Australian Federal Police confirmed a child in the ACT had been removed from harm as part of the investigation, along with five other children in Western Australia.

Police said the children had all been at risk of or subject to the production of child exploitation material.

The man, a former Canberra Institute of Technology lecturer, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on September 26 and has been accused of holding more than 190,000 child pornography files.

The court has heard that police, acting on a tip-off from Canadian authorities, raided the lecturer’s home in September, seizing a range of electronic equipment.

It heard authorities had still been sifting through the material last month, and had been attempting to identify other potential victims.

The man, who cannot be named, is accused of holding 77 images of a young boy who was living with him at the time.

The court heard those images appeared to have been taken while the boy was asleep or unconscious earlier this year.

More than 100 search warrants have been executed in Australia as part of Operation Thunderer, resulting in 65 arrests and 399 individual charges for men aged between 25 and 72.

Internationally, 386 children have been removed from harm.

Australian Federal Police commander Glen McEwen said the investigation followed a sting into a child exploitation website operating from Canada and was one of the largest of its kind ever carried out through law enforcement co-operation.

‘‘The AFP and state and territory police worked relentlessly alongside international partner agencies to bring these offenders to justice," Commander McEwen said.

"This global investigation has disrupted a wide-spread international network of suspects, in a powerful demonstration of law enforcement working together to protect children around the world."

He said investigations in Australia had been underway since early 2012 and more arrests were expected in coming months.

Commander McEwen said the charges related to online purchases of child exploitation material and Australian authorities had collected terabytes of data.

"If you choose to view and circulate child abuse images, you will be investigated, pursued and charged, regardless of where you are located."

AFP national child protection operation coordinator Todd Hunter said the six Australian children were abused in the production of exploitation material.

He said the first arrests had been made in August 2013 and had been ongoing.

The website is believed to have been operating since 2005 and has generated in excess of $4 million profit.

Those charged in NSW include two teachers, a priest and a former priest, who were arrested in July and August this year.

In South Australia, 12 men have been charged and will face court in December and January.

Teachers, a nurse, a carer and an accountant are among 33 Queenslanders arrested.

Victorian Police arrested five men, including a 50-year-old St Kilda resident charged with possessing, accessing and using a carriage service for child exploitation material.

‘‘Those who wish to prey on our children are on notice that their unlawful online activity can and will be detected,’’ Commander McEwen said. ‘‘Predators will be pursued no matter where they are.’’

The owner of the Canadian website was arrested and charged in May 2012 after an operation named Project Spade.

The head of the Canadian operation, Inspector Joanna Beaven, said police allegedly found hundreds of thousands of images and videos detailing ‘‘horrific sexual acts against very young children’’.

The investigation spread to 50 other nations leading to the arrests of 341 people worldwide including 40 school teachers, 32 child volunteers, nine doctors and nurses, nine pastors or priests and three foster parents.

Police said 108 people had been arrested in Canada, 76 in the United States and 164 in other countries from Spain to Mexico and South Africa.

Justice Minister Michael Keenan praised Australian authorities, particularly for rescuing the six children.

‘‘The exploitation of our most vulnerable members of society cannot be tolerated,’’ he said.