Daughter of Bondi victim leads research to support first responders

The daughter of Bondi terror attack victim Alex Kleytman is spearheading a study to help police, paramedics and other emergency workers better manage the psychological toll of future mass casualty incidents.

Associate Professor Sabina Kleitman, a University of Sydney psychology expert, launched the project about six months after her father was shot dead while shielding his wife Larisa at the Chanukah by the Sea event in Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025.

Mr Kleytman, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor who fled Ukraine for Siberia as a child and later endured Soviet antisemitism, immigrated to Australia in 1992. He was killed at the public Jewish celebration.

Associate Professor Kleitman told media outlets she and her mother continue to grapple with profound grief, but the tragedy has strengthened her resolve for Australia to improve its preparedness for terror attacks. Her personal experience has deepened her focus on how people react when lives are suddenly shattered.

“People assume resilience is something you are born with. It is, and it is not,” she said. “We know people can develop and strengthen it” she told the Daily Telegraph.

With more than a decade of work alongside Australia’s defence sector on mental fitness, her latest research, supported by the University of Sydney and Partnered Health, examines responses under extreme pressure. It seeks to spot psychological vulnerabilities early and build resilience through training.

The study uses a behavioural computer game in which participants are unaware they are being assessed. It aims to uncover hidden weaknesses in coping, decision-making and stress responses to better prepare frontline personnel.

Associate Professor Kleitman highlighted the emotional burden on first responders at the Bondi scene and pointed to gaps exposed by the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. “We were not prepared enough,” she said. “My research is to find those vulnerabilities and address them so we can toughen up if we get another terror attack. Australia is not immune anymore.”

The commission, established in January 2026, released its interim report on 30 April. Commissioner Virginia Bell AC SC examined the antisemitic attack, which claimed 15 lives, and issued 14 recommendations. The final report is due by the first anniversary on 14 December 2026.

NSW Police and Counter-terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley praised the courage of officers and first responders, saying the government is committed to their support. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said authorities would consider the commission’s findings to strengthen services and community recovery.

For Associate Professor Kleitman, the work honours her father’s legacy. After retiring, he wrote about Jewish life under Soviet repression to warn younger generations about antisemitism.

His proudest moment was becoming an Australian citizen in a country where he could live openly and safely as a Jew. His daughter now aims to turn trauma into practical tools for those who respond to violence.