Childcare worker jailed after CCTV reveals assaults on three boys over three days
CCTV footage shows childcare worker Edwina Ling assaulting three boys more than 80 times over three days at a centre in Far North Queensland in 2024. The case has raised concerns about child safety and staff oversight in childcare; the youngest boy’s parents released the footage hoping it would prompt reform.
The 13-month-old was assaulted 55 times, and his family say they were not told the extent of the abuse until after Ling was dismissed. A temporary director’s concerns led her to urge management to check the baby-room footage. Ling pleaded guilty to 80 counts of common assault and two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, and was sentenced to four years in prison in June 2026, with parole eligibility after 12 months.
In short
- Three boys were assaulted more than 80 times.
- The youngest child, aged 13 months, was assaulted 55 times.
- Ling received a four-year sentence and may seek parole after 12 months.
Explained simply
Childcare centres look after young children while their parents or carers are at work. Because babies and toddlers cannot reliably explain what has happened to them, their safety depends on staff supervision, clear reporting procedures and checks by centre management.
Edwina Ling worked at a childcare centre in Far North Queensland, Australia. The children in the case were three boys, including a baby aged 13 months; their families and the centre’s management are also central to questions about how concerns were handled.
The case has drawn attention to how childcare providers monitor staff and respond when someone raises a concern. It also highlights the information families may need when a child’s safety is in question.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Shocking CCTV footage shows daycare centre worker assaulting child”.