Daycare Alleged Abuser Filmed Children in Remote SA

An alleged daycare abuser, Hamish Tait, is suspected of targeting vulnerable children in a remote South Australian Indigenous community. This follows his unmasking after a legal bid to suppress his identity failed. Tait was charged by the Australian Federal Police in July of the previous year under Operation Moonbi, facing 329 charges for allegedly abusing 158 children across 62 different centers. If convicted, his alleged offending could surpass any other childcare worker in Australian history.

Evidence from Tait's devices reportedly shows him filming children in toilets between 2009 and 2025 at five of the alleged centers. Court documents indicate the AFP engaged South Australia Police regarding access to an Indigenous township in rural South Australia, located within the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands. Tait had been working with children in this remote community, with his social media presence dating back to 2018 showing him involved with children through his business, Wild Earthlings.

Operation Moonbi has identified over 130 children, with 22 remaining unidentified. The AFP established a Local Contact Point, receiving around 40 calls within hours of Tait's identity being reported. This point allows concerned parents to help identify further alleged victims through items of clothing reportedly recorded by Tait. Politicians and parents have reacted with shock and heartbreak, emphasizing the paramount right of children to safety and the need for trust in childcare providers. The government is investing in lifting standards and safety across childcare centers, including a national register for workers and trialing CCTV.

Parents who believe their child may have had contact with Tait are urged to contact the AFP's dedicated point of contact. The investigation continues to identify all alleged victims. The federal government has committed to improving safety measures in childcare facilities nationwide.