MISSING IN AUSTRALIA

MISSING PERSONS SPECIALISTS, RESEARCHERS, ADVOCATES

The partnership of Valentine Smith and Samantha Kiss is dedicated to the field of Missing Persons, with special interest and a unique understanding in cases within a bush/wilderness setting.

At Missing in Australia, our purpose is to advance how we, as a community, investigate and understand cases of those who become lost or go missing. We believe this begins with two fundamental questions: what are we looking at, and what are we looking for. Answering them requires a careful, thorough examination of every element within the environment that may shape the outcome of a case — from human behaviour to weather conditions, and the flora and fauna that share that landscape. It is only through this depth of understanding that we can offer real hope and clarity to those searching for answers.

Learn more about who we are <HERE>

MISSING IN AUSTRALIA BLOG

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Missing Person Response - Gaps
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Private Investigators

Backtracking: identifying, reading and following your own foot impressions to find the way back

No. 3 in a 3-part series of – Man-tracking in SAR Operations and Investigations (Image of ‘The Tracker at Work’ – Kyt Lyn Walken[i] somewhere in Europe) ‘The Forest rolls on forever, amidst its green carpet the mountains rise, foreboding, a maniacal maze of game trails…I know there are tracks…but where are they, where am I?’[i] Among all wilderness navigation skills, few are as practical and as misunderstood as backtracking. Most people think the term simply means, "turning a

Insight into Investigations

Valentine Smith APM

Sep 138 min read

Man-tracking skills for SAR personnel- A Footprint is a communication.

No 2 in a 3-part series of – Man-tracking in SAR Operations and Investigations My advice is no matter where the case is, be it deep in the mountains, or in the pits of suburbia we enter the theatre of every investigation like a ‘Stone-Smith’ studies a block of granite, or a diamond in the rough, every potential facet examined carefully before chipping away at the hard crust, sifting through the dust, looking for the glint of value in a gem of the truth. Eccentric, maybe, or p

Missing Person Response - Gaps

Valentine Smith APM

Aug 97 min read

Man-tracking skills for SAR personnel- Usage is on the rise in Europe

No 1 in a 3-part series of Man-tracking in SAR Operations and Investigations ‘One of the most overlooked aspects of tracking is that it fundamentally trains observation’. The quote, in italics, above and the three below are from Kyt Lyn Walken’s notes on Man-tracking. I’m not a Man-tracker, but Kyt is and she is recognised across Europe as one of the best. Her experience, qualifications and energy in the field are outstanding[i]. As a specialist in investigative thinking wha

Insight into Investigations

Valentine Smith APM

Jul 1010 min read

Remote Crime Viewing - Article 4 in a 4-part series

[i] The Natural Investigative Skills re-visited Remote Crime Viewing – Psychic Intuition – Science – It is complex, fascinating, captivating and certainly not deserving of dismissive scepticism. Intuition or Psychic visions have been with us for millennium: In Indigenous cultures the practice of seeking signs from ‘above or beyond’ are well documented. In the US in 1876 as the US Army sent three columns of troops into Indian Territory, Sitting Bull, the famous Hunkpapa La

Insight into Investigations

Valentine Smith APM

Jun 710 min read

Tracking - Article 2 in a 4-part series

The Natural Investigative Skills re-visited ‘…The father, however, did not despair, and after some trouble secured the services of two or three aborigines, whose sharp eyes soon picked up the tracks the white men were now unable to follow. They pointed out where the children had slept, where they had stumbled along in the dark, and where an attempt to carry the youngest child had failed, the bearer being too weak to rise with the burden;’ The italic piece above is an exc

Insight into Investigations

Valentine Smith APM

Apr 219 min read

The Six Senses: Focusing on Sight, Sound, Touch, Taste/Smell (Intuition) - Article 1 in a 4-part series

The Natural Investigative Skills re-visited [i] The symmetrical beauty of nature is delivered to us in a myriad of ways, sometimes it is the repetitive pattern of a leaf generally indistinguishable amongst millions on a giant tree, each with its lifeblood of veins, or perhaps it is the wings of a butterfly, or the feathers of a bird duplicated either side of its centre line and perfect in almost identical beauty when viewed from either the left or the right. Or maybe it’s i

