When someone is missing those who are left behind may need to access support, be it practical or emotional, from a variety of individuals or agencies.

The following agencies have been categorised to assist you in navigating to those which you may require. If you are unsure what would be most useful please contact the FFMPU Counsellor to discuss your individual needs.

Missing Persons Sector

Counselling Services - General and specific

Children and Young People

Older People and People with a disability

Mental Health

Alcohol and Other Drugs

Gay and Lesbian Support

Coronial Information and Support

Victims of Crime

Missing Persons Sector

Search and Tracing Agencies - For information about search and tracing organisations go to the Search Agencies page.

At this time FFMPU remains the only identified support service responding to the needs of those left behind. NMPCC is currently developing a support model to address the needs of those families of missing people in other states and territories.

Missing Persons Committee NSW Inc – MPC is an advocacy and lobby group for families and friends of missing persons; the committee endeavours to raise community awareness through an understanding of issues facing families and friends of missing persons.
Contact is through the current Secretary at PO Box 414, CONCORD WEST NSW 2138.

Someone is Missing - This website (which is currently being updated) is hosted by the Mental Health Association of NSW to address the emotional and mental health needs of families and friends of missing persons.

Counselling Services - General and Specific

Families and Friends of Missing Persons Unit NSW has a designated counselling and support service specifically for families and friends of missing persons currently residing in NSW or where the missing person was last seen in NSW. The FFMPU Counselling Service can be contacted on (02) 8688 5423 or Freecall 1800 227772 or email ffmpu@agd.nsw.gov.au.

Generalist counselling services - Currently only a few counsellors specialise in the issues affecting families and friends of missing persons. Some counsellors specialise in grief and/or trauma, however this doesn’t necessarily mean that they understand the particular concerns around unresolved or ambiguous loss. If you find a counsellor you get along with and would like them to know more about the issues surrounding missing persons, suggest that they contact the FFMPU or they can download the national counselling framework 'Supporting those who are left behind'.

Individual, family or relationship counselling and mediation services are provided by a range of organisations such as Community Health Centres, Relationships Australia, Unifam, Centacare, Anglicare, Adolescent and Family Counselling Services etc. Local councils are a good place to ask about what services are available in your local area. If contacting a non-Government service or private practitioner you will also need to ask about the fees charged for the services provided.

Counselling available through GP referral - Medicare can partly cover fees for up to 12 sessions per year with a psychologist or mental health social worker for specific counselling needs. You can discuss this option with your G.P. who is required to conduct a detailed assessment before making a referral.

Australian Psychological Society - This is the Australian professional body for psychologists. The organisation is able to provide referral information to a psychologist in your area. Psychologists can help you cope with difficult feelings and situations and address problems such as depression or anxiety. Freecall: 1800 333 497

Lifeline provides 24-hour telephone support offering counselling and referral information. Some face-to-face counselling is also available, mainly in rural areas of NSW. The Lifeline website also has some service directories that can assist in finding help in your local area. Tel: 13 11 14

NALAG (National Association of Loss and Grief) - Provides information about coping with grief and referral to counsellors. Tel: (02) 6882 9222

Salvo Care Line is a 24 hour telephone counselling service run by the Salvation Army. Phone (02) 9331 6000 (Sydney Metro) or 1300 36 36 22 (Outside Sydney). For more information about counselling services offered by the Salvation Army visit the Salvation Army website.

Children and Young People

NMPCC research indicates that 20000 young people are reported missing every year in Australia. For information relating to young people who may be at risk of missing refer to the factsheets available on the NMPCC site.

Talking Works is a website designed with the assistance of the NSW Missing Persons Committee Inc. The site aims to raise awareness about the over representation of young people who are missing.

Commonwealth Attorney General's Department - International Child Abduction – a webpage to assist people when a child is abducted across international borders.

Family Court - Missing Children -The Family Court of Australia has a website which lists a number of missing children. For missing children to be listed on this site a judicial officer must have made an order permitting names and photographs to be released to the public in an effort to help find the child.

Kids Help Line Trained counsellors provide a 24-hour confidential and anonymous telephone counselling service to those aged 5 to 18 years. Freecall:1800 551 800

NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS) – promotes the safety and wellbeing of children and young people and works to build stronger families and communities. DoCS provides child protection services, parenting support and early intervention, out-of-home care, adoption services and help for communities affected by disaster.

Reach Out website has a number of fact sheets for young people relating to issues that may affect them. Users can also subscribe to a monthly newsletter.

In 2006 the Koori Centre at University of NSW, funded by the FFMPU, conducted a mapping exercise to identify services for Young Aboriginal females. The Database of Services identified by the Koori Centre are divided into 12 regions and relate to issues affecting young Aboriginal women.

