The violent attack on a Sydney couple has sparked anger from the Chinese community, with nearly 30,000 people signed a petition urging the NSW government to “urgently reform youth criminal justice”.

A 42-year-old man from China and a 40-year-old man were allegedly attacked by seven children in Eastgardens, Sydney on May 22. The woman left extensive bruises on her body, fractured fingers and impaired vision.

The group was between 12 and 16 years old in the days after the alleged attack - arrested and police have charged six people with assault.

A petition was just signed Friday morning to reduce the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 10 "serious violent crimes" and to "reject repeated bail for violent youth offenders". The age of responsibility is 10 years old in New South Wales.

Ami, who requested a name change, has signed a petition. She told Guardian Australia that she was attacked while riding her bike through Redfern in May, but said she “didn’t believe that sending a child to an adult prison is the right solution”.

Erin Chew, co-founder of the Asian-Australian Alliance, which monitors anti-China incidents, said personal safety is important to the community and is affecting its response to the crime.

“I think as Asians, we are taught to have more over-maintenance,” Joe said.

"When we go to countries like Australia, the United States, or Canada... we are a visible minority. So, in that sense, we are actually the target of a lot of opportunities."

Joe said the so-called Eastgarden attack “may not necessarily direct racism.”

“Many of us are Chinese or Asian, knowing that due to racial stereotypes… you are considered weak, gentle and… no one to fight back.”

"Racism does not need to be proven to be true in people's lives in court" and advocates addressing the root causes of youth crime: "poverty, deprivation, deprivation and trauma to young people and their families," said Jason Yat-Sen Li, a Chinese MP, in a speech at the NSW Parliament on Wednesday, and said.

The Chinese-speaking community in Australia has posted information on their experiences to social media and provides advice on how to fight back.

Some have posted images of batons, rolling pins and even electric deselected as weapons for self-defense.

NSW police warned people not to take the law into their own hands.

Police said in a statement that they “do not support vigilant behavior because it is a risk to all participants and often leads to unexpected consequences.”

Others have taken different approaches, such as Keira Yin, 32, who set up a common defensive group chat for Chatswood residents in northern Sydney to “stand up” and “avoid dumb men.”

“The idea is that if something happens, people nearby can react quickly and help each other.”

Meanwhile, Neo Xia, 25, was allegedly attacked in April at Box Hill in eastern Melbourne. He said a teenager with a machete allegedly attacked him, causing injuries to his hands and arms. Police confirmed that a 14-year-old boy was arrested and charged for causing injury and illegal assault and was released on bail before appearing in court.

“When it happened, I wasn’t scared, more like anger,” Xia said. “I still felt a little unsafe when I walked to the station… Plus, I was particularly nervous when Australian teens approached me.”

Community advocacy groups say racism is rising after the economy declines after the height of the pandemic.

The Asian Australian Alliance said that common abuse has become “more about people told to return to China, or people accused of being spies”.

Simon Chan, chairman of the China-Australia Forum and a member of the Australian Multicultural Council, said in a statement in response to the Eastgardens attack that politicians’ rhetoric around Chinese spies reduced social cohesion.

“Our political leaders should take role models as examples to maintain…Australia is the best multicultural country in the world.”

Six children charged with alleged Eastgarden attacks were released on conditional bail and are scheduled to appear in Children's Court in June.

NSW Prime Minister Chris Minns faces internal objection before expanding the controversial youth bail law in late March, with a MP telling the caucus that the reforms have put the government on a "slimming slope".

On Tuesday, the Chief Justice of New South Wales issued a rare statement after criticizing criticism of bail, rather than putting the alleged offender in jail.

He said the Bail Act is intended to impress “a balance of dealing with people accused of committing crimes but not yet convicted of any crime” while also protecting the community.

The NSW government recently announced that it is reviewing centuries-old legal assumptions that children aged 10 to 14 don’t understand the difference between right and wrong.

The age of responsibility for crime is 10 years old, but Latin (Latin “powerless”) can apply for up to 14.

Camilla Pandolfini, CEO of Redfern Law Center, criticized youth advocates.

- Other reports by Jordyn Beazley