'We’re just normal people': 1000 police seek counseling after Bourke Street tragedy

More than 1000 Victorian police officers have reached out for counselling following the January 20, Bourke Street tragedy in Melbourne.

Six people were killed and dozens seriously injured when a driver allegedly mounted a Melbourne CBD footpath in a stolen Holden Commodore.

The shocking incident has taken a significant emotional toll, on not only witnesses and paramedics, but also members of the Victoria Police force, Assistant Commissioner Steve Fontana said on Thursday.

“This has had significant impact on those [police] members who attended the event on the night and have been involved in the investigation process," Assistant Commissioner Fontana told media.

"Over 1,000 have contacted our welfare seeking support, and we have spoken to about 600 of those members.

"We will continue to make follow-up inquiries.

“We’re just normal people. Whilst we are trained and skilled to conduct the job, it does have an impact on us.

“This was an exceptional event and it’s really had an impact across the organisation.”

Assistant Commissioner Fontana noted the tragedy had a "significant impact" victims and witnesses, including some people who were not ready to provide statements to police.

Over the next two days, a special team of 24 Victoria Police officers will work around the clock to follow up with 483 people who witnessed the horrifying event.

From Friday afternoon and through to Saturday, the officers will place phone calls to those who contacted police or Crime Stoppers with information regarding the incident and have not yet been contacted.

To date, 429 statements have already been taken by police.

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The extra resources, to come three weeks after the event, would be a mix of homicide detectives and other officers from the force, Assistant Commissioner Fontana said.

The charges against the accused killer driver Dimitrious "Jimmy" Gargasoulas, 27, would be consolidated and presented once all the statements were final.

“This event has affected many people right across the city, the state and in fact the country.

“We understand it has been a shocking thing for many ordinary people and for first responders to witness this type of event, and respond to this type of event, and we continue to provide ongoing support,” he said.

Thirty-three-year-old Melbourne finance consultant Bhavita Patel became the sixth victim of the attack after spending almost two weeks in a serious condition.

Matthew Si, 33, Jess Mudie, 22, Thalia Hakin, 10, 10-month-old Zachary Bryant, and an unnamed 25-year-old Japanese national also lost their lives as a result of the unprecedented attack.

Three people remain in hospital, including one in critical condition, and many others will receive ongoing treatment for their injuries sustained during the attack.

Dimitrious Gargasoulas has been charged with five counts of murder following the incident in addition to a slew of other pending charges including a likely sixth charge of murder.

Gargasoulas has been remanded in custody. He will appear in court in August and a committal hearing is listed for December 15.

Witnesses and those affected by the horrific event are encouraged to seek help from the Victim Support Line 1800 819 817, if they have not yet made contact.