Bondi mass stabbing trauma to drive mental health shift
Catherine Bouris |
Mental health emergency procedures will be overhauled in a state’s response to a devastating mass stabbing attack that left six people dead.
Joel Cauchi, 40, armed himself with a hunting knife and was experiencing symptoms of psychosis when he went on a killing spree at Westfield Bondi Junction, in Sydney’s east, on April 13, 2024.
He also injured 10 people before he was fatally shot by a police officer.
Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan released findings in February, highlighting numerous shortfalls leading up to the attack and making 23 recommendations.
The NSW government on Thursday said it accepted all 13 directed at it, including plans to introduce a health-led response model for mental health emergencies.
In its response, the government also pledged to strengthen community mental health services and support pathways for people experiencing severe illness.
Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson said the inquest highlighted the importance of an accessible system capable of supporting people with complex mental health needs.
“The new health-led response model to mental health emergencies is one example of how we are responding to the lessons identified through the inquest and working to ensure people experiencing mental health crises receive appropriate care,” she said.
Ms O’Sullivan found there was a major failure by Cauchi’s psychiatrist, who neglected to follow up properly after he had ceased taking antipsychotics.
She also identified further, systemic issues including difficulties tracking people with mental illness who did not have stable housing.
Other accepted recommendations included reforms to knife scanning laws following a statutory review of police wanding powers.
The government will also promote an “escape, hide, tell” public safety campaign, an active shooter emergency response protocol recommended by counter-terrorism authorities.
Better connectivity between emergency services was also a key recommendation.
A lack of radio communication between police and ambulance control rooms and delays in triaging injured patients were criticised in the coroner’s report.
“The events at Bondi Junction were deeply traumatic for many people, including patients, families, paramedics, doctors, nurses and other frontline health workers who responded on that day,” Health Minister Ryan Park said.
The coroner praised the subsequent actions of police and NSW Ambulance in heeding and implementing lessons from the attack “seamlessly” at the Bondi Beach mass shooting in December 2025.
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AAP