Centrelink - In Touch Program

According to the National Missing Persons Unit, about 30 000 people are reported missing in Australia each year. For most families the time apart is short. But for many others the agony of not knowing if their loved one is safe goes on.

To mark National Missing Persons Week (1 to 7 August), Armadale Centrelink's Dorkus Bingwa reminded Australians that social workers are available to help everyone in the community during times of adversity.

"The distress experienced during this time is when families need help," said Dorkus.

"While it may not always be possible to reunite missing people with their family and friends, Centrelink's social workers can always listen and explore support options in a way that's caring and respectful.

"Centrelink employs around 500 social workers across Australia to help those facing traumatic experiences.

"Together with other Centrelink staff, government agencies and community groups, social workers explore every avenue of support.

"This can mean connecting people with important services, such as the In Touch program, which is one way Centrelink can try to put families in contact with a missing loved one."

Through the In Touch program, Centrelink can write to a missing person if they're a customer telling them who is trying to make contact as well as their contact details.

"With six and half million Australians getting some form of government assistance, there's a good chance Centrelink has information in its database that can help reunite people," said Dorkus.

"But it shouldn't be forgotten people are free to break off contact with families and friends.

"Centrelink therefore protects confidentiality and can't confirm if it's successful in identifying the missing person – it's up to the individual if they want to make contact."

The In Touch program is available at all Centrelink offices, where specialist staff like social workers are available to help families in stressful circumstances. To make an appointment to see a Centrelink social worker, call 13 1021.

Centrelink reunites Ferguson with rape accomplice

By Di Bain for AM

Posted Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:50am AEST - ABC

Centrelink has admitted it unwittingly allowed two of Australia's most notorious paedophiles to get back in touch with each other.

Dennis Ferguson wrote to Centrelink asking for his contact details to be passed on to former partner in crime Alexandria Brookes.

The two were convicted and jailed in 1988 for abducting and raping three children in Queensland.

As part of his parole conditions Brookes was banned from having any contact with Ferguson or other paedophiles.

Centrelink will today shut down the In Touch program which gave Ferguson's contact details to Brookes.

It is the latest controversy surrounding Ferguson, who was last week temporarily removed from his new location in the Sydney suburb of Ryde after outrage from residents.

Centrelink general manager Hank Jongen says the In Touch program is being reviewed.

"The first thing I have to say is that I was as shocked by this as anybody, and we are extremely concerned," he said.

Mr Jongen says it's an unacceptable scenario.

"This is the first time to the best of my knowledge that this has occurred. It's really important to understand that the In Touch program has reunited dozens of family and friends over the years," he said.

"In fact it's a very successful program that's widely promoted, especially during missing persons week.

"What normally happens with this program is the person who's trying to track down a missing loved one will write to us. We will then review that case to ensure there's no malice intended.

"If the person in receipt of a Centrelink payment, and we would not normally confirm or deny that, but if a persons in receipt of a Centrelink payment we then contact that person with details of the person making the request.

"It's then entirely up to the missing person to decide what action they're going to take."

As part of its review Centrelink says it may consider asking for better access to criminal records from other Government departments.

The Federal Government says it will carry out a review into the In Touch program.

Minister for Human Services Chris Bowen says it shouldn't have happened.

"This is what the review's all about - to establish what did go wrong in this particular instance and to establish what kind of safeguards, what consultation might need to occur with law and order authorities about individuals," he said.