On 14 December 2025, what started as a simple family afternoon at Bondi turned into something our children will never forget.

We are two families who went to Bondi for a barbecue that day, with three children aged 19 months, 7 and 8. Later in the afternoon, the area around us started to be set up and closed off for the Chanukah by the Sea event. There was a mini zoo, body/face painting, soap bubbles and activities for kids, and our children were having so much fun that we decided to stay a bit longer. Without really planning it, we found ourselves as part of the event.

When the shooting started, there was chaos everywhere. The children were caught in the open while shots were being fired and were suddenly surrounded by graphic and confronting scenes – sights and sounds no child should ever be exposed to. In the confusion, some were separated from their parents: children not knowing where their parents were, and parents not knowing if their children were safe.

We are deeply grateful that our families survived and were reunited. But the impact on the children, and on the adults who were with them, is profound and ongoing.

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What’s Happening with the Children

Before this, the 19-month-old was a relaxed, happy baby. Since the attack, she is easily startled and becomes very distressed by sudden or loud noises. Recently, she cried for half an hour when a neighbour’s garden tool made a popping sound as it started and she now startles and becomes upset when airplanes fly overhead – another reaction that only began after the attack. She also throws herself onto the floor in ways she never did before, pointing her fingers to her head and saying the word (“dodói)”) which means “hurt”, wakes multiple times at night and has trouble falling asleep, which was very unusual for her. At her age, she can’t explain any of this in words – her whole body is carrying the fear.

The 7- and 8-year-olds remember the event clearly. They talk about it often and ask the same questions again and again – “Why did it happen?”, “Is it going to happen again?”. In their play they re-enact parts of it, “shooting bad guys” and trying to make sense of what they lived through. They know they were under fire and that they witnessed disturbing, graphic scenes around them. They were trembling that night and are now living with ongoing fear, anxiety, intrusive memories and thoughts that are far beyond their years.

This isn’t something they can simply “get over”. Children who witness violence and terror like this need specialised, long-term support to reduce the risk of serious emotional, developmental and mental-health impacts later in life.

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The Therapy the Children Need

For the children, we are seeking:

• Child trauma psychologists

Clinicians specifically trained to work with children who have experienced violence and traumatic events.

• Infant mental-health and attachment-based therapy (for the 19-month-old)

Play- and relationship-based therapy to help her nervous system relearn safety, while supporting her bond with her parent after such a frightening experience.

• Play therapy and trauma-focused therapy (for the 7- and 8-year-olds)

Structured play therapy and trauma-focused approaches adapted for children, helping them process what they saw and heard in a safe, guided way.

• Ongoing developmental and emotional monitoring

Regular check-ins and assessments to track behaviour, sleep, learning and emotional regulation, so they can be supported early at home and at school as they grow.

• Support over years, not weeks

Childhood trauma can resurface at different stages — preschool, primary school, adolescence. These children will need consistent follow-up as they move through each stage.

These therapies are specialised, expensive, and often have long waiting lists. We want to be able to choose the right professionals, not just the first available appointment.

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The Adults Who Were There with the Children

The adults who were physically present with the children that night are also receiving trauma support. They are doing everything they can to stay emotionally strong and available for the kids while processing what they themselves went through.

As parents, we are small business owners and independent contractors — which means very simply: no work, no pay. When we need to close the business, cancel clients, or turn down contract work to attend appointments or cope with the aftermath, our income stops immediately.

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Why We’re Asking for Help

We are asking for help so we can:

• Give the three children access to proper child-trauma and developmental care, not just a handful of general sessions

• Ensure the parents who were there with them can receive ongoing trauma-informed therapy, so they can support their children and rebuild their lives

• Take time away from work when necessary — closing a business for a day, cancelling clients, or skipping shifts — without losing financial stability

Some government support may eventually be available, but it is limited and slow. Our children’s needs, therapy costs and lost income are immediate.

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How the Funds Will Be Used:

To help cover daily expenses while unable to work and with specialised therapies which are not covered by the government.

We don’t expect every cost to be covered by donations alone. The goal reflects the reality that specialist trauma therapy for three children and their parents, along with some reduced work over several years, adds up quickly. Any amount we receive will go directly towards therapy, child support and keeping our families stable while we recover.

Your donations will help cover:

1. Children’s trauma and developmental care

• Ongoing sessions with child trauma psychologists

• Infant mental-health and attachment-based therapy for the baby and parent

• Play therapy and trauma-focused treatment for the 7- and 8-year-olds

• Developmental and emotional assessments over the coming years

2. Trauma therapy for the parents who were there

• Regular sessions with trauma-informed psychologists

3. Time off work and practical support

• Income lost when small businesses close or independent contractors must cancel work to attend appointments or recover

• Childcare, transport and other practical costs around therapy and medical visits

• Essential living expenses while we stabilise our families and rebuild our lives

Every contribution, no matter the amount, helps. If you can’t donate, simply sharing this page with others is already a huge support.

We are grateful that our children are still with us, and we are determined to give them the best possible chance to heal. Your support helps make sure this trauma does not define the rest of their lives.

Thank you for standing with our two families.