Federal prosecutors have slugged Centrelink with a criminal charge after a banned customer allegedly almost stabbed a worker to death in Melbourne’s north.

Joeanne Cassar was left fighting for life after Essendon man Elijah Chase allegedly stabbed her in her lower back repeatedly, just missing her kidneys, inside the agency’s Airport West office on May 23 2023.

The near-fatal stabbing unfolded after Mr Chase was first barred from entering the office earlier that day.

He returned to the branch with a knife later that afternoon. It is understood that Ms Cassar tried to deny Mr Chase entry to the branch when he returned, but other staff members let him in.

Ms Cassar, who suffered lifelong injuries from the stabbing, said she knew a lack of safety measures were a major concern before the life-threatening attack.

Allanah Goodwin of Arnold Thomas & Becker, the firm representing the four Centrelink employees, said Ms Cassar could have died.

“Ms Cassar was stabbed as a result of Services Australia’s breach of federal work and safety laws,” she said.

“Ms Cassar narrowly avoided death when a knife-wielding assailant attacked her inside a Centrelink office.”

Services Australia adopted a risk management program to implement the review’s recommendations, committing $40m in late 2023 to the changes.

Ms Goodwin said she hoped the findings provided greater protection for frontline workers.