Full List of Centres Where David William James Worked
Updated 3 July 2026: David William James has been sentenced. Details below.
A former childcare and after-school care worker, David William James, has been sentenced to a maximum of 12 years in prison, with a non-parole period of seven years, after pleading guilty to 11 charges relating to the production and possession of child abuse material. He was sentenced at Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court on 2 July 2026. His sentence was backdated to October 2024, when he was first taken into custody, meaning he will not be eligible for release before October 2031.
The case followed a joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and NSW Police under Operation Tenterfield.
What has been confirmed
James, now 28, was aged between 22 and 26 at the time of the offending. He worked casually across nearly 60 out-of-school hours care (OOSH) facilities in Sydney between 2018 and 2024, engaged through an agency rather than employed directly by any single centre. He was formerly a probationary constable with NSW Police and continued to work for the force in a civilian capacity until May 2023 after failing probation. NSW Police has confirmed it was unaware he was working in childcare at the same time.
This page does not allege that abuse occurred at any of the centres listed below. It lists every centre James is known to have worked at, so that families can check for a possible connection and seek advice if needed.
Centres where James worked
No findings or allegations are made against any centre named on this page. Centres are listed to help families confirm whether their child may have had contact with James, not because abuse has been confirmed to have occurred at that location.
Eastern suburbs and inner Sydney
- Pyrmont OSHC, Pyrmont (City of Sydney Council-run)
- Ultimo Public School OSHC, Ultimo
- Erskineville Public School OSHC, Erskineville
- Alexandria Park Community School OSHC, Alexandria
- Paddington Public School OSHC, Paddington
- Randwick Public School OSHC, Randwick
- Waverley Public School OSHC, Waverley
Lower North Shore
- Willoughby Kids House, Willoughby
- Helping Hands, Lane Cove West Public School, Lane Cove West
- Artarmon Public School OSHC, Artarmon
- Neutral Bay Public School OSHC, Neutral Bay
- Cammeray Public School OSHC, Cammeray
- Greenwich Public School OSHC, Greenwich
- Willoughby Public School OSHC, Willoughby
Upper North Shore
- Helping Hands, St Ives Public School, St Ives
- St Ives OSHC, KIDZONE, St Ives
- OSHClub, Barker College, Hornsby
- Gordon West Public School OSHC, Gordon
- Warrawee Public School OSHC, Warrawee
- Wahroonga Public School OSHC, Wahroonga
- Normanhurst Public School OSHC, Normanhurst
- Hornsby Heights Public School OSHC, Hornsby Heights
- Turramurra North Public School OSHC, Turramurra
Western Sydney
- Winston Hills Public School OSHC, Winston Hills
- North Rocks Public School OSHC, North Rocks
- Parramatta Public School OSHC, Parramatta
- Greystanes Public School OSHC, Greystanes
- Blacktown South Public School OSHC, Blacktown
- Lalor Park Public School OSHC, Lalor Park
Inner West
- Stanmore Public School OSHC, Stanmore
- Leichhardt Public School OSHC, Leichhardt
- Annandale North Public School OSHC, Annandale
- Haberfield Public School OSHC, Haberfield
Southern Sydney
- Sans Souci Public School OSHC, Sans Souci
- Ramsgate Public School OSHC, Ramsgate
- Caringbah Public School OSHC, Caringbah
- Miranda Public School OSHC, Miranda
North West Sydney
- Beecroft Public School OSHC, Beecroft
- Cherrybrook Public School OSHC, Cherrybrook
- Castle Hill Public School OSHC, Castle Hill
- Kellyville Ridge Public School OSHC, Kellyville Ridge
- The Ponds School OSHC, The Ponds
- Riverbank Public School OSHC, The Ponds
Northern Beaches
- Manly Vale Public School OSHC, Manly Vale
- Curl Curl North Public School OSHC, Curl Curl
- Balgowlah Heights Public School OSHC, Balgowlah Heights
- Cromer Public School OSHC, Cromer
- Collaroy Plateau Public School OSHC, Collaroy Plateau
- Dee Why Public School OSHC, Dee Why
Other notable sites
- Knox Grammar School, Wahroonga
- YMCA Bankstown, Bankstown
- Fort Street Public School, Millers Point
- Petersham Public School, Petersham
- Summer Hill Public School, Summer Hill
- Five Dock Public School, Five Dock
- Gladesville Public School, Gladesville
- Burwood Public School, Burwood
What families can do
The Australian Federal Police has contacted the families of approximately 1,500 children who attended centres where James was rostered. If your child attended any of the centres listed on this page, you may wish to speak with a solicitor about your options.
Koffels Solicitors & Barristers can help
At Koffels Solicitors & Barristers, we represent survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, including in childcare and education settings. We assist clients in:
- Filing civil claims against responsible institutions
- Pursuing common law damages
- Assessing the viability of National Redress Scheme applications
- Receiving confidential, trauma-informed legal advice
Call us on 02 9283 5599 or complete our free and confidential call-back form below to speak with a solicitor about your situation.
Has David William James been convicted?
Yes. James pleaded guilty to 11 charges relating to the production and possession of child abuse material and was sentenced on 2 July 2026 at Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court to a maximum of 12 years in prison, with a non-parole period of seven years.
Does my child’s centre being on this list mean abuse occurred there?
No. This page does not allege that abuse occurred at any specific centre. Every centre James is known to have worked at is listed, so families can check for a possible connection and seek advice if needed.
What should I do if my child attended one of the listed centres?
Contact a solicitor experienced in institutional abuse claims to discuss your options. Koffels Solicitors and Barristers offers a free, confidential call-back.
What sentence did David William James receive?
A maximum of 12 years in prison with a non-parole period of seven years, backdated to October 2024. He will not be eligible for release before October 2031.
