On average, more than 150 Australians go missing every day.

For each, more than 12 people are directly affected.

The Missed Foundation (Missed) works to alleviate the financial, emotional and psychological impact on families and friends left behind.

Portrait of an older man with a sorrow expression looking at the camera

UNIQUE FORM OF GRIEF

Ambiguous loss

The type of grief families and friends of missing people experience is called ambiguous loss. Psychologists consider it to be one of the most traumatic kinds of grief and one of the most unmanageable forms of stress.

*Ambiguous Loss, the theory and the book; Emeritus Professor Dr Pauline Boss (Harvard University Press, 1999/2000)

OUR WORK

Supporting those impacted

We have practical and emotional tools to help.

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Missing Persons Guide​

A practical guide to searching for a missing person.

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The Hope Narratives

Hope isn’t believing everything will be okay, it’s believing that you can…

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Ambiguous Loss 101

This world-first initiative provides vital professional and personal development to those who…

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What’s Missing Podcast

In 2019, we were approached by internationally acclaimed podcast producers, Casefile Presents….

Testimonials

If you’ve ever dealt with The Missed Foundation, you will feel the genuine care that is their backbone. This care and attention to detail also shines through their campaigns.
– Brother
Missed gave me strength, loving support and extremely helpful information and direction.
– Mother
I consider Loren and Missed family for everything they have done for ours as well as other families of missing persons.
– Brother
Missed being able to relate to what we go through is amazing, and I am so grateful for the ongoing support.
– Daughter
Donating to Missed, I’ve felt personal satisfaction that there is hope, understanding and support for those families experiencing ambiguity. As a community we are better for this.
– Donor
The guide website has been like a bible to our family.
– Sister
Loren makes a personal effort to update me with Missed’s initiatives and having the opportunity to be involved with their projects has been terrific.
– Donor
We weren’t able to get media attention until we started with Missed and now at least the public knows he’s missing.
– Father
Loren is a champion in the missing persons’ space. Thank you for shining a bright light on this subject and for giving those with lived experience a much-needed voice.
– Family
Missed’s invaluable support, time and effort can never be quantified or thanked for. We could not have coped without Loren and are eternally grateful.
– Mother
The benefits to me of supporting Missed far outweigh the financial contribution I make and will continue to make into the future.
– Donor
The general sense that I’m not alone has been a huge help. The connections to other supports such as specialist counselling has been wonderful.
– Wife
When my sister disappeared, there was nothing like Missed available. Loren and her team have made so much progress in advancing people’s understanding of the impacts of missingness.
– Brother
I contribute to a few causes and I have to say Missed uses money very effectively and multiplies donations many times over by clever campaigns and by using pro bono support very efficiently.
– Donor
Having a family member being a Missing Person is very isolating and lonely, having Missed is amazing for encouragement, support and just being a friend you can talk to.
– Sister
Loren getting the message that missing persons are important out into both the public arena and philanthropic sector has made an enormous impact.
– Father
Thank you so much Loren for caring so much about this – we don’t want to be forgotten.
– Wife
Meeting Loren from Missed has made an immeasurable difference to us. Just knowing that support is there. And from someone who knows what it is like, no less.
– Sister
I am especially grateful for the psychologist Missed put me in touch with. She has helped me and my son enormously.
– Wife
Our family will be eternally grateful to Loren and her team at Missed for her help and advice which has led to an annual digital billboard missing person poster event at Newcastle’s main sports arena for a week over Gordana’s anniversary.
– Aunt
The support of Loren and Missed has been an unbelievable gift. Nothing like this was around in 2008. Understanding of missingness has certainly grown through her efforts.
– Wife
Missed has provided a positive energy and focus for me during my search. It aligns with my own morals and beliefs, that a missing person is more than a one-dimensional face on a poster.
– Cousin
Words can’t describe how important having someone to guide us through such an unknown process, who to speak to and what to do to find our loved one is.
– Daughter
Loren’s unwavering support really helps to keep the hope alive that one day I might find my brother again. The Missed Foundation has been such a blessing in my life.
– Brother
It has been a privilege to witness the incredible and critical work Missed is doing in the missing persons space. I’ve been able to access support and educational material that was absolutely vital to the search I was involved in.
– Donor

Missed in the news

We’ve had a lot of media coverage over the years

These are the articles and interviews you’ve got to read/watch/hear.

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Extra Minutes interview with Loren O’Keeffe

60 Minutes

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You Can’t Ask That – Families Of Missing Persons

ABC TV and iview

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The Complicated Grief When A Family Member Goes Missing​

The Monthly

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Missing Persons advocate Loren O’Keeffe on grief, family and support

Women’s Agenda

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A Decade Without Dan: The Search For My Brother Gave Me Purpose

BBC World Service

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Conversations with Richard Fidler

Radio National

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Australian Story: Forever Young

ABC News

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A Sister’s Love

The Project

Corporate Supporters