Electronic photos allegedly connected with a major child abuse investigation have been released in the hope members of the public will recognise the distinctive clothing featured in the pictures.

Former Sydney childcare worker Hamish Tait, 35, has been charged with 329 child abuse offences allegedly committed against pre-school or primary-school-aged children across 62 childcare centres from 2009 and 2025.

He is accused of creating and transmitting child abuse material impacting 158 victims – with police still working to identify 22 of the children, who would now be adults.

Australian Federal Police acknowledged that the seven photos released on Thursday may be distressing to some people.

They were allegedly found on electronic devices seized during the Operation Moonbi investigation and are believed to have been taken in Sydney’s north-west.

Three show a puffer vest with a dinosaur or dinosaur skeleton pattern, with the AFP saying they were likely taken on June 26, 2023, at a Rouse Hill childcare centre.

One of the T-shirts features an animal pattern. Photo: AFP

Two other photos, thought to be from a centre in the same suburb and taken sometime between February 18, 2020, and March 3, 2024, show shorts with a blue pattern and a T-shirt with an animal pattern on the front and left shoulder.

The final pair of images feature a two-tone T-shirt and were likely taken on January 9, 2018, at a Putney childcare centre.

AFP Detective Acting Inspector Emmanuel Tsardoulias said it was hoped the “unique items” could be recognised by parents, carers or the general public, and urged anyone with information to contact police.

“Any information, big or small, may assist the victim identification process,” 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 pair of photos showing a two-tone T-shirt. Photo: AFP

Tait was arrested and charged in July 2025 under Operation Moonbi after police seized almost 2.5 million files from electronic devices at his home and has been in custody.

He was initially charged with eight counts of online child abuse material offences on July 10, 2025, then later charged with additional offences in April, June and July 2026.

Australian Federal Police Acting Commander Luke Needham said earlier this week that contact had been made with more than 121 families affected in Australia and overseas.

“The abuse of trust we alleged has occurred is devastating and will have lifelong ramifications for victims and their families,” Needham said.

“All I can say is we never gave up and we never will.”

Needham said some of the material was shared overseas, with the majority of the man’s alleged industrial-scale offences taking place across dozens of centres in Sydney.

Several of the centres identified as locations of potential abuse are owned by childcare provider Fit Kidz, which said it was “shocked, disgusted, saddened and sorry for the pain that has been caused”.

“Our focus has always been and will continue to be supporting those affected and strengthening the safety of children entrusted to us,” the centre said in a statement.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the multi-agency local contact point on (02) 9765 1000.

1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

Lifeline 131 114

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800  (for people aged 5 to 25)

–with AAP