National Missing Persons Week is upon us. This initiative serves to raise crucial awareness about issues concerning missing persons, spotlight long-term missing cases, and strive towards reducing both the incidence and consequences of missing persons across Australia. It's a time dedicated to highlighting the importance of community vigilance, provide support for families affected by disappearances, and driving efforts to achieve positive outcomes for those who are missing.

I never imagined that someone in my family would go missing. In 2017, that blissful ignorance was shattered by a stark reality.

I was nine days shy of my 17th birthday, when on January 2, my beloved Aunty Rebecca Hayward went missing at the age of 35.

Aunty Beccy was born on December 26, 1982, to my grandparents Lori and Eric Hayward. She was the youngest of four children, with two brothers and a sister. My Dad was her eldest sibling.

Aunty Beccy epitomised the role of the fun, cool aunt. She always made time for my siblings and me. Her reading obsession and passionate barracking for the Freo Dockers rubbed off on us. We would stay over on weekends, baked delicious food, watch movies, and simply enjoy the time we shared together.

In 2008, she welcomed her first child, a beautiful daughter. She later had two more smart, cheeky, lively children in 2009 and 2012.

Her life was significant; she meant the world to us, and we loved her dearly. Her life mattered.

I remember vividly the day we learned she was missing. It was a scorching hot day in Perth. It was meant to be a fresh start for many as the new year unfolded.

The phone call came, though I can't recall exactly who rang us. All that was said was "Aunty Bec is missing."

Panic, confusion, and fear ran through me. How can this happen? Why did this happen?

Aunty went to Alice Springs for a fresh start; she wanted to focus on herself and becoming a better parent for her children. All she wanted was to be the best mother that she could be. She flew into Alice Springs on the afternoon of January 1, 2017, taking that step.

Later that night, Aunty left a family member's home in Alice Springs for a walk.

On January 2, 2017, she was sighted by passersby about 10 km north of Alice Springs, walking along the side of the Stuart Highway. Her movements between those two sightings are still unknown. As the hours and days went by, this was her last known sighting.

The same night, my family member in Alice Springs reported her missing to the local police. 48 hours after she was reported missing, Northern Territory Police then launched an aerial and ground search with motorbikes and volunteers. It soon became apparent it was a recovery operation.

My Pop and Aunty Beccy's sister flew to Alice Springs to find answers, spending a week talking to local Aboriginal communities trying to find her. We still had no more information on what happened.

As the years pass, my younger cousins grow up without the love and affection of my beautiful Aunty. She has missed being a proud parent at footy games, achievements, and milestones that she would've cherished. When I look at my cousins, I know she would've been so proud. Her beautiful babies are all grown up.

When my Pop passed in 2022, I often become sad that he never found peace from finding his daughter, never got the chance to bring her back to our own country on Noongar boodja.

I also think about my Nan; she has outlived her husband after 58 years of marriage and she might not ever find answers about her youngest child.

Some nights my last thought is about my Aunty, every now and then, I cry about the unknowns. I think about how she never saw her children grow up and will never see her future grandchildren. I think about what happened to her, was she murdered, was she hurt, how did she feel, did she know her family loved her. My heart constantly aches for her.

Since 2017, over 228,000 people have gone missing - which is 38,000 people each year. More recently, multiple Aboriginal men in WA from the Midwest to the Pilbara have gone missing.

To the Stevens, Lockyer, Rivers, Shar, and Oscar families; I'd like to acknowledge your strength and resilience throughout the long fight for answers. I may never know the truth about what happened to Aunty Beccy, and I stand in support with you and your families in the search for answers.

Missing people belong to families who want answers. As a community, we need to come together and support the fight for truth and justice now more than ever.

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Amber Ugle-Hayward is a proud 24-year-old Noongar woman dedicated to supporting First Nations youth and advocating for reconciliation.

Her leadership extends beyond her professional roles: Amber mentors peers, volunteers extensively, and co-facilitated WA's Emerging Leaders program. An advocate for women's AFL, she plays for Curtin Wesley Football Club. Amber's speaking engagements include addresses for global entities like ATCO, focusing on unity and First Nations progress.

Amber champions reconciliation in various roles, including Chair of Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage's RAP Working Group.