Lost contact
Losing contact with a family member or loved one can be distressing and confusing. It’s natural to worry, even when your loved one hasn’t been officially reported as missing to the police.
What is a missing person?
A missing person is someone whose whereabouts are unknown and whose disappearance raises genuine concern for their safety or wellbeing. According to the Australian Federal Police, a missing person is defined as:
“anyone who is reported missing to police, whose whereabouts are unknown, and where there are fears for the safety or concern for the welfare of that person.”
If you are concerned about a loved one’s safety or welfare, contact your local police and make a missing persons report.
When to report a person missing
If at any point you are concerned for their safety or suspect something may be wrong, contact your local police immediately and file a missing persons report.
What does ‘lost contact’ mean?
‘Lost contact’ or ‘separation’ means you haven’t been able to communicate with a family member for some time. This might be due to changed circumstances, choice, or other reasons. It’s not the same as a missing persons case, but it’s still painful and worrying.
What you can do if you’ve lost contact:
- Reach out to mutual contacts such as friends, neighbours, or other family members who may have recent information or a current phone number.
- Check social media for recent posts, comments, or messages that could indicate activity or general location.
- Search public records, including:
- ASIC registers to check for company or business involvement.
- ABN lookup to see if they have a registered business.
- Look at genealogy and ancestry websites. Platforms such as Ancestry.com can sometimes provide updated addresses or records, particularly if they have taken part in family history research.
- Consider hiring a licensed private investigator and make sure they are legitimate. Be cautious to avoid scams or privacy breaches.
- Contact the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in your state to see if a death has been registered. Only next of kin or authorised people can request this information.