While investigators have already received over 300 calls from the public, 16 alleged victims are yet to be identified.

"Every image may contain a clue that helps identify a child," Detective Acting Inspector Tsardoulias said. "Our victim ID team is tenacious, committed and will stop at nothing to identify children or victims of child exploitation."

Wide-Reaching Investigation

Tait is believed to have worked at or attended 62 childcare facilities throughout his career. However, police believe his alleged offending was concentrated at four specific Sydney centres, as well as his own early education business, Wild Earthlings, located in Glenorie.

The scope of the investigation has also expanded interstate. "We have identified a couple [of alleged victims] in South Australia, however that remains an active part of our investigation," Inspector Tsardoulias confirmed.

A dedicated portal has been set up under Operation Moonbi, detailing the locations Tait visited. Several centres have recently been removed from the public registry after detectives confirmed that Tait had no direct access to children during brief, administrative visits to those locations.

Anyone who recognizes the clothing items or has information relevant to the investigation is urged to contact authorities directly on 02 9765 1000.