A man has been charged with indecent treatment of a child and possessing more than 1000 abuse images, some of children he knew.
Police charged the 53-year-old man from central Queensland after he was identified as uploading child abuse material to a secure messaging platform.
A search of the man's home located multiple electronic devices including more than 1000 files containing child abuse material, as well as a record of a sexualised online chat with a 14-year-old girl.
It is alleged some of the images were of children the man knows.
Police have identified the children and are providing them and their family with support.
AFP Detective Inspector Mary Bolton said the abuse and exploitation of children stole their innocence and caused lifelong trauma.
"Every child deserves to feel safe and the AFP and its partners will do whatever we can to protect children," she said.
"If you take part in this abhorrent trade in innocent lives be warned that everything you do online leaves a trace and we won't stop until we find you and bring you to justice."
The man faces numerous charges in relation to accessing, possess, and transmitting child abuse material and one count of indecent treatment of a child under 16.
He was released on strict bail conditions and will next appear in court on March 28.
The maximum penalty for the child abuse material offences is 15 years' imprisonment, while the maximum for the indecent treatment offence is 14 years.
