Chair of childcare operator quits after Four Corners exposes abuse scandal

The chair of the organisation at the centre of the Injinoo childcare abuse scandal has resigned after a Four Corners investigation exposed serious governance and child-safety failures.

Ugari Nona announced her resignation from NPA Family and Community Services on Facebook as the ABC began promoting the Four Corners investigation Monstrous, which revealed confronting CCTV of former childcare worker Edwina Ling assaulting young children at NPA's Injinoo Child Care Centre in Far North Queensland.

"After 14 years of serving as chairperson and board director … I have made the decision to officially step down from both positions," Ms Nona said.

"One thing leadership has taught me is you cannot please everyone."

Ms Nona did not give a reason for stepping down and made no reference to the scandal at Injinoo, where Ling physically assaulted three boys 82 times over three days. The youngest was only 13 months old.

Ling was jailed in June for four years with a one-year non-parole period. 

Queensland District Court Judge Dean Morzone KC described her offending as "monstrous, cruel and sadistic" and "a gross breach of trust". He said she was "utterly inappropriate for the role" in child care.

Ms Nona defended NPA's handling of the assaults in an interview with Four Corners and said she had not watched the CCTV video that documented the abuse.

She said no staff had been reprimanded, despite the state regulator alleging systemic shortcomings across NPA's childcare operations, including failures in governance, supervision and risk management.

Four Corners also uncovered discrepancies in Ms Nona's account of NPA's response to the abuse.

Ms Nona said NPA contacted police as soon as it became aware of what had happened. Queensland Police Service, however, said the report that triggered its investigation was made by a member of the community on September 13, 2024, after Ling had been dismissed from the centre.

Ms Nona's resignation marks the first departure at board level since the scandal engulfed NPA's childcare operations.

Ms Nona's sister, Tailisa Yusia, is NPA's chief executive, while their mother, Patricia Yusia, has served as treasurer. Their first cousin, Josie Nona, was the children's services manager responsible for overseeing NPA's four childcare services, including Injinoo.

Four Corners revealed that Josie Nona was also living with Ling at the time Ling was working at the Injinoo centre. Josie Nona still works for NPA.

The ABC contacted Tailisa Yusia for comment on Ugari Nona's resignation and whether there had been other changes to NPA's board or senior management.

The broadcast of the confronting CCTV of the assaults has triggered widespread public reaction, with parents and child safety experts describing the footage as sickening, heartbreaking and enraging. It has also reignited calls for stronger supervision rules, tougher safeguards and an independent childcare commission.

It has also put a spotlight on hundreds of childcare services operating outside the National Quality Framework. Four Corners identified 473 services outside the national system, including Injinoo, leaving them without the same national standards, assessment and public quality ratings that apply to most childcare centres.

The Ling case has put a particular focus on supervision. She joined Injinoo as a casual cleaner, then also became a cook before enrolling in a childcare course and being moved into the baby room, where she could legally be left alone caring for babies and toddlers despite not yet being qualified.

State and territory ministers are due to meet on Monday, with parents and child safety experts calling for supervision rules and other gaps exposed in the childcare system to be addressed.

The parents of Ling's youngest victim say they hope what happened to their son will lead to change.

"We need to talk about it. We need to have that conversation, otherwise it's gonna keep happening," his father said.

Watch the full Four Corners investigation into the Injinoo assaults and the regulatory gaps that remain in child care on ABC iview.