A 26-year-old Sydney man, David William James, has been charged with a series of serious child abuse offences after authorities allege he produced and possessed child exploitation material while working across several childcare facilities. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege that James created explicit content involving at least ten boys, all aged between five and six, at six out-of-school-hours care centres located in Sydney’s northern suburbs between 2021 and 2024.
The investigation began when police identified disturbing material circulating on the dark web. Digital forensic analysts were able to trace the content back to James, triggering a broader operation. When arrested in October last year, he reportedly refused to give investigators access to his mobile phone and other devices. Upon eventually gaining access, officers uncovered more than 140,000 files believed to contain illegal material. James has remained in custody since his arrest, though his identity was suppressed until authorities had the chance to identify and notify the families of all known victims.
According to law enforcement, James had worked at nearly 60 different childcare facilities across Sydney, primarily in a casual capacity through staffing agency Randstad. Despite the extensive employment history, AFP officers currently believe the offending was limited to six known locations, though investigations are ongoing. It was also revealed that James previously served as a probationary police constable with the New South Wales Police Force between 2021 and 2022. He did not complete his training period and later moved into administrative civilian roles. Police have confirmed that they were unaware of his concurrent employment in childcare during his time with the force.
James is now facing 13 charges, including nine counts of aggravated use of a child to make abuse material, one count of using a child for abuse material, two counts of possession of child abuse material, and one count of obstructing police by refusing to provide access to his phone. He is scheduled to return to court in August.
This case has emerged during a broader reckoning for Australia’s childcare sector. Earlier this year, thousands of children in Victoria were advised to undergo testing for infectious diseases after a separate case involving a childcare worker, Joshua Dale Brown, who was charged with 70 offences, including rape. In another shocking case from late last year, former childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith was sentenced to life imprisonment for the abuse of nearly 70 young girls, making headlines as one of the most prolific paedophiles in Australian history.
In light of these disturbing revelations, the Australian federal government has introduced urgent new legislation aimed at strengthening safety across the early childhood education sector. The proposed reforms include powers for the Commonwealth to withdraw childcare subsidies from centres that breach safety standards or fail to meet national compliance requirements. The bill also aims to improve the transparency of worker histories and includes support for implementing a national register to track those working with children across all jurisdictions.
State governments are also taking action. In New South Wales, Premier Chris Minns has pledged to tighten the Working With Children Check system after it was revealed that individuals previously denied clearance were able to reapply and sometimes be approved. Victoria is conducting its own review of childcare safety protocols, including mandatory CCTV in large centres and stronger reporting systems for suspicious behaviour.
Child safety advocates have long warned of gaps in the current system, particularly the lack of a nationally integrated database for childcare workers. Many believe these cases reveal systemic failures in oversight, training, and communication between agencies. Psychologists and legal experts alike have argued for more robust screening procedures and better conditions for childcare staff, noting that short staffing and casual employment structures can lead to dangerous oversights.
While these proposed reforms are a step forward, many argue they are overdue. Some experts believe the childcare sector needs a complete overhaul—not just tougher laws, but a shift in how early childhood education is funded, managed, and monitored. Rebuilding public trust in the system will require transparency, consistency, and a firm commitment to child protection at every level.
For now, the families affected by these crimes are grappling with the emotional fallout, while legal proceedings against David James continue. Authorities have urged any parents who haven’t been contacted by the AFP to be reassured that no evidence connects their children to the offences under investigation. As the country watches closely, this case stands as a painful reminder of the urgent need to safeguard those least able to protect themselves.
