Help for families and friends of missing people
An Australian first information and advice package designed to assist people who are searching for a missing relative or friend will be launched to mark the start of this year's National Missing Persons Week (August 1-7).
'Search Options and Support: A guide for the families and friends of missing people' (S.O.S. Guide) has been prepared by the National Missing Persons Unit (NMPU) in consultation with police, families and friends of missing people and tracing organisations from around the country.
The Guide will be launched by the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator, The Hon. Amanda Vanstone, at the launch of National Missing Persons Week, Monday, August 2, 7.30am at Parliament House, Canberra.
Leading technology company, Sun Microsystems, is sponsoring National Missing Persons Week and funding production of the S.O.S. Guide and other public education material. It is also supplying the NMPU with powerful networking technology to help in the search for Australia's missing people.
'The impact of a friend or family member going missing is enormous,' Senator Vanstone said. 'I congratulate the NMPU for its work, in conjunction with Sun Microsystems, in developing the S.O.S. Guide. It will be a valuable tool for anyone affected by the trauma of someone going missing.'
The Guide features practical information about all stages of the search process, a contact list of support services, a journal and personal record section and a poster template to help prepare public displays. A condensed brochure version of the Guide has also been produced.
The NMPU's Coordinator, Ms Carol Kiernan, said families and friends of missing people can play a significant role in the search and location process but often don't know where to start.
'Research by the NMPU has found that the vast majority of missing peoples' families and friends want to be actively involved in searching,' Ms Kiernan said. 'However, they often feel powerless and are unsure of what they can do to help investigators.
'The S.O.S. Guide provides both factual and encouraging information to help people work in cooperation with police and tracing organisations. It has also been designed to ensure families and friends understand they don't just have to sit by the phone and wait for news. Their networks may provide the key to locating the missing person.'
The S.O.S. Guide will be available to people when they make a missing person report at a police station or provide details to a tracing organisation. It is also available by phoning the NMPU's toll free number 1800 000 634.
Ms Kiernan said the initiative is a direct result of key recommendations made in the NMPU's research report, 'Missing People: Issues for the Australian Community,' launched last year during National Missing Persons Week.
The study was the first of its kind to assess the social, economic and health impacts on individuals and the community when someone goes missing. Close to 300 families and friends of missing people and 90 organisations were interviewed for the study. In 34 per cent of cases studied for the report, searching by families and friends located the missing person.
In following through on the report's 18 recommendations, the NMPU invited representatives of families, police and tracing organisations to a workshop earlier this year to obtain their input for preparing the S.O.S. Guide.
'The first hand experiences of families and the expertise and skills of police and tracing organisations have been combined to ensure the Guide addresses a wide range of needs,' Ms Kiernan said.
'It is hoped the Guide will also contribute to increasing the location rates as families become more aware of the important role they can play in the search process.'
Each year in Australia some 30,000 people are reported missing to police and tracing organisations such as the Australian Red Cross, The Salvation Army and the International Social Service. Of the 28,500 people reported missing to police, 99.5 per cent are located. Many are found within hours, 85 per cent are located within a week and 95 per cent within a month.
National Missing Persons Week is an annual event coordinated by the NMPU in conjunction with police, the Australian Red Cross, The Salvation Army, the International Social Service and other community organisations. The Week aims to raise public awareness about Australia's missing people and associated issues.