Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Mark Scott's message to staff and students is below. 

Dear students and colleagues,

I share your deep sense of shock and sorrow at the loss of life and the many injured in the appalling and senseless attack in Bondi earlier this afternoon.

We send our deepest condolences to the Jewish community and to others involved and we stand beside you, profoundly affected by this unimaginable horror in one of our city’s cherished spaces. That this occurred on the first night of Hanukkah, a celebration of light over darkness, makes it especially heart-breaking. Our thoughts are with you at this profoundly difficult time and we’re working to support our Jewish staff and students, alongside our broader community.

The police have confirmed the shooting is being treated as a terrorist attack. 

The safety of our community is our absolute priority and this evening we have strengthened security across campus, to ensure everyone’s protection. 

If you feel more comfortable staying home on Monday, then I encourage you to do so. For those in our community who want to come to campus, we are open to all staff and students, and support services will be onsite. Students with replacement exams scheduled can take them as planned. If you feel unable to sit your exam, however, please apply for special consideration, which will be treated favourably. Staff can work on campus or work from home where possible.  

We are working closely with police to keep our campus safe and note comments from the Police Commissioner tonight that this is a live police investigation. If there are changes to this advice, we will send further updates as soon as possible in the morning. 

We will follow the direction of NSW Police and always prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and visitors.  

Please take care of yourselves and one another during this challenging time. We will continue to keep you updated as needed and are here to support you in any way we can.

Mark

Professor Mark Scott
University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor and President

Support Services

Any student who is experiencing distress or would like to talk to someone is encouraged to contact  Student Wellbeing, or to contact our After-Hours Support Line by calling 1300 474 065 or text 0488 884 429.

Support and counselling are also available to our staff and their families. Support is available 24/7 and can be accessed via phone on 1300 687 327 or online by visiting onvergeinternational.com.au

We encourage staff and students to download the SafeZone app to connect directly with Protective Services, emergency services and the University's support and wellbeing services. SafeZone sends real-time safety alerts, including location-specific information, to help our community stay safe. 

We urge anyone who feels unsafe or sees concerning behaviour on our campuses to let our Protective Services team know by using the SafeZone app or calling 1800 SYD HLP (1800 793 457), and to call 000 if it’s an emergency.