Insight into Investigations

Valentine Smith APM

Mar 1812 min read

CONCEALMENT OF THE WHEREABOUTS OF HUMAN REMAINS (RE-VISITED)[i]

(The follow up to the original article of 3 Nov 2025 with updates and objectives) Thousands of you visited the first article on LinkedIn and hundreds read the full article on our web site at www.missinginaustralia.com.au In response, I am extremely grateful for your interest in this very important subject. This is not just about ‘no-body, no-parole’, that is already in place and often does not work. This is focussed more on those remorseless apathetic types who have the kno

Insight into Investigations

Valentine Smith APM

Feb 218 min read

The Importance of Professional Private Investigation Services

When you need to find someone in Australia, the task can feel overwhelming. Whether it’s for legal reasons, personal closure, or historical research, locating individuals is rarely straightforward. That’s where professional private investigation services come in. They bring expertise, resources, and ethical standards that make all the difference. But what exactly makes these services so crucial? And how can you ensure your case is handled successfully? Let’s dive into the key

Private Investigators

Enigma PI

Oct 22, 20254 min read

CONCEALMENT OF THE WHEREABOUTS OF HUMAN REMAINS

‘Take a minute to think of cases where someone is missing, presumed murdered and those responsible or others, will not reveal the location of the body so that it can be returned to loved ones and the pain of forever wondering can end.’ The statement… We constantly hear the term ambiguous loss in relation to the grief attached to the families of those whose loved ones are long term missing persons (LTMP). But what does this mean and who does it affect? It is a fast-paced world

Missing Person Response - Gaps

Valentine Smith APM

Oct 18, 202510 min read

Private Investigation Techniques: Unveiling the Work of Private Investigators

When you think of a private investigator, what comes to mind? A shadowy figure tailing suspects in a trench coat? While Hollywood has certainly glamorized the profession, the reality is far more nuanced and methodical. Private investigation techniques are a blend of art and science, requiring patience, skill, and a deep understanding of human behavior. Today, I want to take you behind the scenes and reveal what really goes into the work of a private investigator, especially w

Insight into Investigations

Enigma PI

Oct 10, 20254 min read

The Grief / Loss Impact Register (GLIR) – Where do you as a Government and your Police service sit?

Missing Person Response - Gaps

Valentine Smith APM

Feb 20, 20253 min read

Artificial Intelligence (AI) – The Tipping Point…

AI – The Tipping Point to human redundancy in investigations and beyond

Other

Valentine Smith APM

Feb 7, 20254 min read

Part Four: Missing Person Response – Gaps uncovered

The first police unit on scene took down basic initial details and commenced a land search of the navigable roads and tracks for some hours.

Missing Person Response - Gaps

Valentine Smith APM

Jan 20, 20258 min read

Part Three: Missing Person Response - Gaps uncovered

PART THREE OF A FOUR PART SERIES Victimology and Witness handling INTRODUCTION: Criticisms, no more criticisms – with over fifty years in policing and investigations, the last ten years almost solely concentrating on missing persons, I have identified gaps in most cases. However, I am generally not overly critical, why? Because I understand reality and the limitations and pressures in which police work. I also understand that it is the front-line officer who is usually the t

Insight into Investigations

Valentine Smith APM

Dec 23, 20246 min read

Part Two: Missing Person Response – Gaps uncovered

PART TWO OF A FOUR PART SERIES INVESTIGATIVE RESPONSE – THE GAPS IN THE FIRST 120 HOURS INTRODUCTION: “If it looks like a duck and...

Insight into Investigations

Valentine Smith APM

Nov 25, 20246 min read

Part One: Missing Person Response - Gaps uncovered

PART ONE OF A FOUR-PART SERIES INTRODUCTION: Criticisms, no more criticisms – with over fifty years in policing and investigations, the last ten years almost solely concentrating on missing persons, I have identified gaps in most cases. However, I am generally not overly critical, why? Because I understand reality and the limitations and pressures in which police work. I also understand that it is the front-line officer who is usually the target for criticism, which is often

Insight into Investigations

Valentine Smith APM

Nov 11, 20246 min read