A young man took his own life at NABWitnesses, whistleblowers have now spoken outIf you need support, contact Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 Do you know more? Email charlotte.karp@dailymail.com.au
A NAB worker who took his own life by plunging from the Big Four bank’s skyscraper rooftop was a ‘highly employable’ single man in his 20s who used to work at a rival bank.
The staff member, who worked in NAB’s internal fraud operation team and has not been publicly identified, fell from the 14th floor of one of the company’s two office blocks in Docklands after 2pm on Thursday.
The Daily Mail understands the bank has launched an internal investigation into the death and just how it came about – with one avenue of inquiry said to be about the height of glass barricades on the building’s roof.
The probe comes amid growing controversy within the bank itself about the company’s culture, with NAB holding a crisis meeting about the tragedy that all employees were invited to attend.
A whistleblower has also come forward with scathing criticism of the company’s culture.
The worker’s colleagues have now spoken out about the situation, with one saying the employee had AI skills and transferred over to NAB from rival Westpac about 12 months ago.
One traumatised witness said they were on the rooftop about half an hour prior to the incident, before leaving the building for lunch.
They said there are barriers around the edge of the lunch area on the roof.
A NAB employee took his own life at company headquarters in Melbourne on Thursday (scene pictured)
NAB’s docklands building has 14 floors, with a garden lunch area on the roof and a transparent barrier around the outside (pictured)
‘As we were walking back we looked up and watched the entire thing,’ they said.
‘It happened too fast I couldn’t think fast enough to look away, and it happened so slowly I felt like I was stuck in place.’
They were traumatised after watching the man land on the pavement.
‘I was eating a dumpling when I watched what happen happen. I feel pretty ill about it,’ they said.
A third worker said they don’t want to set foot inside the building again.
NAB has offered significant mental health support for employees, with the witness saying they felt ‘well looked after’.
‘I definitely feel well looked after, have counselling and hotlines we can utilise to discuss this event or any other work or personal issue,’ they said.
‘I just feel like this location is now really tainted because what happened has shaken everyone and it was so public.’
NAB’s Docklands building (pictured) was designed to ‘bolster employees’ health and well-being’
The man plunged from the 14th floor at 700 Bourke Street. Pictured: A lunch area on the 14th storey of NAB’s Docklands building
It comes after a whistleblower told the Daily Mail there have been other self-harm incidents within the Docklands building.
They said there were ‘deeper and systemic issues at NAB that require attention, and that ‘triggering’ photos had been shared by employees on Microsoft Teams.
A NAB spokesperson has declined to comment on the suicide, the whistleblower’s claims, and would not say whether there would be safety changes to the barrier around the rooftop.
Victoria Police confirmed it responded to the incident in the CBD on Thursday afternoon.
‘Police will prepare a report for the coroner following the death of a man in Docklands on March 5,’ a police statement read.
‘The body of a man, who is yet to be formally identified, was located on Bourke Street about 2pm.’
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
If this has raised any issues for you, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 for confidential crisis support
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Anger, grief and finger-pointing at NAB after ‘AI-skilled’ worker’s skyscraper suicide: As questions mount about Big Four bank, staff cry: I never want to step foot in there again