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Tracing and restoration of family links

 

Every year thousands of families across the world are separated by conflict and disaster.


The Tracing Service in Australia is part of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent global tracing network, which aims to re-establish contact between separated family members and clarify the fate of the missing.


Services

The following services are provided free of charge:

Tracing and restoration services

Winwoo Dixon was just 20 years old when she was separated from her two small children. In 2007 they were finally reunited through the global Red Cross tracing service.
  • help in locating a relative missing as a result of war or disaster
  • help in sending a message to a relative where there is no formal means of communication
  • help in checking the welfare of a relative overseas whom you are unable to reach due to illness or other circumstances
  • help in providing you with a confirmation of detention if the International Committee of the Red Cross visited you in detention overseas.

For a basic overview of the Tracing Service, you can download a Tracing Information Sheet (currently available in 18 languages).

Eligibility

The program can help when:

  • loss of contact results from war or natural disaster
  • the enquirer and missing person are close relatives
  • the enquirer and missing person are long-time friends or war veterans or have been interned in a prison camp together
  • the missing person is overseas in a war or disaster area
  • the missing person is in an immigration facility in mainland Australia or offshore
  • in situations not related to a conflict or disaster, Red Cross may process tracing requests on a compassionate basis.

How to access Tracing services

To start the process, contact Red Cross in your State or Territory and ask to speak to a Tracing officer.

The tracing officer will need to know the missing person's details including:

  • their full name as it is expressed locally
  • their parents' names
  • their date and place of birth
  • their nationality
  • last known address
  • the date and circumstances of last news.

They will also need your details including:

  • full name
  • address
  • relationship to the person sought
  • date of birth.

Red Cross cannot accept requests when there is insufficient information to conduct a search, when it is for genealogical research or relates to legal matters such as wills and child custody.

Other organisations

The following organisations may be able to assist in circumstances when Red Cross cannot:

Salvation Army Family Tracing Service
VANISH -- a Victorian State Government funded service

International Social Service (Australian Branch)



More information

Contact a Tracing Officer in your State or Territory if you need assistance or advice:

By email: go to the Contact Us page and select 'Tracing Enquiries' from the drop-down menu. Complete your details and use the 'Message' field to provide details of your enquiry.

By phone: go to the State or Territory contacts page to find telephone details for your State or Territory, then ask to speak to a Tracing Officer.

 
Useful Links:
Red Cross and National Missing Persons Week
National Missing Persons Coordination Centre
Refugee Realities project
Contact a tracing officer in your State or Territory
Crisis Care Commitment
  Tracing and Restoration of Family Links
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