It has been an incredibly challenging week for all Australians, particularly those in Sydney who have been affected by the tragic and awful events in Bondi and Wakeley. On behalf of AAPi, I offer my condolences to the families of those whose lives were lost, as well as my hope that those injured make a full recovery. I want to also recognise the first responders to the scene, and the mental health professionals who are supporting victims and witnesses after these terrible incidents.
24 women have already been killed by male perpetrators in Australia in 2024, according to Counting Dead Women. That’s 3 women every fortnight so far this year. The current hypothesis that the Bondi attacker was targeting women is indicative of the widespread problem of violence against women in this country, something that we as mental health professionals are acutely aware of. Supporting women and believing their stories of violence is something that psychologists take very seriously, and part of what we can do is help to destigmatise speaking out about family and domestic violence. Naming the problem is always the first step.
I am also conscious that communities of various cultures and religions may be experiencing additional stress and tension, considering the use of the term terrorism in the media following the attack in a church in Western Sydney. We know that many individuals and communities have often been disproportionately and unfairly targeted by racist and discriminatory behaviour in the wake of incidents such as these in the past. As a profession, we can support these clients seeking help by acknowledging their fear and distress at being targeted, and the impact of these sorts of incidents on their day-to-day experiences.
Many of you, my peers and colleagues, will be supporting clients who have been affected by these tragedies, and we need to acknowledge that we may also be affected. If this is the case, I would encourage you to reach out to your peers and support networks and engage in supervision, or find a safe space to process.
Much discussion is already being had regarding shortfalls in the mental health system, and if you feel you are able to, I would urge you to contribute to government submissions. AAPi is of course continuing our efforts to advocate for change and the bolstering of our mental health systems in Australia, and we would welcome your knowledge, insights, and expertise.