Remote Indigenous school in South Australia added to list of centers where accused paedophile worked
Federal police investigation into Hamish Tait, accused of 329 child abuse charges between 2009 and 2025 across 62 centers, expands to a remote South Australian community.
A federal police investigation into an accused paedophile facing more than 300 child abuse charges has expanded to a remote community in South Australia.
Hamish Tait, 35, faces 329 charges of child abuse between 2009 and 2025 while working across 62 centres. 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 years for the production of child abuse material.
Some 136 alleged victims are known to police but a further 22 are yet to be identified. Tait was arrested and charged in July 2025, when police seized almost 2.5m files from electronic devices at his home. He has remained in custody.
Police have established a website under Operation Moonbi, which includes a list of the 55 childhood education facilities where Tait worked or attended between 2009 and 2025, many of which are in Sydney. Police have not suggested he offended at all centres named.
While the matter is before the courts in New South Wales and Tait has not been charged with any offences in South Australia, a small preschool in a remote Indigenous community has been included on the list.
On Wednesday the acting South Australian premier and Indigenous affairs minister, Kyam Maher, told 891 ABC Adelaide the allegations were "disturbing". "The police will of course investigate what's happened, what the involvement was with children … this is disturbing and we would hope that the police investigate fully," Maher said.
"I have requested more information from our South Australian police who work very closely with the federal police on a whole range of things, including these sorts of matters."
In a statement, the SA education department said it was aware of the matter. "We are aware of this matter with investigations continuing," a spokesperson said. "The Department for Education has a policy around informing a school community at the appropriate time whenever allegations of sexual misconduct are made against any person who has been involved in any capacity at a school, including external contractors and volunteers."
A non-publication order sought by the Australian federal police to protect the integrity of the police investigation was lifted on Monday after a legal stoush.
On Monday, AFP acting commander Luke Needham urged the community to consider what they might be able to share with police to assist in identifying the victims. "The abuse of trust, we alleged, has occurred, is devastating, and will have lifelong ramifications for victims and their families," he said. "As a parent myself, I'm acutely aware of how distressing this news is."
