A Centrelink worker stabbed in a bloody ambush in Airport West is planning to launch legal action against the welfare agency for failing to protect her.

Joeanne Cassar narrowly avoided death when a knife-wielding assailant attacked her inside the office on Tuesday afternoon.

The couple’s lawyer, Allanah Goodwin, from Arnold Thomas and Becker said Services Australia’s policy failure resulted in Ms Cassar being stabbed.

“This incident highlights the vulnerabilities of frontline workers and the risks they are exposed to everyday,” she said.