Twenty10 GLBT Youth Support is a community based, non-profit, statewide organisation. Their mission is to provide and promote opportunities, choices and support to young people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, same sex attracted or gender questioning, their families and communities. Twenty 10 can provide parents, carers and families with practical support, information and referrals, mediation and family therapy or counselling. Contact the Support Line on
Tel: 02 8594 9555 or 1800 65 2010 (outside Sydney) email info@twenty10.org.au

Youth Accommodation Association provides a 24-hour phone listing of accommodation services and assistance with placement into youth accommodation. Office phone: (02) 9698 5833.

Youth NSW - is the NSW Government's website for young people and workers in the youth sector

Older people and people with a disability

Research indicates that people aged over 65 are at significant risk of going missing. Missing is often referred to as 'wandering' within these communities.

Alzheimer’s Australia is the national peak body for people living with dementia, their families and carers and provides leadership in policy and services. State and Territory organisations provide information, support, advocacy, and education services. The NSW division can be contacted by clicking here.

Safely Home is a joint project of Alzheimer’s Australia NSW and the NSW Police. It provides rapid and accurate identification and return of a wandering person to their home. For additional information click here

Carers NSW - an association for relatives and friends who are caring for people with a disability, mental illness, chronic condition or who are frail aged.

Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre: Freecall: 1800 242 636

NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Homecare – provides support and services to older people, people with disabilities and their carers in NSW.

Health

A significant proportion of people who go missing are known to have been experiencing poor mental health prior to their disapearance. The following agencies can support the health needs of those left behind - the long term impact of prolonged anxiety and ambiguity needs to be recognised.

NSW Health - Area Health Services offer a range of services that assist people in relation to their ongoing health care needs including community health, counselling and support services, mental health services.

ARAFMI Australia provides support, education and advocacy for families and friends of people affected by mental illness. The Information, Support and Referral Line can be contacted in Sydney on (02) 9332 0700 or toll free on 1800 655 198.

Family and Carer Mental Health Program A number of NGOs have been funded and will be working in a collaborative approach with Area Health Service (AHS) under the banner of the Family and Carers Mental Health Program. The program aims to provide a comprehensive range of support services including education and training and individual support services for families and carers of people with a mental illness across NSW. Organisations and the areas they are covering include:

• Schizophrenia Fellowship - Sydney South West AHS, Hunter/New England AHS & Greater Southern AHS
• Parramatta Mission - Sydney West AHS
• ARAFMI NSW - North Sydney/Central Coast AHS
• Carers NSW - South Eastern/Illawarra AHS, North Coast AHS & Greater Western AHS

Mental Health Links for Lawyers - A central online information source of Mental Health Services in NSW including a state wide telephone referral service and searchable databases.

Other Useful Mental Health Links:

beyondblue

Black Dog Institute

Carers NSW

Lifeline

SANE

Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW Inc

Missing Persons Information for Mental Health Professionals (PDF 166Kb)

Alcohol and Other Drugs

NSW Health Centre for Drug and Alcohol - Treatment - This website provides information about drug and alcohol treatment services across New South Wales.

Alcoholinfo is the official NSW Government website on alcohol issues. It outlines Government policies on alcohol including the responsible supply and consumption of alcohol, alcohol advertising and the role of parents, families, industry and the broader community in reducing alcohol abuse.

Druginfo is the official NSW Government website on drug issues. It outlines Government policies on drugs including fact sheets on illicit drugs, information on legal issues, plus information on the role of parents, families, and the broader community in reducing drug abuse.

Gay and Lesbian Support

Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service of NSW - A volunteer based community service providing free, anonymous and confidential telephone counselling, information & referral services and support groups for gay men, lesbians, bisexual and transgender persons (GLBT) throughout New South Wales (NSW) on sexuality and life issues.

Twenty10 GLBT Youth Support - see information in the 'Children and Young People' section.


Coronial Information and Support

NSW State Coroner’s Offices – The website provides information about the Coronial process when a case is referred to the Coroner. A missing persons case can be reported to the Coroner at any time however the Coroner has to accept that there is a probability that the person is deceased and that the probability is being comfortably satisfied.

The NMPCC has developed a factsheet for families and friends of missing people navigating the Coronial process.

Victims of Crime

In some circumstances a person may be missing as a consequence of an alleged crime having been committed. Information pertaining to victims of crime can be located at the Victims of Crime Website.

FFMPU is co-located with Victims Services and can assist in referral and liaison regarding counselling and compensation for family members of homicide victims.