By Perry Duffin and Sally Rawsthorne
A daycare worker allegedly filmed himself abusing young boys while in the classroom and bathroom of a Sydney childcare centre – leaving investigators to identify all his potential victims before “hysteria” grips parents.
He was the second daycare worker to be charged and accused of abusing children in Sydney in recent days.
Two daycare workers have been charged in Sydney in recent days, accused of abusing children.Credit: Ryan Stuart
The man, whose name has been suppressed by court order, is aged in his 20s and has been working at a care centre in the city’s north.
But just over a month ago he was arrested and charged by the Australian Federal Police.
He was initially charged with refusing to grant police access to his phone, but investigators quickly found alleged evidence of abuse against children under the man’s care that dated back years.
Last week the AFP laid 10 more charges; six counts of aggravated use of a child to make abuse material, two counts of sexually touch a child under 10 and two counts of using a child to make abuse material.
The allegations, contained in court documents released to this masthead, are too graphic to publish but include claims the man filmed young boys as they used the bathroom at the daycare.
He also allegedly pleasured himself in a classroom in front of children.
The alleged child victims are described as “prepubescent boys”, some aged just three to six.
The abuse alleged in the documents spans from 2021 to July 2024, just weeks before police laid their first charge.
The man remains in custody and did not apply for bail, or appear in court, when his matter was heard on Tuesday in Sydney’s Downing Centre.
A prosecutor warned there were “child victims yet to be identified” and publication of the man’s identity, or the name of the daycare, “would cause hysteria” among parents.
The magistrate made a court order prohibiting the news media from publishing the man’s name and the place where he worked.
The AFP sought that order to avoid “psychological harm” and distress to the alleged child victims and their parents and carers.
The investigation remains in its infancy and further charges could follow as police continue to pick through evidence.
Just one day before the man was charged, another Sydney daycare worker was arrested after allegedly abusing a young child on the northern beaches in an unrelated case.
On Thursday, Warwick Farm man Quoc Phu Tong was arrested at a warehouse in western Sydney, charging him with the alleged sexual touching of a young child at Only About Children in Seaforth.
Quoc Phu Tong is accused of sexually touching a three-year-old at Seaforth’s Only About Children daycare.
Tong was also charged with common assault.
The police investigation into Tong began in September, when another staff member reported him to police after witnessing an allegedly concerning interaction between the worker and a child.
Tong was stood down from his role at the time.
“Only About Children confirms that it was informed on Friday of a serious charge brought against a former casual educator ... this charge is responding to a report made by OAC as part of the mandatory reporting process,” the daycare chain said in a statement to the Herald.
The centre spokesperson said all “appropriate” steps were taken as soon as the allegation was raised and the case was now in the hands of the NSW Police.
“The organisation is fully committed to working closely with all authorities, families and team as they work through this,” the daycare chain said.
Tong applied for bail in Penrith Local Court on Friday, which was refused by magistrate Stephen Corry.
In remanding Tong, Corry said there was a history of “clear warnings” to Tong about his conduct towards children, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Tong was “in a position of authority and trust and the alleged offence was committed in an environment surrounded by other people,” the court heard on Friday.
Tong’s Legal Aid solicitor said his alleged offending was on the “lowest end of this type of serious conduct” because the alleged touching was on the outside of the clothing.
Only About Children is a nationwide chain of daycare centres with dozens of “campuses” across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
If you or anyone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (and see lifeline.org.au), 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.
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