Other Agencies |
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Who will help you?
There are many agencies that specialise in finding missing people. These agencies have national and international contacts. The people who work at these agencies understand how you feel. Some of them have actually experienced the trauma of someone they care about go missing. They want to help you. They all work as a team and work tirelessly to find each missing person.
The following agencies will help you:
The NSW Police Force Missing Persons Unit is highly respected and coordinates inquiries within Australia and overseas. NSW Police successfully locates 99% of all persons reported missing. They investigate every reported case.
The Salvation Army Missing Persons Bureau provides an international service that covers 92 countries. Their mission is to re-unite and reconcile family members.
The Australian Red Cross Tracing Unit undertakes to assemble and cross reference all available information about the missing person and thus help -re-establish family contact.
Other agencies such as the Family and Friends of Missing Persons can provide comfort and support to families. They've been there, they know how you feel.
Alzheimer’s Australia (NSW) is engaged in a joint project with the NSW Police Force called Safely Home.
Safely Home provides rapid and accurate identification and the safe return home of a person who has wandered. This person may have dementia or an intellectual or other disability.
When a person at risk of wandering is registered with Safely Home, they receive a stainless steel bracelet to wear at all times. This bracelet features a toll free telephone number and a personal identification number that is linked to the NSW Police Force Safely Home Database. This database is accessible to police 24 hours a day, 7 days per week and includes a detailed description of the person, contact information, previous residential addresses and likely locations that they may visit. All information on the database is confidential.
When someone finds a lost person registered with the Safely Home Program, they simply call the toll free number and quote the personal identification number on the bracelet. The police then make arrangements to ensure the lost person is returned home safely. Carers can also use Safely Home to instigate the search for a lost person by contacting their local police station and filing a Missing Persons Report. Police then use the Safely Home database to initiate their enquiries.
To obtain an information kit on the Safely Home Program, please telephone the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or visit the Alzheimer’s Australia website at www.alzheimers.org.au
If you find someone who is lost and appears to be suffering dementia or an intellectual or other disability, and they are not wearing a Safely Home Bracelet, please contact or attend the nearest police station, where police will assist to get the person home safely.
It is important for people to be aware that being reported missing is not a crime and that it is the aim of the New South Wales Police Force to ascertain if the missing person is safe and well.