The afternoon of April 13, 2024, at Westfield Bondi Junction was supposed to be an ordinary Saturday of shopping. Within minutes, it turned into one of Australia’s most shocking mass attacks. Joel Cauchi, a 40-year-old man with a long history of schizophrenia, stabbed 16 people in less than three minutes, killing six.
People stabbed by Joel Cauchi: 16 · People killed: 6 · Age at attack: 40 · Schizophrenia diagnosis: age 17 · Date: 13 April 2024 · Shots by police: multiple
Quick snapshot
- Joel Cauchi diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 17 (NSW Coroners Court)
- 16 people stabbed on 13 April 2024 (NSW Coroners Court)
- Six people died (NSW Coroners Court)
- Shot and killed by police at scene (NSW Coroners Court)
- 13 April 2024: attack at Westfield Bondi Junction (NSW Coroners Court)
- 5 February 2026: coroner’s findings released (NSW Coroners Court)
- Implementation of 23 inquest recommendations (ABC News)
- Dr Boros-Lavack under regulatory review (BBC News)
Eight key facts, drawn directly from the coronial inquest and news reports, frame the case.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 13 April 2024 (NSW Coroners Court) |
| Location | Westfield Bondi Junction, Sydney (NSW Coroners Court) |
| Perpetrator | Joel Cauchi, 40, from Toowoomba (BBC News) |
| Diagnosis | Schizophrenia (since age 17) (BBC News) |
| Number stabbed | 16 (NSW Coroners Court) |
| Number killed | 6 (NSW Coroners Court) |
| Police shooter | Inspector Amy Scott (NSW Coroners Court) |
| Inquest concluded | February 2026 (NSW Coroners Court) |
What was Joel Cauchi diagnosed with?
A diagnosed teenager with schizophrenia fell off the treatment radar, and the system had no safety net to pull him back.
Schizophrenia diagnosis at age 17
- Joel Cauchi was diagnosed with schizophrenia during his teenage years, according to reports from BBC News.
- The coroner accepted that on 13 April 2024 he was suffering an acute exacerbation of chronic schizophrenia (NSW Coroners Court).
Psychosis during the attack
- Expert psychiatrists who reviewed the case agreed that Cauchi was in a psychotic relapse of chronic schizophrenia at the time of the stabbings (ABC News).
Mental health treatment history
- Cauchi had been off antipsychotic medication since 2019 (ABC News).
- After his long-term psychiatrist stopped treating him in 2020, there is no indication he sought further care (ABC News).
- By the time of the attack he was homeless and unmedicated (BBC News).
The pattern: a diagnosed patient passed through every care gap — from medication withdrawal to homelessness — with no intervention.
What happened to Joel Cauchi?
One police officer ended a rampage that had already claimed six lives in less than six minutes. The speed of the police response was the only thing that stopped further casualties.
The attack at Westfield Bondi Junction
- Just after 3:30 pm on 13 April 2024, Cauchi entered Westfield Bondi Junction and began stabbing shoppers (NSW Coroners Court).
- He stabbed 16 people in under three minutes (NSW Coroners Court).
- Six people died: Dawn Singleton, Jade Young, Yixuan Cheng, Ashlee Good, Faraz Tahir, and Pikria Darchia (NSW Coroners Court).
How Joel Cauchi died
- Detective Inspector Amy Scott fatally shot Cauchi about six minutes after the attack began (NSW Coroners Court).
Police response by Inspector Amy Scott
- Scott, a single officer, confronted Cauchi alone and fired multiple shots (NSW Coroners Court).
- The exact number of rounds fired has not been officially confirmed (reports vary).
The implication: a swift, solo police action prevented a higher death toll, but the fact that one person could inflict such harm in minutes underscores the missed opportunities for prevention.
How many people died in the Bondi Junction stabbing?
Number of fatalities
- Six people were killed (NSW Coroners Court).
Names of the victims
- Dawn Singleton, 25; Jade Young, 47; Yixuan Cheng, 27; Ashlee Good, 38; Faraz Tahir, 30; and Pikria Darchia, 55 (NSW Coroners Court).
Injuries and survivors
- Ashlee Good died after handing her nine-month-old baby to a stranger; the baby survived (ABC News).
- Ten other people were injured but survived (NSW Coroners Court).
What this means: six families lost loved ones, and a community was left to grapple with the randomness of a psychotic attack.
What did the inquest into the Bondi Junction deaths find?
