A childcare worker in Queensland, Australia, has been sentenced to four years in prison after CCTV footage revealed more than 80 instances of physical abuse against three young boys entrusted to her care, including a 13-month-old child who suffered the majority of the assaults.
Edwina Ling carried out the attacks over three days in late August and early September 2024 at the Injinoo Childcare Centre on Cape York, in Far North Queensland. The incidents included kicking, slapping, shaking and other forms of physical mistreatment.
The disturbing recordings were later obtained by ABC’s Four Corners as part of an investigation into child protection and safety standards in Australian childcare facilities.
The parents of the youngest victim have since released the footage publicly, hoping that exposing the abuse will prompt stronger safeguards for children in childcare centres. Their identities, along with that of their son, cannot be disclosed under laws protecting the child’s identity.
According to the footage, the 13-month-old boy was subjected to 55 of the 80 assaults documented in the case.
The recordings show Ling repeatedly handling the infant violently, including grabbing him by the head and neck, forcing him against a standing activity centre and pushing his face into a pillow. She is also seen kicking him across the floor and throwing objects onto him.
Other clips capture the worker shaking the child, pulling him up by one arm, striking his face and placing a pillow over his head.
Reflecting on the abuse, the boy’s mother told ABC’s Four Corners: ‘You just can’t imagine how someone can be so cruel to babies,’
Parents Unaware of Repeated Abuse
The family did not learn the full extent of what had happened until September 12, 2024, when they were notified that an educator had been dismissed for using excessive force against children at the centre.
They were informed the following day that Ling was the employee involved and were given details of the treatment their son had endured.
Recalling her reaction, the mother said: ‘I just burst out crying. I just couldn’t believe that that actually happened, and it was our child,’
She also described being told that her son had spent an entire day without being fed. According to the account provided to the family, Ling had placed food in front of the child but did not feed him despite his crying.
Before the abuse came to light, the mother had noticed marks on her son’s body and questioned Ling about them.
The worker allegedly attributed the injuries to another child, claiming that the child had been pinning other children down, scratching them and biting them.
The family now believes the case raises serious questions about how the abuse continued without being detected and whether existing oversight arrangements were sufficient to protect the children.
Colleague’s Concerns Prompted CCTV Review
Concerns about Ling’s conduct were raised by Brancis Tamwoy-Mookaa, who temporarily served as director of the Injinoo facility.
Tamwoy-Mookaa reportedly received complaints from other childcare workers about Ling’s behaviour. Her concerns grew when Ling refused to hand over a crying infant.
She subsequently observed red marks on the child’s skin that appeared consistent with fingernail scratches.
Before leaving the centre on her final day, Tamwoy-Mookaa wrote a note urging management to review surveillance footage from the baby room.
Despite the concerns, Ling remained employed at the facility for nearly another week before being dismissed.
Queensland Police told Four Corners that a report which triggered their investigation was submitted by a member of the public on September 13, 2024, after Ling had already left the centre.
Court Describes Offending as ‘Monstrous, Cruel and Sadistic’
In June 2026, Ling received a four-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 80 counts of common assault and two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm.
District Court Judge Dean Morzone KC condemned the offences, describing them as ‘monstrous, cruel and sadistic’ and a gross breach of trust.
Despite the four-year sentence, Ling will become eligible to apply for parole after serving 12 months.
The case has intensified scrutiny of recruitment procedures and qualification requirements in childcare services, particularly where workers are entrusted with infants and other children who cannot adequately communicate or report mistreatment.
Questions Raised Over Childcare Oversight
Ling began working for NPA Family and Community Services, the organisation responsible for operating the Injinoo centre, in 2022. She initially worked as a casual cleaner before taking on duties as a cook.
In July 2024, she was transferred to the baby room as an educator, despite reportedly not having completed basic childcare qualifications, according to the Four Corners investigation.
NPA chair Ugari Nona said the organisation responded promptly after becoming aware of the abuse, informing the affected families, police and the relevant regulatory authority.
However, the victim’s parents argue that the investigation should not end with the conviction of the individual responsible for the assaults. They believe the circumstances surrounding Ling’s employment, supervision and continued presence at the centre also warrant scrutiny.
The boy’s father questioned the responsibilities of both the organisation operating the facility and the authorities charged with ensuring childcare centres meet required standards.
‘What about the NPA allowing this to happen too? They had a duty of care … and the regulatory authorities … making sure [the centres] were all running at standard,’ the boy’s father said.
He stressed that the implications of the case extend beyond his family’s experience, warning that weaknesses in childcare monitoring could expose other children to similar risks.
‘It’s not just about our kid or that one childcare centre. It’s far bigger than that. So many centres fall outside [the system], and it affects so many kids. It’ll just keep happening if we don’t speak up.’
The family hopes that public attention surrounding the case will lead to meaningful improvements in childcare oversight, staff accountability and the protection of vulnerable children.
