Find My Family: Restoring Family Links

Have you been separated from family by war, disaster or migration? Red Cross might be able to help you.

Australian Red Cross is part of the global Restoring Family Links network. 

We can help:

• find a family member missing as a result of war, disaster or migration through family tracing

• send a message to a relative where there is no formal means of communication 

• check the welfare of a relative overseas whom you are unable to reach due to illness or other circumstances 

• by providing you with a confirmation of detention if the International Committee of the Red Cross visited you in detention overseas.

Our service is free of charge and confidential.

Red Cross cannot accept requests when there is not enough information to conduct a search, when it is for genealogical research, or relates to family breakdown or legal matters like wills and child custody.

Trace the Face is an online search tool created by the Red Cross Red Crescent movement to help thousands of people trying to locate missing relatives who have migrated towards Europe and lost contact. You can directly look for your family members by viewing the online photo gallery.

Learn how other organisations might be able to help you

Family tracing

• VANISH - a Victorian Government funded service 
• International Social Service (Australian Branch)

Missing persons

• Reporting a missing person overseas
• National Missing Persons Coordination Centre

Genealogical searches

• State Trustees Limited 
• Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family history and tracing

• National Link-up phone 1800 624 332 (toll free)
• Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

General information

• Births, Deaths and Marriages offices in Australia
• White Pages Australia 
• Telephone Interpreting Service phone 131 450

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)

For queries relating to the assistance of Australian nationals overseas, please contact:

• In Australia 1300 555 135 (24-hour consular emergency contact) 
• Outside Australia +61 2 6261 3305