Trading has resumed this morning at Bondi Junction shopping centre in Sydney’s east. The Retail Workers Union is urging the public not to ask staff to recount Saturday’s attack.

Bondi

Trading has recommenced at the Bondi Junction shopping centre, located in Sydney's eastern suburbs, following an incident that prompted a temporary closure. The Retail Workers Union has issued a plea to the public, requesting deference and sensitivity towards the staff during their return to work. They specifically advise against asking employees to recount or discuss the events of the recent attack that took place last Saturday.

The decision to reopen stores within the shopping centre has been left to the discretion of individual retailers. Many employees are reportedly still coming to terms with the incident, reflecting a collective effort to process the traumatic event. The shopping centre had previously been closed to allow staff a day of mourning, providing them with the opportunity to seek solace among colleagues and navigate their grief collectively.

In light of these events, the public is encouraged to approach retail workers with empathy and support, refraining from inquiries that could compel them to relive their traumatic experiences. The sentiment is echoed by mental health professionals, including a psychiatrist from the Bondi area, who emphasized the potential for retraumatization through recounting the incident. The psychiatrist highlighted the varied ways individuals may cope with trauma, suggesting professional support for those needing to talk about their experiences.

To further aid in the community's healing, mental health workers will be present at the shopping centre to offer their support. Additionally, a floral tribute and condolence books have been arranged on level four, inviting visitors to express their sympathies. The overarching message from officials to those visiting Bondi Junction is to extend kindness and understanding as the community navigates this challenging period.



Shoppers asked not to talk about Bondi attack

We're expecting the store to continue under what they're calling a quiet time conditions for the time being. We understand that it'll be up to individual stores to decide whether or not they reopened their doors today. We know that many staff members are still trying to process the events of what happened on Saturday. Now, we know that yesterday the store reopened its doors for a day of mourning and that allowed retail workers to come back and to walk through the store and to come in the comfort of their colleagues to and to try and process just what happened. So they're urging shoppers when they approach staff members today and in their interactions with them to offer the messages of love and support and to be kind and caring but not to ask staff members to recount their experiences if they were there on that Saturday and not to ask them to relive this trauma that they would have gone through on Saturday as well. Now, people are being urged to be kind and caring as we know people process things in many different ways. A psychiatrist who works in this Bondi area spoke to News Breakfast this morning. This is what he had to say. It could potentially be re-traumatizing for them to be spoken to about what they've witnessed, what they've experienced. You know, I think people deal with something like this in different ways. So for some people, they will be talking to family and friends and, you know, getting that kind of support. For others, they might be trying to take their mind off it, you know, avoiding coverage in the media, doing things that they enjoy and, you know, really trying to focus on other things. So I guess, you know, there are professionals here to talk to if you'd like to talk to someone about the incident, but perhaps staff are not the right people to approach. So as he said there, there will be mental health workers around the shopping centre today to help people process their grief, but there will also be another floral tribute on level four, as well as condolences, condolence books for people to sign. So if you are heading into Bondi Junction today, the message from authorities is a little kindness goes a long way.

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