Most people reported as missing are found safe and well, with almost half found within 48 hours. However, there are people who are still missing many years after they were reported missing.
Seeking information about a missing person
Crime Stoppers Victoria
Crime Stoppers Victoria works closely with Victoria Police to provide valuable information to help solve crime, relying on a close partnership with the community to make this happen. It also plays a significant role supporting Australians in times of crisis, helping identify missing persons and gather community intelligence. Crime Stoppers Victoria works with the Victorian Government, Federal Government, Victoria Police and other non-for-profit organisations in developing and delivering crime detection campaigns, including prevention and education programs on topics such as youth violence.
If you:
- know where a person is and who has been reported as missing
- have information about a missing person
- have information relating to the disappearance of a missing person
- have seen a missing person
Please contact:
- Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or
- your local police station.
All information will be treated as confidential.
After you have provided Crime Stoppers with missing person information via their online Report Crime Information process, it is checked over by Crime Stoppers operators to make sure nothing can identify you. The information is then passed across to the relevant Victoria Police Criminal Investigation Unit to investigate. All of the information that you provide to Crime Stoppers remains confidential.
Police need to physically sight a missing person to confirm the bona fides of the person. Police will not divulge the missing person's whereabouts to relatives and friends, without their consent.
To provide information about a missing person, visit Crime Stoppers Victoria(opens in a new window).
Victoria Police information and resources
Authority for Media Release information or image of missing person - form authorising Victoria Police to release information and/or images of a missing person to media outlets to assist in locating that person:
Reporting a Missing Person is a brochure translated in 27 languages for culturally and linguistically diverse communities with information on how to report a missing person:
Easy English Guide – How to Report a Missing Person is a resource guide on how to report a missing person to assist people who may have difficulty reading or understanding English or who may have cognitive or intellectual disabilities:
Find my local police station – telephone and address details for all police stations located in Victoria can be found on the find my local police station page, to assist in locating your nearest police stations to file a missing persons report.
Media Guide for Families and Friends provides information about media behaviour and expectations to assist family and friends during difficult times:
Victoria Police – Rewards announced by Victoria Police for information that leads to a conviction surrounding the suspicious disappearance, death or murder of a person which has yet to be solved.
Government agencies
Australian Federal Police coordinates Missing Persons in Australia. It creates public awareness while reducing the impact of missing persons within the community.
Consular Emergency Centre (CEC) provides emergency consular services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, around the world.
Coroners Court of Victoria understands the impact coronial investigations may have on family and friends. The Coroners Court offers experienced staff who can provide assistance during this difficult time and referral information and advice for external counselling and support agencies who can assist with grief and loss experiences.
Crime Stoppers Victoria is a charitable organisation, and can be contacted anonymously day or night with any information about a crime, wanted person or missing person connected to a crime.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) may be able to help if an Australian has gone missing overseas. It can only help if other methods of contact, including police, have been unsuccessful and there is reason to be concerned for the person’s safety and welfare.
Department of Health Victoria assesses mental health services of all Adult, Aged Child and Disability Mental Health Services Areas in Victoria.
Department of Families, Fairness and Housing supports Victorians in need to build better lives and achieve their potential. The department takes a whole-of-government and whole-of-community approach, working with community services sector partners to provide housing and community services for individuals and families to help them get their lives back on track.
Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria provides victims support services that assist families of missing persons and victims of crime in what is a very stressful and traumatic time.
Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) – each Interpol member country maintains a National Central Bureau linking national police with their global network.
Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT) is established by legislation to provide financial assistance to victims of violent crime committed in Victoria. VOCAT assists victims to recover from a crime by providing financial assistance for expenses incurred, or reasonably likely to be incurred, as a direct result of the crime.
Victims of Crime Helpline 1800 819 817 is the official Victorian Government Helpline for people affected by crime. Get free information and support to help you manage the effects of crime and guide you through the legal process.
There are a range of support services and counselling providers which assist missing persons, families, and friends of missing persons in times of need, either during the disappearance of a loved one or after they have been located. Information includes:
- professional services
- getting help
- how and what you can do to help
- the risks of suicide
- what to do if a dementia sufferer goes missing
- working with the media
People who intentionally go missing often do so to escape or remove themselves from uncomfortable or unpleasant situations. In this case, people generally lack the support they require to manage their situation and may feel that going missing is their only option. Improving community support is key to reducing the incident and impacts of missing persons.
Support services
A range of support services are available in our community where people can go to for help. Do not hesitate to contact professional help if ongoing support is needed whilst a loved one is missing. Contact your doctor, counsellor, therapist or community health centre for advice. If a loved one is located and returns home, family and friends may consider professional counselling, mediation or reconciliation to help prevent the situation reoccurring.
Dementia Australia
Dementia Australia 1800 100 500 provides information and support services across Australia for people with dementia, their carers, families and friends, and for the wider community concerned about memory loss.
Dementia Centre
The Dementia Centre provides a diverse range of services through an informed and dedicated team. The Dementia Centre believes it is possible to make a significant difference to effective care through consultancy, design advice and enforcement, and customised training.
Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement Counselling and Support Service
This service provides a statewide specialist bereavement service for individuals, children and families who need assistance following the death of someone close to them. The service offers face-to-face bereavement counselling most of which is office-based, as well as bereavement support programs such as support groups, information resources and remembrance events.
Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC)
Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) conducts inquiries, also known as references, into areas of law at the request of the Attorney-General of Australia. Based on its research and consultations throughout an inquiry, the ALRC makes recommendations to government so that government can make informed decisions about law reform. ALRC recommendations do not automatically become law, however over 85 per cent of ALRC reports have been either substantially or partially implemented – making it one of the most effective and influential agents for legal reform in Australia.
Australian Missing Persons Register
Australian Missing Persons Register raises awareness and provides information about missing persons from every state and territory in Australia.
Anglicare Victoria
Anglicare Victoria provides a specialised loss and grief counselling service for people of all ages who are bereaved or experiencing other types of loss. Fees are structured to ensure everyone is able to access counselling support.
Beyond Blue
Beyond Blue is a national, independent, non-for-profit organisation working to address issues associated with depression, anxiety and related disorders in Australia. Beyond Blue is a bipartisan initiative of the Australian, state and territory governments with the key goal to promote good health, raise community awareness in reducing the stigma and discrimination of such illnesses, and provides support and information on anxiety, depression and suicide.
Connections Uniting Care
Connections Uniting Care offers a broad range of support programs and services to help families, children, individuals and young people in need that live in south-east Melbourne, and who seek to create opportunities and build resilience to break the cycle of disadvantaged and vulnerability through collaboration.
Headspace Australia
Headspace Australia is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12 to 25 year olds. The service is designed to make it easy as possible for a young person and their family to get the help they need for problems affecting their wellbeing, such as, mental health, physical health, work and study support, alcohol and other drug services.
International Social Service (ISS)
International Social Service (ISS) provides social work and legal services to families, children and adults across international borders. Services include family tracing and reunification, international family mediation, kinship care and other child welfare matters, and assistance for families experiencing international parental child abduction.
Language Loop
If English is not your first language, and you require the services of an interpreter, police can arrange for a professional telephone interpreter to assist you when liaising with police and when making a ‘missing persons report’ at the local police station. This is a free service.
The telephone interpreter can also help you to understand particular expressions the police may use. An onsite (face-to-face) professional interpreter can also be provided if required, however, this is a pre-arranged service at a date and time suitable to all parties being the police, interpreter and person making the report.
Language Loop provides professional interpreting and translating services for business and government as well as personal document translation for individuals.
Kids Helpline
Kids Helpline is a free 24-hour counselling service for kids and young people aged 5 to 25 years, and provides help over the phone or online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Australia wide.
Leave A Light On Inc | Facebook
Leave A Light On Inc | Facebook is a national organisation focused on raising awareness of all missing persons in Australia and shows support to families and friends of missing loved ones by asking community to never forget.
Lifeline Australia
Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14 is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
Link-Up Victoria
Link-Up Victoria supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 18, who were adopted, placed in foster care or institutionalised to find and be reunited with their family, traditional culture and country. Link-Up Victoria also supports those who are looking for family who were adopted, fostered or placed in institutions. Among its services are family research, family tracing, reunions, group healing programs and activities.
Missing Persons Advocacy Network (MPAN)
Missing Persons Advocacy Network (MPAN) creates awareness for missing persons and offers practical support and advice for those left behind. MPAN have developed an online guide of what to do when someone goes missing, and tries to establish corporate partnerships in order to increase visibility of the issue whilst lessening the financial impact on those searching.
Reach Out
Reach Out provides practical tools and support to help young people get through everything from everyday issues to tough times, and work with young people and experts to deliver mental health services online.
Red Cross - Find my Family
Red Cross – Find My Family is part of the International Red Cross Red Crescent global tracing network, which aims to help people find family and re-establish contact between separated and long lost family members and clarify the fate of the missing.
Relationships Australia
Relationships Australia is a leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities, and aims to support all people in Australia to achieve positive and respectful relationships.
SANE Australia
SANE Australia provides information about mental health and illness, including treatments, support, and how you can help yourself.
Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA)
Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) provides national leadership for the suicide prevention sector in Australia. SPA works collaboratively to develop a community that knows how to ask for help and how to give help.
Victims Assistance Program (VAP)
To assist families of missing persons, Victoria Police work together with the Department of Justice and Regulation to enhance access to support, such as the Victims Assistance Program (VAP). VAP services are located in the community and also collocate at some police stations across Victoria. Case Managers provide services that assist families of missing persons and victims of crime during what is a very stressful and traumatic time, while police focus on the investigation.
Support Services can be accessed by calling the Victims of Crime Helpline on 1800 819 817 8am-11pm 7 days a week, or by asking the investigating officer to make a referral for you.
Victims of Crime
Victims of Crime, the Victorian Government service offers free information, advice and support for you and your family, and referral to victims of crime. Contacting the helpline is the first step to receiving a range of free services to help you manage the effects of crime.
Victims of Crime Compensation and Counselling Services (VOCCS)
Victims of Crime Compensation and Counselling Services (VOCCS) is a private entity providing referral services to experienced solicitors and psychologists specialising in crime compensation. VOCCS helps facilitate state government funded entitlements to victims of crime and has successfully assisted in over 10,000 crime compensation applications in Melbourne Victoria and Australia.
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