Professor Pat Dudgeon, Director of the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention (CBPATSISP) at the University of Western Australia, has expressed deep concern for the impact of the January 26 attack on the wellbeing of Indigenous people.

At the Invasion Day rally in Boorloo/Perth a bomb containing nails, ball bearings and chemicals was thrown into the peaceful crowd of around 2,500 people. The bomb did not explode. A 31-year-old man has been charged with offences, including committing an act of terrorism, and will next face court on February 17. A suppression order on his identity is in place.

"We welcome the news that the incident has been charged as a terrorist attack. However, the fact remains, many First Nations people now feel unsafe," Professor Dudgeon said.

"We don't yet fully understand the future psychological consequences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of being physically threatened in this way, following after the devastating rejection of the referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament and on top of the systemic racism we already experience."

Tegan Schefe, Consultant at CBPATSISP, noted that attending Invasion Day rallies "already requires emotional and cultural strength — there is an underlying awareness shaped by generations of racism".

"Being visibly Aboriginal, standing in truth-telling spaces, often comes with fear for personal safety," she said.

"I did not attend any events on January 26 because of the idea that an attempted attack of some kind might occur.

"With already having anxious feelings about being in public spaces since the referendum, I chose to stay home and not put myself in any harm both physically and mentally."

A Senate motion moved by Lidia Thorpe condemning the attack and acknowledging the harm it caused to the First Nations community was passed on Tuesday.

On Thursday, WA Premier Roger Cook announced the WA joint counter-terrorism team had determined the incident should be charged as a terrorist act.

Professor Dudgeon, a proud Bardi woman from WA's Kimberley region, and the wider team at the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention said the response "from media and politicians in the days following the attempted bombing was slow and mild".

"It is hard to not see this as a symptom of the racism against First Nations peoples which has increased and flourished in some parts of Australia in recent years," a joint statement read.

"The response from governments, the media, and wider Australia should have been immediate and expressed in the strongest possible terms.

"We call on all Australians to stand in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and ask that a full investigation be conducted and firm action taken to address threats of violence against Indigenous peoples and communities.

"We remind the public and media outlets of the importance of responsible and culturally respectful reporting when it comes to issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities."