One of Australia’s alleged most prolific childcare abusers urged parents to send their children to his ‘nature play’ holiday camps so he could see them one last time before they started school, an unearthed email has revealed.
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 an email seen by the Daily Mail, Tait touted his ‘Wild Earthlings’ side business to parents at Sydney’s Fit Kidz Dural centre, offering those interested a 10 per cent discount to one of his school holiday camps.
‘I offer children a chance to get out in the bush, climb trees, get messy and learn the natural way, a way that so many children are sadly missing out on these days,’ Tait wrote in the email which was sent in late 2019.
‘We have three fun filled, bush-based days planned… and with your little ones heading off to school, I would like to offer you a special Fit Kidz discount.
‘It’s the least I can do for families and children who have all created such wonderful relationships in the time I have been part of their lives. I would absolutely love to see the children before they head off to school.’
Hamish Tait is accused of abusing children across childcare centres between 2009 and 2025
Tait (right) is featured in a video ad promoting his side business called Wild Earthlings which is a nature play service
In an email seen by the Daily Mail, Tait touted his side business to parents at Sydney’s Fit Kidz Dural centre and offered them a 10 per cent discount to his school holiday programs
Tait said the school holiday program was created after parents told him their older children, who had outgrown the weekly sessions for children aged six months to five years, wanted to return.
The sessions, which were open to children aged five to 12, cost $75 per child.
According to the Wild Earthlings website, the holiday program involved ‘goal-oriented’ activities so kids could bring home special souvenirs from the day.
‘Children will be able to engage in all our typical Wild Earthlings experiences such as tools, climbing trees, bush walking, water play, clay and mud play, and so much more,’ the website reads.
Tait, who said he ‘adored watching children explore and express their innate curiosity and creativity’, said he hoped the sessions gave each child ‘a magical experience that shapes and guides who they are’.
A video ad depicting Tait smiling as he watches a toddler swing through the air on a man-made rope swing also describes the sessions as a place where ‘every step’ a child takes brings them to a ‘new challenge’.
‘Imagine a place that gives me so much to say, think, feel and do that I couldn’t possibly hold it in. A place where I could be exactly who I was born to be,’ a young child’s voice narrates.
‘We don’t have to imagine because we’ve already got it outside. Come with us and we’ll show you at Wild Earthlings.’
Should all the charges be upheld, Tait would be the country’s worst-ever child sex offender
Police arrested him last July and he has since fought to keep his identity a secret for his own and his family’s ‘safety’, but last week a judge ruled his name could be published
Details of Tait’s side business emerged just days after the Australian Federal Police released a series of images allegedly seized from his electronic devices showing 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 members of the 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 that was likely taken on June 26, 2023, at a Rouse Hill childcare centre.
Another set of images, which police believe were taken between February 18, 2020, and March 3, 2024, at a Rouse Hill childcare centre, show a pair of blue patterned shorts 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.
Detectives have identified 136 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.’
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 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 last week 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.
Help is available. Those needing free and confidential support can call:
1800RESPECT 1800 737 732
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800