smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
It's a must see destination.
It's a must see destination.
If you have been regularly communicating with a friend or family member travelling overseas and then for no apparent reason you lose contact it can be a very stressful and emotional experience.
In many cases Australian travellers simply forget to keep in contact with home as they are having such a wonderful time, or, because they are unable to access a telephone or the internet while in transit or staying in remote areas. Some Australians choose not to contact home as they do not want their location known.
If you are concerned about a person's whereabouts overseas or need to get in contact with them urgently, for example to advise them of a death in the family, this brochure offers some suggestions about the steps you can take.
If you become concerned about a person's whereabouts overseas you can:
Important things to remember when you begin trying to locate a person overseas:
If after making enquiries you are still unable to locate your loved one and have serious concerns for their safety and welfare, you can contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT's) Consular Emergency Centre from anywhere in Australia on 1300 555 135, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For us to be able to assist you we will require the missing person's full name, date of birth, passport number (if known), all their known travel plans and contact details overseas (including the names and contact details of employers and people they have been travelling with) and advice about the last contact they made. Gather as much information as possible before contacting the Department.
Depending on the information you provide, the Department may be able to assist in determining a person's whereabouts. The Department will only pursue enquiries that are based on a serious concern for the welfare of an Australian overseas and a belief that the person concerned needs consular assistance.
The Department may request that you complete a missing person's report at your nearest police station, or we may seek information from you to provide to the police. Australia's police services are committed to conducting thorough and extensive investigations where there are genuine concerns for a missing person.
If you have given the Department sufficient detail about the missing person we will contact Australian diplomatic missions overseas. Consular staff can then begin enquiries with local authorities, including the police. Privacy provisions operating in foreign countries can severely restrict the information provided to us by local law enforcement agencies. The Department and the police will work together to try and locate the missing person.
If the missing person contacts you, please inform the Department or the police immediately.
The Red Cross Tracing Service works in more than 180 countries to re-establish contact between relatives separated as a result of war, internal conflict or natural disaster. It is a service provided free of charge to the public. You can contact the Australian Red Cross Tracing Service by phoning 1800 246 850, or using the 'contact us' form on their website.
The Salvation Army Family Tracing Service operates a worldwide network for finding missing families. It accepts a donation for this work.
The International Social Service traces family members in conjunction with its social work. It requires a contribution towards its costs for this work.
The National Missing Persons Coordination Centre (NMPCC), is located with the Australian Federal Police in Canberra. The centre works with state and territory police services and community-based organisations to provide a coordinated approach to locating missing people in Australia and overseas. The centre's role in relation to Australian's missing overseas is to facilitate dissemination and distribution of information into the public domain via the NMPCC website. This is facilitated and supported by the state and territory police jurisdictions, and only with the permission of the family of the person listed as missing. Further information is available on Toll Free 1800 000 634.
Interpol is the world's largest international police organisation, with 186 member countries, and facilitates cross-border police co-operation. Its role is to ensure and promote the widest possible communication between all police authorities within the limits of the laws of the countries, and in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. At the request of police agencies and other judicial authorities, Interpol Canberra can request the issue of Interpol International notices. A Yellow Notice is the appropriate colour-code for missing persons.
Interpol facilitates cross-border police cooperation and only responds to enquiries received from state and territory police jurisdictions. Interpol does not receive or action enquiries from the general community.
Any person who receives assistance from Australian consular officials overseas has the right to privacy as an Australian citizen protected by the Privacy Act 1988.
Unless consular officers receive the person's consent (obtained in writing where possible) they are unable to disclose personal information about them, even to their next-of-kin, unless it becomes a requirement under Australian law, or a judgement is made, that the life or health of the person or another person is being threatened. Family members should be aware that if a missing person is located by a consular officer but decides they do not wish for anyone to be notified, the consular official cannot pass on personal information.
Before any of your family members leave Australia, encourage them to:
We would also recommend that family members make the following preparations prior to departure to save you needless worry while they are overseas: