Prevention tools
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Take steps to ensure the safety of your loved one with these prevention tools

Not all missing person cases can be prevented, however, there are some strategies you can use to help minimise the risk of going missing, or having a loved one go missing.

Preventative action can be taken at all levels within our community - by families, friends, agencies, government policy-makers, media, and missing people themselves.

The key to prevention is enhancing individual resilience and resourcefulness, strengthening family and community networks, and using existing tools to stay connected and be safe.

  • Safe & Found (in partnership with Medic Alert) supports people living with dementia, autism or a cognitive impairment who may be at risk of becoming lost or reported as missing, by ensuring police have immediate access to critical information to assist when undertaking search operations.

    A detailed profile outlining personal history and characteristics is completed ahead of time, and kept securely along with a recent photo, on the Safe & Found database for police to access immediately if the individual goes missing.

    A Safe & Found membership includes an ID bracelet engraved with an emergency contact phone number and Safe & Found membership number, giving police access to the profile and photo via the secure database should the individual be found lost or disoriented.
     

    The Safe & Found Program is currently available in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and is scheduled for release in Queensland, early 2025.
     

  • Mobile phones have settings or personal safety apps which can allow you to save and share your emergency information with emergency services or your emergency contacts.

    Some devices have the option to save medical or emergency contact information that can be accessed from the lock screen of your phone.

    Mobile phone Emergency Location Service

    In your phone settings, there is an option to use the Emergency Location Service (ELS) when you call or text an emergency number. 

    If your phone has ELS turned on, ELS may use Google Location Services and other info to determine the most accurate location for your phone during an emergency call. After you complete a call or text during which ELS was active, emergency response services receive this data. ELS may also send extra info, for example, the language your device is set up with.

    Sharing location data with emergency contacts

    Activating the location service on your mobile phone, smart watch or linked devices, allows Google to track and record your movements. Via your Google account, you can grant permission to a friend or family member to have access to your location data. Your friend or family member can then provide your phone location data to emergency services. 

  • Personal locator beacons (PLB)

    Personal locator beacons are small and easy to transport devices, designed to be worn or carried by individuals when hiking or camping in remote areas where mobile reception is limited. When you activate your PLB, it will transmit a signal that is detected by the international search and rescue satellite system. Emergency services can also detect the signal from your beacon and hone their search and rescue efforts accordingly.

    Not all PLBs are created equal, so do your research.


    Personal safety GPS trackers

    A personal GPS tracker is a device that can be worn (pendant or watch) or kept in a pocket or bag (token or keyring) which tracks GPS location. Personal GPS trackers can include a number of features including, fall detection, SOS button, 2-way communication, emergency contact speed dial, automatic notifications and setting of established safety zones.

  • Daniel Morcombe Foundation 'Help Me' app:

    The ‘Help Me’ app is to assist people of all ages in emergency situations. The main feature, the ‘Help Me’ button, sounds a warning and allows the user to send an SMS text to two nominated ‘safety’ numbers, as part of your trusted Safety Network. Included in the texts are the GPS coordinates from where the text was sent so the sender can be located, or a last known place of contact is known.

    The app also includes a quick reference guide to assistance numbers in an emergency.

  • When travelling overseas there are a few things you can do to help prevent yourself from being reported missing, or make it easier to find you should anything happen.

    • Register your travel and contact details with Smartraveller.gov.au.
    • Leave a copy of your travel plans with family or friends, and let them know if it changes. Include passport, tickets, destinations and contact numbers. You may also want to provide details of fellow travelling companions.
    • When informing the bank of your overseas travel, consider giving a nominated person access to your account information. In the event that you are uncontactable bank details can provide a record of possible actions.
    • Arrange options for staying in touch with family and friends while overseas (mobile phone, prepaid or postpaid international calling card, SMS, social media, email etc.).
    • Give your family and friends an indication of how often they will hear from you, and stick to your word.
    • Be conscious of your own safety and security while travelling. Review the travel advice on the Smart Traveller website prior to your trip and subscribe to travel advice updates for the countries you are visiting to keep you informed of any changes leading up to and during your travel.

    The Smart Traveller website operated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has more information about overseas travel precautions and safety tips.