National Missing Persons Week

The month of August introduces a number of significant and overlapping community awareness issues, in particular last week’s National Missing Persons Week 31 July -7 August. SAcommunity contacted the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre and asked them to tell us more about their work in raising awareness of the number of Australians who are reported missing.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP), through its National Missing Persons Coordination Centre, launched National Missing Persons Week 2016 on Monday 1 August with the key message 'Missing persons leave frayed edges—Stay connected'. The message serves to remind the community of the importance of staying connected with family and friends, and encourages those at risk of going missing to use support services.

With more than 35,000 people in Australia reported missing to police each year, the focus for the week centred on drawing people’s attention to those in our community who are currently missing, and the broader impacts these disappearances have on those left behind. Behind every missing person there are family, friends, colleagues, and a community all desperate for answers.

Running from 31 July–6 August 2016, National Missing Persons Week included a launch event in Melbourne and a coordinated media campaign spanning a variety of mediums to engage the public on this important issue. Thanks to the support from our partners, missing persons’ profiles were featured across outdoor media platforms sourced and donated by Outdoor Media Association, included in the Chemist Warehouse House of Wellness catalogues, and displayed across McDonald’s restaurants digital community screens.

State and Territory Police, support and search agency services, and families of missing persons also organised events across the country to commemorate this important week.

In support of the week, and to help raise awareness of missing persons in Australia, the AFP is asking the public to view Australia’s national register of missing persons and visit the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre website at www.missingpersons.gov.au.

Anyone with information relating to a missing person is urged to contact their local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

~National Missing Persons Coordination Centre www.missingpersons.gov.au