Each year, nearly 38,000 people are reported missing in Australia — an average of one person every 14 minutes. While many are found, some vanish without a trace, leaving their families in a relentless state of uncertainty and grief.

With its podcast, The Missing Australia, News Corp Australia joined the search for long-term missing persons. Embarking on a mission to assist police efforts, engage with the public, and generate new leads, the podcast has delivered significant breakthroughs in several cases since launching in May 2023. At the same time, it has captured the interest of audiences worldwide and sparked real change, proving the power of storytelling in investigative work.

On a mission to find answers

The podcast, hosted by former police officer Meni Caroutas, aims to bring new hope to those affected by these disappearances. Caroutas’s passion for justice, combined with his determination to find answers for the families left behind, has resonated with audiences, and the podcast leverages new media exposure to generate fresh leads and reignite public interest in cold cases.

Produced in collaboration with the Australian Missing Persons Unit and grassroots organisations, including Leave A Light On. It has been endorsed by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, which Bruce and Denise Morcombe created in memory of their son Daniel — who was abducted and murdered in 2003. The podcast is released under News Corp Australia’s True Crime Australia arm and is supported with print and digital editorial coverage and video across The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Courier-Mail, and The Advertiser.  

An active role

While true crime podcasts are immensely popular, The Missing Australia is different because it goes beyond storytelling to play an active role in solving cases. At least five breakthroughs in four long-term missing persons cases have been attributed to the podcast’s coverage, with one of the most remarkable developments involving an unidentified baby found deceased at a post office five decades ago.

After a woman recognised a photograph in a newspaper article linked to The Missing Australia, she told officials she thought the baby might be her long-lost brother. DNA testing is now underway to confirm the connection, potentially giving this child a long-overdue burial next to his family.

In another case, three witnesses came forward after listening to an episode, providing new insights into a separate missing person investigation. Additionally, a historical sexual assault case saw a breakthrough when a fourth witness, motivated by the podcast, stepped forward. As a direct result, a man was recently arrested and charged. Furthermore, public pressure following an episode led to an increase in the reward for information regarding a missing mother, now set at $500,000.

Resonating with audiences

Beyond these investigative successes, The Missing Australia has also achieved remarkable engagement and audience growth. In its first 10 months, it was downloaded 900,000 times across 130 countries, with a sustained audience of over 30,000 weekly downloads — even during months without new episodes.

The podcast’s reach extends beyond audio platforms; articles linked to the six cases featured in season two attracted 315,000 page views, while the podcast’s PR efforts helped secure an audience reach of 7.1 million. Social media has further boosted its impact, with 57,000 digital clips shared across platforms. And, when the team announced the exhumation of the unidentified baby via TikTok, the video went viral with 3.2 million views.

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