By Alasdair McDonald

ABC South East NSW

Topic: Forensic Science

Monique Clubb's family hopes DNA will help solve her case.

A new partnership will use modern forensic techniques to solve old First Nations cases.

The Disappeared Project's database will be led by the community, not the government.

This partnership may also help with investigations in other countries.

Monique Clubb's family has been searching for answers for 13 years.

In 2013, Monique left her hometown for a weekend trip to Brisbane.

She has not been heard from since, and her family is very worried.

Her siblings said many families have unanswered questions about missing loved ones.

They know what it's like to search for a missing sister for years.

Monique was last seen at a train station south of Brisbane.

New forensic technology has given the family hope.

The Disappeared Project wants to solve old First Nations cases and help families.

The project's co-founder, Martin Hodgson, works in a small town in NSW.

He said the government does not know how many First Nations people are missing or dead.

Many people's remains have been found, but their identities are not known.

The Disappeared Project's new partnership may help solve cases internationally.

The project is working with a forensic geneticist and a UK charity.

Their goal is to create a database and DNA program for missing First Nations people.

They want to reinvestigate old cases and find answers for the families.

This new approach involves the courts and coroners, and gives families more control.

Forensic genetic genealogy has been used to catch criminals like the Golden State Killer.

This technique matches DNA samples with relatives in genealogy databases.

It can help identify suspects or victims, and has been used in Australia.

Dr Jodie Ward said this technology can identify people in unmarked graves.

She has used it to identify an Indigenous man, but the case is not public.

The new database will be community-led and independent of the government.

Dr Ward said First Nations people may not feel comfortable sending their DNA overseas.

So, they are creating local, secure DNA databases with consenting individuals.

These databases can be used to compare DNA with unidentified remains or survivors.

Dr Ward is working on a case in Ireland to identify remains of infants and young people.

She has been helping authorities identify remains at a former Catholic Church-run home.

Locate International's CEO said the partnership will combine their expertise and technology.

Monique Clubb's siblings continue to hope for answers about her disappearance.

They said every new opportunity to solve the case matters, no matter the cost.

They are grateful for the attention and support their sister's case is receiving.

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