Searching for missing migrants and non-citizens: the need for systems of support
Welcome to Power to Persuade for 2026! We begin the year with a post from Alexa Ridgway (RMIT University), who discusses the need for formalised, co-ordinated and government-funded support for the family and friends of missing migrants and non-citizens - a salient issue in the context of missing Belgian tourist Celine Cremer, whose friends travelled from Belgium to assist with search and rescue efforts.
In June 2023, Belgian tourist Celine Cremer went missing while hiking at Philosopher Falls near Waratah in north-west Tasmania, Australia. Her car was discovered at the entry to the walk to the Falls, resulting in an intensive search of the area by police and emergency services. However, no trace of Celine was found at the time with the search being formally suspended on 10th of July, 2023.
For over two years, local Tasmanians continued to search for Celine voluntarily, using her phone records to scour the formidable terrain in the hope of finding her. At the same time, Celine’s friends and family engaged private investigator, Ken Gamble, to assist with the case and, in December 2025, a group of volunteers, led by Gamble and local explorer and filmmaker, Rob Parsons, came together to renew the search. The group was joined by four of Celine’s closest friends from Belgium who travelled to Australia to assist with these efforts.
Signage at Philosopher Falls, where Celine Cremer went missing in 2023. Image by Mark Pybus: www.thelifeofpy.com
While the initial search in 2023 had been unsuccessful in uncovering any evidence of Celine’s possible whereabouts, the independent search in December 2025 was different. Not only was there a discovery of a phone which has since been confirmed as Celine’s, but a glass water bottle and garbage bag were also discovered at what could have been a makeshift shelter. These items are currently being forensically examined by police to determine whether they indeed belonged to Celine. As a result of these discoveries, the search was postponed until February 2026 but on the 28th of January, one of the volunteer searchers, Jarrod Boys, found human remains at the site. Further remains were found in a police search which followed. At the time of writing, these are still being forensically tested but police have indicated that they are likely to be Celine’s.
Celine’s story raises an important policy issue and one that has been significantly overlooked.
Four of Celine’s friends participated in the December search and provided valuable advice as to what were likely to be her movements based on her personality and inclinations. This was important information which aided the search.
However, in order to attend the search, these friends had to use fundraising to cover their travel costs. A further fundraising campaign was also launched for the friends to return and attend the planned February search which has since been cancelled due to human remains being found.
Fundraising to cover travel expenses can be difficult, especially if multiple trips are required. Furthermore, not all families and friends will have access to these resources even via fundraising. For migrants and non-citizens from low-income countries, for example, it might be impossible to pool the resources needed to visit Australia. These support networks may also face visa restrictions.
The use of private investigators, which was invaluable in Celine’s case, involves costs which can be beyond the reach of the missing migrant or non-citizen’s family and friends.
Together, these factors illustrate the absence of a coordinated and funded policy response in Australia for supporting the families and friends in cases of missing migrants and non-citizens who wish to continue to search for their missing loved ones. As can be seen in Celine’s case, the ability of family and/or friends of missing migrants and non-citizens to travel to Australia can assist with the progression of the search. In addition to being personally meaningful for the friends and family themselves, it can also lead to greater, on-the-ground insights which contribute towards the solving of missing persons cases.
Policy implications
Given Australia’s rates of migration and high numbers of tourist visitors, the issue of missing migrant and non-citizens demands a more formal, specific policy response in which a standardised system of support is established. There are some initiatives already in existence which could be utilised for this purpose but a response that ties these elements together in a coordinated way or boosts their capacity to operate in a way the meets need is lacking.
As a first step, funding and visas should be provided so that the family and friends of missing migrants and non-citizens can visit Australia in their search for a loved one. Obviously, it is important that any independent searches are conducted safely and in communication with police and the number of funded searches would need to be within reason, but my point is that it is important to make some resources for this purpose available.
There is also scope to boost the capacity of organisations currently in existence who possess the skills to provide valuable support for the families and friends of missing migrants and non-citizens both through tracing and emotional support but are not currently funded by Government to do so.
For example, the charity, The Missed Foundation, provides excellent support for the families of missing persons, including missing migrants and non-citizens, and yet they are not Government funded, relying instead on donations and community fundraising.
The “Find and Connect Service” established by the Australian Government in 2009 in response to former child migrants sent from Britain and Malta to Australia from 1912 to the late 1960s is another example. Not only does this service provide tracing support to help overseas-based families and friends locate former child migrants but it also offers trauma-informed counselling. This is an existing organisation whose capacity and scope could be expanded beyond former child migrants to respond to cases of missing migrants and non-citizens.
By offering government-funded travel assistance and support services for families and friends of missing migrants and non-citizens, Australia would strengthen its international reputation as a country that responds with humanity and compassion when those who visit, study, work and/or settle here go missing.
The efforts of volunteers in the search for Celine demonstrates how generous and caring the Australian community can be when it comes to assisting with cases such as these. However, we cannot rely on goodwill alone. A formalised, co-ordinated and Government-funded system of support for the family and friends of missing migrants and non-citizens is essential.
Post moderated by Sophie Yates