Alleged Paedophile Continued Working with Children After Being Stood Down and Reported
A Sydney childcare worker accused of producing and possessing child abuse material involving at least ten young boys continued working with children for months after concerns about his behaviour were
A Sydney childcare worker accused of producing and possessing child abuse material involving at least ten young boys continued working with children for months after concerns about his behaviour were reported to both NSW Police and the state’s Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG).
David William James, 26, was employed casually through staffing agency Randstad Education and worked across 58 different out-of-school-hours care (OSHC) centres between 2018 and 2024. He was formally stood down from one centre in June 2024 following a disturbing incident witnessed by a colleague, yet he continued to be assigned shifts elsewhere until his arrest in September.
The incident in question occurred on 4 June 2024 at Mowbray Public School’s OSCare in Lane Cove North. A co-worker reported an interaction between James and a child that made them feel “uncomfortable.” While no criminal offence was established and the child’s parents did not pursue the matter, the centre operator, Junior Adventures Group (JAG), notified both NSW Police and the OCG.
James was removed from that centre, but his Working With Children Check (WWCC) remained valid, allowing him to continue working elsewhere.
Despite the serious concern, the OCG did not issue an interim suspension, which it has the power to do under the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
Working Under the Radar
Over the next three months, James remained active in the sector through Randstad placements. It wasn’t until a federal police investigation into dark web child abuse content led to a search warrant that he was arrested.
Police allegedly seized multiple devices containing over 140,000 files, including child abuse material. Among the contents were videos allegedly filmed at childcare centres — including bathroom footage and incidents involving indecent acts by James in the presence of children.
He is now facing 13 charges, including:
Nine counts of aggravated use of a child for child abuse material
One count of using a child for abuse material
Two counts of possession of child abuse material
One count of refusing to provide access to his phone
The charges span a period from April 2021 to May 2024. The six confirmed locations where the alleged abuse occurred are:
St Ives OSHC Centre
Investigators say there is no evidence at this stage of offences at the other 52 centres where James worked.
A Privileged Background, a Hidden Double Life
James attended Knox Grammar School, one of Sydney’s most prestigious private schools, and featured on the SMH HSC High Achievers list in 2017. He served briefly as a probationary officer at Chatswood Police Station before leaving NSW Police in 2022 and resigning from a civilian communications role in 2023.
Families Left in the Dark
In June 2025, more than 1,200 families received notification letters from police after James’ identity was confirmed. Letters were categorised based on whether the child was an alleged victim or had attended a centre where James had worked
“Based on information currently available, police believe the alleged conduct involves a very small number of children,” an AFP spokesperson stated.
One mother from Lane Cove West told UMN, “My daughter has been at that centre for years. They told us all the right things about safety and background checks. Clearly, that wasn’t enough.”
Systemic Loopholes
The OCG confirmed that a WWCC is only suspended when there’s a sustained finding under the Reportable Conduct Scheme, not just a report or concern. An interim bar may be issued in high-risk cases but was not enacted in this instance.
Randstad Education said it conducted its own screening “in accordance with child-safe recruitment guidelines.” NSW Police declined to comment due to ongoing legal proceedings.
Political Response
In response to public pressure, NSW Premier Chris Minns announced a suite of reforms, including:
Banning WWCC reapplication after rejection
Mandating mobile phone bans during shifts
Piloting CCTV in major centres
Enabling state agencies to withhold subsidies for non-compliant providers
These measures follow the separate arrest of Joshua Dale Brown in Melbourne, who faces 73 charges involving eight children.
Looking Forward
James remains in custody awaiting trial at Downing Centre Local Court. His alleged actions — and the system’s delay in intervening — have sparked a renewed national conversation around childcare safety, regulation, and enforcement.
“They had one job. To keep our kids safe. And they failed.”
— Parent, Hornsby OSHC
Support & Reporting Resources:
Bravehearts – 1800 272 831
NSW Child Protection Helpline – 132 111
This article is part of UMN’s ongoing coverage of institutional failures in Australian childcare. For more, visit: