This week is National Missing Persons Week, raising awareness of of significant issues associated with missing persons in Australia.

National Missing Persons Week 2011 centres on “When someone goes missing, more than one person is lost.” This reflects that for every person who goes missing approximately 12 people will be affected. These include family members, friends and work colleagues.

Each year 35,000 people are reported missing in Australia, which equates to one person every 15 minutes. While 95 per cent of people are found within a short period of time, there remains approximately 1,600 long term missing persons; those who have been missing for more than six months.

The Australian Government supports Missing Persons Week through through the Australian Federal Police. View the Missing Persons website for further information on Missing Persons Week.