Download a printable version of Family Tracing (1.35 MB PDF)
On this page you will find links to organisations that provide family tracing services and tips on how you can search for a missing family member or friend.
The Find & Connect Support Services were created to support Forgotten Australians, Former Child Migrants and others who spent time in out of home care between 1920 and 1990. They provide this group and immediate family members with assistance to search for family and, in some circumstances, family reunions. You can call the service in your state or territory on 1800 16 11 09 or email them via the web resource by clicking on the Send message to Find & Connect support service button.
Link-Up services help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people separated from their families under the past laws, practices and policies of Australian governments to undertake family tracing and family reunions with counselling support.
The website for the Link-Up service is: http://aiatsis.gov.au/research/finding-your-family/link-services.
Some organisations providing support for people affected by forced adoption provide assistance with family tracing.
See this list of adoption support and advocacy organisations: https://www.dss.gov.au/families-and-children/programmes-services/family-relationships/forced-adoption-practices/support-services-for-people-affected-by-past-forced-adoption-policies-and-practices
The Australian Red Cross is part of the global Restoring Family Links program. They may be able to help with family tracing in some circumstances, for example, when a family member is missing as a result of war, disaster or migration. Red Cross is not able to accept requests when there is not enough information to conduct a search, when it is for genealogical research or relates to legal matters like wills and child custody. The website for Australian Red Cross Tracing is https://www.redcross.org.au/get-help/help-for-migrants-in-transition/tracing-and-restoring-family-links.
Please note that the Salvation Army Australia ceased its family tracing program in March 2018.
It might sound a little obvious, but it’s always worth checking the phone book! The Australian White Pages has a website where you can search the Australia-wide directory, see:
http://www.whitepages.com.au/
The Australian Electoral Roll is an important resource for family tracing. Produced by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), the electoral roll is a list of the names and addresses of everyone who is eligible and enrolled to vote in Australia. In April 2015, these were the rules about public access to the most current electoral roll in AEC offices:
The previous policy, which restricted people from searching the electoral roll for information about other people, was reversed in April 2015. Note that under the rules, you may not copy, record or photograph any information from the electoral roll with any electronic device.
Follow this link for more information about viewing the electoral roll: http://aec.gov.au/Enrolling_to_vote/About_Electoral_Roll/.
For family tracing, historic electoral rolls can be very useful in tracking people over time and place. Past copies of electoral rolls (published annually) are available for public inspection in state and local libraries. Contact your local library or the state library in your capital city to see what electoral rolls are in their collection.
The Australian Electoral Rolls from 1903 to 1980 are available for viewing and searching through the ‘Ancestry.com.au’ website. This is not a free website, however, you can access Ancestry.com.au for free at the Find & Connect Support Service in your state or territory and in State Libraries in each capital city. It may also be available at your local library.
Every state and territory has a registry of Births Deaths and Marriages (or BDM), which is responsible for registering life events including births, deaths, marriages, changes of name, and adoptions. Here is a list of the registries around Australia: http://www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/family-and-community/births-deaths-and-marriages-registries.
Most BDM offices have a website where you can search birth, death and marriage family history indexes, at no cost. But, you do have to pay to look at search results, and to get a copy of a certificate from BDM. Also please be aware that the registries only have information for the state they are in, and they will not be able to search nationwide for you.
There are Facebook groups that may assist you in your search, but you must exercise care if you choose to join them. These groups are not in any way affiliated with Find & Connect, and we don’t monitor or recommend any of them specifically. You may find some information using groups such as these, however:
Not everyone will act in your best interests. If you are seeking assistance online, you are vulnerable. The Australian Cyber Security Centre has information on protecting yourself online – be familiar with it before contacting or sharing information with anyone in these groups: https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/individuals-and-families/do-things-safely
Some Facebook groups that may be useful:
AUSSIE & UK ANGELS – Reuniting long lost Family & Friends
This is a volunteer -based group that may assist you to find a loved one https://www.facebook.com/groups/1669732293272781
There is also a more private group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/220988492474321/
DNA Detectives
Note : This private group focuses on using DNA to find biological family members.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/DNADetectives
Local area pages on Facebook
The following pages may contain photos of past members, associates, alumni etc.