Find family and friends
Key resources
The Library offers access to historical electoral rolls and other research materials that can help you locate your family and friends.
Missing persons
We do not provide missing person search services. If you’re concerned about a missing individual, contact the police.
Noel Minchin, A family at Manly beach, New South Wales, 1923, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-140924016
Noel Minchin, A family at Manly beach, New South Wales, 1923, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-140924016
Conduct your own search
There are several tools and directories available that allow you to independently search for friends and family. These key resources can help you get started.
Australian electoral rolls
You can find an Australia wide electronic version of the current Australian electoral roll at Australian Electoral Commission offices in each state or territory.
We hold Australian electoral rolls up to 2008 on microfiche, and up to 2009 in hardcopy format.
For more information, use our Australian electoral rolls research guide.
Ryerson Index
The Ryerson Index is a free index of death notices (including funeral notices, obituaries and probate notices) that were listed in Australian newspapers and, as of 2020, listed in online sources. Browse the Ryerson index.
White Pages
The White Pages is a freely searchable online telephone directory. Search under Government and Business or Residential. You can cross reference information you find in the White Pages (which usually only gives a first initial and full surname) with information found on electoral rolls.
Oz Reunion
Oz Reunion's goal is to reunite Australian family and friends. For a fee you can submit a post on their website with the details of family or friends you are hoping to make contact with. Oz Reunion do not conduct any searches for missing persons or lost family or friends on your behalf, and their website does rely on the person (or somebody who knows them/of them) being made aware of your post.
Social media
You might also be able to locate friends or relatives through social media such as Facebook - either directly or through a local community page if you know the town, city or area in which they live.
Get help with your search
If you need assistance beyond online searches, these organisations specialise in helping people reconnect with loved ones under specific circumstances.
Australian Red Cross
The Australian Red Cross provides a free tracing service to help with finding relatives missing through wars, internal conflict, migration and/or natural disasters. It is part of the global Restoring Family Links network.
Red Cross cannot accept requests relating to genealogical research or legal matters relating to will's or child custody. Find out more about the Red Cross’ tracing service.
Find & Connect
Find & Connect website provides information about records relating to children who were placed in "out of home" care such as Australian orphanages, Children's Homes and other institutions. Explore Find & Connect’s child welfare records.
Link-Up (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)
Link-Up assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have been affected by Government policies which have resulted in separation of family. Link-Up services are geographically based but be aware that ACT and Tasmania do not have Link-Up services. Go to the AIATSIS website for more information on state and territory Link-Up services.
Missing Persons coordination centre
The Australian Federal Police’s Missing Persons centre provides support and advice to families of missing relatives. Its mission is to coordinate and promote a national integrated approach to reduce the incidence and impact of missing persons. Find out more about the missing persons coordination centre.
