More than 30,000 Australians are reported missing each year. They are husbands and wives, mums and dads, brothers and sisters, grandparents and grandchildren.  

Between August 2-8, National Missing Persons Week 2020, is being held to raise awareness and educate local communities about the disappearances of these people and hopefully, lead to them being found.  

This year, the annual event is coinciding with the launch of the country’s first National DNA program by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The program aims to uncover investigative leads to assist in the identification of unknown Australians and help to resolve long-term missing person’s cases across the country. 

The new initiative will harness the latest forensic techniques to allow advanced DNA profiling and matching of as yet unidentified human remains for the first time in Australia. With an estimated 500 sets of unidentified human remains in Australia, the AFP are hoping the program will finally be able to deliver long awaited news and answers to families who have endured years of heartache over lost loved ones. 

The ultimate goal is to make it possible for final goodbyes to be said and for the remains, which currently sit in mortuaries, labs and police stations across the country, to be laid to rest beneath their names. 

Family members who wish to become involved with the program are encouraged to contact the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre by visiting www.missingpersons.gov.au 

Anyone with information relating to a missing person is urged to contact their local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

For a list of long term missing persons from Coffs Harbour to the Tweed, please scroll through and share our Facebook album: www.facebook.com/ClarenceValleyIndependent/photos/a.3795220017161605/3795220233828250