Outdoor industry lends its support to National Missing Persons Week 2013 with new campaign

Today the Outdoor Media Association (OMA) will launch an Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising campaign for the 2013 National Missing Persons Week (NMPW), which runs from 28 July to 3 August and is officially launched in Parramatta on Sunday 28 July. NMPW is a national annual campaign to raise awareness about the issues and impacts associated with missing person cases.

This year’s theme focuses on the links between mental health and missing people – the tagline for 2013 is ‘People living with a mental illness are at a greater risk of going missing.’  The campaign, however, aims to raise awareness about all missing persons, not just those suffering from a mental illness.

Says Charmaine Moldrich, CEO of the OMA: “The OMA is proud to support this very important campaign for a fifth year. Outdoor advertising is seen by 90% of the population, and is therefore a great way to broadcast this vital information.”

The 2013 advertising campaign will focus on two missing person cases, Bethany Neville who was last seen at Central Station in Sydney and John Hinkley who was last seen in Umina in the Central Coast of NSW.

Says Moldrich: “We hope that the campaign will assist in finding Bethany and John, and, importantly, raise awareness for all missing person cases.”

A staggering 35,000 people are reported missing each year in Australia – that figure equates to one person every 15 minutes. In NSW last year, 12, 409 people were reported missing, of those 84 remain missing. This is an issue that has the potential to affect anyone, irrespective of age, gender, sexuality, culture, profession or educational background.

People go missing for different reasons – family and relationship conflicts, mental illness and suspicious circumstances – however going missing is not a crime. Missing person cases are a great toll on family and friends, reiterating the importance of the NMPW campaign.

Says Peter Barrie, NSW Police assistant commissioner: “We are once again very grateful to have the support of the OMA for the 2013 NMPW campaign. This advertising is invaluable in raising the public awareness of missing persons.  A picture truly is worth one thousand words in our search for missing persons such as Bethany and John.  I thank the members of the OMA for their on-going support and contribution.”

Says Moldrich: “Our community sponsorship with NSW Police is now in its fifth year and is one of hundreds of sponsorships undertaken by our members, aligned to our commitment to contribute to and support the community. In 2012 the Outdoor industry contributed advertising valued at $15 million to a plethora of charitable and not-for-profit organisations including arts, education and sport.”

In 2013 OMA members have generously donated over $210,000 in free advertising space. Participating companies include APN Outdoor, JCDecaux, oOh! Media, ROVA and Torchmedia. Printing services were provided by Cactus Imaging.

For more information on the campaign visit www.missingpersons.gov.au.