The inquest made 23 recommendations, but they are not binding — the NSW government must decide whether to act.
Mental health system failures
- The coroner criticised failures to heed warnings that Cauchi was relapsing (BBC News).
- Cauchi had been off medication since 2019, homeless, and without psychiatric care for years before the attack (ABC News).
Referral of the psychiatrist to regulators
- The coroner referred Dr Andrea Boros-Lavack, Cauchi’s long-term psychiatrist, to Queensland health regulators (BBC News).
Recommendations from the coroner
- The inquest generated 23 recommendations, 12 directed at the NSW government (ABC News; also ABC News YouTube).
- Supported housing models such as Habilis in NSW and Haven in Victoria were highlighted as reforms (ABC News).
The implication: without enforceable mandates, similar care gaps may persist.
What support is available for victims of the Bondi Junction attack?
Government support programs
- NSW government established a dedicated support service for victims and their families (ABC News).
- The inquest recommended long-term mental health and financial assistance for those affected (ABC News).
Community and mental health resources
- Organisations such as Lifeline and Beyond Blue have provided crisis support in the aftermath (BBC News).
How to access assistance
- Victims can contact NSW Victims Services or access information via the NSW government website (NSW Government — official resource).
The trade-off: public awareness of these services remains low; outreach matters as much as funding to ensure those affected know where to turn.
Timeline
- Early 1980s–2000s: Joel Cauchi born and raised in Toowoomba, Queensland.
- Age 17 (approx. 2001): Diagnosed with schizophrenia (BBC News).
- 2023–early 2024: Treated for schizophrenia; described as a compliant patient by a nurse (ABC News).
- 13 April 2024: Attack at Westfield Bondi Junction; Cauchi stabs 16 people, is killed by police (NSW Coroners Court).
- April 2024–February 2026: Coronial inquest hearings, psychiatrist referred to regulators (BBC News).
- 5 February 2026: Inquest findings released (NSW Coroners Court).
Clarity
Confirmed facts
- Joel Cauchi was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 17 (BBC News).
- He stabbed 16 people at Westfield Bondi Junction on 13 April 2024 (NSW Coroners Court).
- Six people died (NSW Coroners Court).
- He was shot and killed by police (NSW Coroners Court).
- Ashlee Good’s baby survived (ABC News).
- Inspector Amy Scott fired multiple shots (NSW Coroners Court).
- The inquest found mental health system failures (BBC News).
What’s unclear
- Full details of the psychiatrist’s regulatory referral outcome (BBC News).
- Specific long-term prognosis for the surviving baby.
- Exact number of shots fired by Amy Scott (reports vary).
Key perspectives
Mr. Cauchi was suffering an acute exacerbation of chronic schizophrenia at the time of the attack.
— NSW Coroners Court
The expert psychiatrists agreed that Cauchi’s condition on the day was a psychotic relapse of chronic schizophrenia.
— Expert psychiatric panel, as reported by ABC News
For mental health services in Australia, the choice is clear: invest in supported housing and coordinated care, or face another preventable tragedy.
dailymotion.com, bbc.com, abc.net.au, en.wikipedia.org, youtube.com, facebook.com, reddit.com, instagram.com, abc.net.au
Frequently asked questions
Was Joel Cauchi diagnosed with a mental illness?
Yes, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 17 (BBC News). On the day of the attack, expert psychiatrists confirmed he was in a psychotic relapse (ABC News).
How many people did Joel Cauchi stab?
He stabbed 16 people at Westfield Bondi Junction on 13 April 2024 (NSW Coroners Court).
Did anyone survive the Bondi Junction stabbing?
Yes, ten people survived their injuries. Ashlee Good’s nine-month-old baby also survived (ABC News).
Who is Inspector Amy Scott?
Detective Inspector Amy Scott is the police officer who confronted and fatally shot Joel Cauchi about six minutes after the attack began (NSW Coroners Court).
What were the findings of the Bondi Junction inquest?
The coroner found that Cauchi was psychotic at the time, criticised mental health system failures, and issued 23 recommendations (BBC News; ABC News).
Is there support for victims of the Bondi Junction attack?
Yes, the NSW government has established support services, and organisations such as Lifeline and Beyond Blue provide crisis care (ABC News; BBC News).
Where did Joel Cauchi live before the attack?
He was from Toowoomba, Queensland, and was homeless in Sydney at the time of the attack (BBC News).
Alex Chen is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Briefly, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.