One Year On: Trauma, Grief, and the Quiet Work of Healing.
On April 13th, 2024, the Bondi Junction shopping centre—a place usually filled with life, noise, and ordinary moments—was forever changed. In a matter of minutes, it became the site of a devastating act of violence, leaving six innocent people dead, others injured, and a community in shock.
For many, it felt impossible to make sense of. For others, the emotional imprint was immediate and deep. And now, one year on, we find ourselves reflecting not only on what happened, but on what we continue to carry.
The Ripple of Trauma – What We Carry
When tragedy strikes in a public place, its impact spreads far beyond those directly involved. Witnesses. First responders. Staff. Shoppers who fled the scene. Families who waited for news. Even those who heard it through the media may feel its emotional wake.
Trauma can live on in unexpected ways. It doesn’t always show up as tears or flashbacks—it may appear as irritability, numbness, fatigue, or a lingering sense that something inside just doesn’t feel safe anymore. And that’s okay. That’s how the nervous system tries to protect us.
When the Body Remembers
Anniversaries often reawaken old pain. You might not even know why you're feeling unsettled or emotional—but your body remembers. Certain dates, images, sounds, or places can trigger old fear and grief, even when we think we’ve moved on.
If you’re feeling more sensitive right now, more tired, more raw—you are not alone. It doesn’t mean you're weak. It means you're human.
Making Space for Grief and Grace
We often hear that “time heals all wounds,” but with trauma and grief, that simply isn’t true. Trama and grief do not heal on their own with the passing of time—they heal when we attend to it. When we create space to feel, to take care, and to respond with compassion.
For some, that might mean therapy or other forms of support. For others, it may be rituals, creativity, connection, or moments of solitude. There’s no single path—but what we know for certain is that ignoring grief, especially when trauma is present, never works. Pushing it down only forces it to find other ways to express itself through your body or behaviour.
Grief isn’t linear or tidy. It’s layered, unpredictable, and deeply human. It asks for patience. It asks for presence. And sometimes, it simply asks to be witnessed.
There is grace in showing up for what hurts. There is strength in choosing not to run from it.
What Helps – Supporting Ourselves and Each Other
There’s no one-size-fits-all path through trauma or grief. But there are things that help:
Talking with someone you trust
Moving your body gently
Getting back into nature, even briefly
Lighting a candle in honour of those lost
Grounding yourself with touch, breath, or prayer
Reaching out to a professional if you’re overwhelmed
And sometimes, healing looks like doing nothing at all—simply resting and letting the nervous system settle.
Love Endures
One year on, we remember the lives lost at Bondi Junction. We honour the bravery, the heartbreak, the resilience. And we continue the quiet work of healing—within ourselves, within our communities.
Even in grief, love endures. And even after tragedy, we are still allowed to hope, to breathe, to begin again.
If you need more support please contact the following:
Lifeline 13 11 14
1800 Respect 1800 737 732
Mental Health Line 1800 011 511