More than 120 families contacted as police investigate alleged abuse by Sydney childcare worker

Australian federal police have contacted more than 120 families as they investigate alleged offending by a former Sydney childcare worker.

The man, 35, has been charged with 329 offences allegedly committed over a 16-year period against 136 victims.

The charges include 162 counts of producing child abuse material, 24 counts of using a child under 14 for the production of child abuse material, 22 counts of aggravated use of a child under 14 for the production of child abuse material and 18 counts of intentionally sexually touching a child under 10 years old.

The AFP began investigating in June last year after a report about an online user uploading a file depicting child abuse.

Police linked the man to the alleged activity and executed a search warrant in Glossodia, in Sydney’s north-west.

The man was arrested and charged in July, and his working with children accreditation was suspended.

The man worked at or attended 62 early childhood education facilities, but mostly worked in Sydney’s north-west.

Police allege he committed multiple offences against children at five facilities, including four childcare centres and his own private business.

If found guilty of aggravated use of a child under 14 for the production of child abuse material, the man could face up to 20 years in prison.

The AFP acting commander Luke Needham said police had been in contact with 121 families, based around Australia and internationally, “who we have positively identified their child as being depicted in child abuse material”.

Needham said “all [alleged] offending occurred here in New South Wales” with “limited [alleged] offending that occurred in South Australia”.

He said the investigation also involved “speaking to a family that have moved overseas”.

The acting commander also alleged the man shared abuse material overseas on three occasions during the offending.

Needham confirmed on Monday evening there were 22 victims who “are yet to be positively identified”.

“We would ask the community to consider what they might be able to share with the AFP, which we hope would go some way in assisting us in identifying those other 22 victims,” he said.

He referred the community to the AFP’s dedicated contact point, which includes “all the listed employment locations of where this man has worked”.

“Operation Moonbi has spanned 12 months and involved the analysis of 2.4 million electronic files, 12 search warrants and countless hours trying to uncover the scale of the man’s alleged offending,” Needham said.

“We urge any victim-survivors to seek support or talk to a trusted person if today’s news has caused distress.

“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.”