We are devastated by the use of violence and the loss of so many lives at Bondi Junction on Saturday. Most, if not all, of the members of the Bondi Beach Cottage community will know someone directly impacted.

The counsellors at Bondi Beach Cottage will facilitate a Community Support Gathering on Wednesday 17 April at 4:30pm. All members of BBC community are invited to attend. Please email admin@bondibeachcottage.org.au to let us know if you’d like to join us.

Emotional reactions to the events will vary. We encourage you to take the time to check in with yourself, your spouses, families and friends and notice the ways you are responding mentally, physically and emotionally. You may experience anxiety, sadness, helplessness, anger, irritation and even a feeling of being cut off and/or shut down. If you have pre-existing trauma, you may be feeling additionally distressed. We recommend you try not to saturate yourself in graphic footage and social media. If you need some tools to manage impacts, try the link at Phoenix Australia (https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/your-recovery/helping-yourself/)

If you are feeling isolated and you would like to talk to someone, we recommend you call LIFELINE on 13 11 14.

If you are finding that over the weeks the intensity of feelings doesn’t recede, we encourage you to contact your GP, mental health support worker or an appropriate trauma service.

If the events have raised issues in regard to your own experiences of violence and particularly gendered violence, you can contact 1800 RESPECT for advice or me directly.

If you have children that are impacted, we recommend you contact the counselling service at your child’s school. We recommend that you spend time with your children doing activities that allow then to feel safe and loved and where they have opportunities to express their feelings. We recommend you limit your child’s exposure to frightening content and answer their questions in a way that is age appropriate.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us,

Eleanor Campbell
Women’s Counselling Coordinator and Clinician

P: (02) 9365 1607
E: fss@bondibeachcottage.org.au
42 Brighton Boulevard, North Bondi, Eora, NSW 2026
bondibeachcottage.org.au

Bondi Beach Cottage acknowledges the Bidjigal, Birrabirragal and Gadigal people, who traditionally occupied the Eora Coast and the land on which we live and work. We acknowledge all elders past and present and extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We recognise the trauma of colonisation and its continued impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and our commitment to reconciliation through our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan.