An AFP investigation has led to a man, 26, being charged with allegedly producing child abuse material through his employment with out-of-school hours (OOSH) care services in the northern suburbs of Sydney and the CBD between April 2021 and May 2024.
The Artarmon man has been remanded in custody since 12 October, 2024, and details of the investigation can now be revealed after court-issued non-publication orders have been . The man currently faces 13 offences, being:
- Nine counts of aggravated use of child under 14 to make child abuse material, contrary to section 91G(3) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW). This carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment.
- One count of use of child under 14 to make child abuse material, contrary to section 91G(1)(a) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW). This carries a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment.
- Two counts of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 91H(2) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW). This carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment; and
- One count of contravene requirements of a s3LA order when the warrant relates to a serious offence, contrary to section 3LA(6) of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth). This offence has a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment.
The AFP allege the man produced child abuse material of 10 victims, aged six and under, during his employment at six OOSH care services.
In July 2024, victim identification officers from the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) launched an investigation into an instance of child abuse material detected on the dark web.
Extensive inquiries by AFP Child Protection investigators resulted in the execution of a search warrant at the man's home on 25 September, 2024, where a mobile phone and other electronic devices were seized.
The man was initially charged for refusing to provide his passcodes under section 3LA(6) of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) and was refused bail at Parramatta Local Court on 25 September, 2024. He was granted bail at the same court on 30 September, 2024.
AFP forensic investigators gained access to the man's devices and located alleged child abuse material, and the man was again arrested on 11 October, 2024. He has been remanded in custody since this arrest.
An application for a non-publication order was granted by the NSW Local Court on 12 October 2024, to allow investigators to undertake a comprehensive victim identification process and contact the parents and carers of the children identified in the child abuse material.
This order was lifted by the courts today (31 July, 2025), allowing police to communicate openly for the first time with the community on the investigation and the man's alleged offending.
All of the identified families have been contacted by the AFP. Support services have been offered and continue to be provided by NSW Health.
A Local Contact Point (LCP) process in line with the Joint Child Protection Response Program Local Contact Point Protocol and under the guidelines of the Royal Commission was established in June 2025.
The LCP was facilitated by the NSW Police Force, NSW Health, NSW Department of Communities and Justice with support from the AFP, NSW Department of Education as the NSW Early Childhood Education and Care Regulatory Authority and the Office of the Children's Guardian.
This process resulted in letters being sent on 18 June, 2025, to parents and carers of children who attended six Sydney-based care services where the man had been employed and where evidence of offending was identified by the AFP.
The letter provided instructions on how parents or carers could connect with the local contact point if they had concerns about their child and seek advice on what support was available.
Further extensive inquiries have since been undertaken by police, and a further 52 OOSH care facilities and other providers, which had employed the man, have been contacted. The AFP holds no evidence to suggest any alleged offending took place at these facilities.
Parents and carers will be able to access https://www.afp.gov.au/oparctile, which has been activated today (31 July, 2025) for information on the time periods of the man's employment, and for advice on appropriate support services, as well as who to contact if they believe they require further assistance.
The website is part of a coordinated agency response with NSW Health, NSW Department of Communities and Justice, NSW Department of Education and the Office of the Children's Guardian.
AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett James said the AFP and other agencies remain committed to providing ongoing support to affected families.
"The AFP and our partners are committed to supporting those families whose children's innocence was allegedly violated by a man trusted to take care of them," Acting Assistant Commissioner James said.
"Any form of child sexual abuse is confronting. Even more so when the alleged perpetrator is an individual trusted with the care of our youth.
"AFP investigators have carefully scrutinised the available evidence to identify the scale and scope of the alleged offending. There is no evidence to suggest the man's alleged offending took place in out-of-school-hours facilities or other care providers which have not yet been contacted by law enforcement.
"If parents are concerned, please visit the website dedicated to supporting families and the community seeking further information about the AFP investigation.
"The AFP and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to combatting child sex predators and I am extremely proud of the work our investigators do, each and every day, to ensure the protection of our children."
NSW Acting Children's Guardian, Rachael Ward, acknowledged the work of the AFP and other authorities leading to charges against the alleged perpetrator.
"Most abusers offend more than once before they are reported or charged, which is why organisations must commit to the Child Safe Standards, and not solely rely on the Working with Children Check to keep children safe," she said.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the ACCCE is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.
The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
