Missing Persons in Australia
Missing Persons in Australia provides a framework to further improve policies and practices aimed at reducing the incidence of missing persons and the provision of services, ensuring there is a coordinated, cross-sectoral and effective approach. The focus of the research was the national missing persons sector as a whole, and included the police and non government search agencies.
The research was co-funded by the NMPCC (through the Australian Federal Police) and the Attorney General's Department of NSW.
The specific objectives of the research were to:
- update existing data on missing persons in Australia with the view to identifying 'at-risk' groups.
- identify good practice in relation to preventative measures, intervention, support services and referral mechanisms.
- develop a more networked approach to policy and practice.
- identify and establish a solid base for future research.
Research was undertaken between July 2006 and December 2007 and comprised of:
- a review of Australian and overseas research and related literature
- the compilation of national data from police services across Australia, The Salvation Army Family Tracing Service and the Australian Red Cross Tracing Service for 2005- 06
- consultations with key stakeholders, an online questionnaire, face-to-face interviews with representatives of 23 organisations in six jurisdictions, and a questionnaire for families of missing persons, and
- a national roundtable that included Steering Committee members, representatives from police, search services and academics.
The research provided updated statistics and identified key priorities for the future.