The father of the youngest victim in the Bondi terror attack has expressed support for a newly established institute aimed at enhancing pediatric care during mass casualty incidents. Michael Britvan’s ten-year-old daughter, Matilda, was among the 15 people killed in the December attack. He emphasized the importance of using lessons learned to strengthen the healthcare system for children.

The New South Wales government announced on Thursday it would provide ongoing funding to the institute following an initial grant of $500,000. The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation will also contribute continuous financial support to the facility. The foundation is known for organizing high-profile fundraising events that attract prominent figures across Sydney.

Kristina Keneally, CEO of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation and former NSW premier and senator, described the institute as a “proactive and visionary commitment” driven by clinicians who responded to the Bondi attack. She noted that foundation supporters have expressed a strong desire to contribute to improving outcomes for children across the state.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed that the institute’s initial funding was only the beginning. He highlighted the opportunity to leverage advanced surgical and clinical expertise locally and extend those capabilities throughout hospitals across NSW. “For me, this is one of the most important things I’ll do,” Park said, underscoring the initiative’s significance.

According to reporting earlier this week, clinicians involved in the response to the Bondi attack, including Dr Guy Henry—who led the surgical team attempting to save Matilda—prompted government action. Within hours of the attack, they approached Minister Park to advocate for improvements in mass trauma response.

Dr Henry stressed that the new institute will help prepare clinicians across the state to manage mass casualty events more effectively. He referenced health services in the United Kingdom that had conducted simulation training shortly before the 2017 Manchester bombing, allowing them to apply lessons learned in real time. “We want to be able to continue to refine what we do to improve what we can do for the children,” Dr Henry said.

The institute aims to build on the experience gained from the Bondi attack to improve future preparedness and clinical outcomes for pediatric patients in large-scale emergencies.