A brave Centrelink employee who was stabbed in a brutal attack in Melbourne tried to shut out the alleged knifeman in a desperate attempt to save her colleagues.
Joeanne Cassar, 55, is in stable condition after allegedly being stabbed in the back by Elijah Chase, 34, on Tuesday.
A source told Daily Mail Australia that Ms Cassar had asked Chase to leave the welfare office on Louis Street in Airport West in Melbourne’s northwest that morning before returning around 1.30pm.
Chase had previously been banned from the Centrelink office following another alleged attack on a female member of staff.
“She was so concerned she locked the door behind him to protect the staff because that’s the way Joeanne is, she always puts other people first,” the source says.
Joeanne Cassar, 55, had tried to keep her attacker out of the Centrelink building
Police swarmed the Centrelink in Airport West, Melbourne, on Tuesday
The source, who asked not to be identified, claimed Ms. Cassar was allegedly stabbed immediately after Chase returned.
“When he came back, Jo turned to ask for help and (allegedly) attacked her.”
It can be further revealed that Ms. Cassar has been struggling with her own personal health issues, having recently gone into remission for breast cancer.
Daily Mail Australia has been told Airport West Centrelink staff remain terrified.
“Everyone is just so scared and really don’t know what to do about it,” a source within Centrelink told the Daily Mail Australia.
The incident has reignited calls for greater protection for Centrelink staff.
Protective screens, similar to those in banks, were removed years ago to make staff appear “more approachable.”
Joeanne Cassar, 55, has been praised for her bravery in shutting out her alleged attacker
A former Centrelink employee, who declined to be named, said staff are now protected by a ‘panic button’.
“I saw someone rip a computer off his desk and throw it at his head once,” the ex-employee said.
“And the amount of angry people leaning over us and yelling in our faces because we wouldn’t give them an emergency payment was ridiculous and dangerous. But they wanted us to look nicer.’
The ex-employee claimed that Centrelink staff were reluctant to even push the panic buttons when threatened.
“No one uses them because the abuse is so widespread that they would click the button every day if they did it for every incident,” the former employee said.
“One day I was working next to a co-worker who was so scared of an abusive customer that she couldn’t even find the button she was vibrating so badly.”
Dramatic photos captured the scene on Tuesday, with Victoria police officers decked out in body armor swarming the area.
A 34-year-old man from Essendon has been arrested and is assisting police in their investigation into Tuesday’s horrific stabbing
Victorian police rushed to Centrelink Airport West after Ms Cassar was stabbed inside on Tuesday
Chase, from Essendon, has been charged with causing serious injury with intent, recklessly causing serious injury, reckless endangering of life, common law assault and use and possession of a controlled weapon.
He is due to appear in a Melbourne court on Wednesday on multiple unrelated charges, including breaching a community correction order.
Hank Jongen, general manager of Services Australia, described the attack as a “sad day” for the agency and staff.
“They should be free to do their job without worrying about their personal safety.”
Mr Jongen said Services Australia, which oversees Centrelink, is “supporting staff and customers” following the alleged attack.
“Our hearts are with the injured service officer and their loved ones. Fortunately, they are in a stable condition and receive the best possible care.’
Services Australia has not commented on the latest claims.
The agency has arranged social assistance for staff and customers who witnessed the incident.
“Our immediate priority is to support all of our staff affected by today’s incident, as well as our wider agency workforce serving Australians in every corner of the country,” said Mr. Jongen.