There are an estimated 500 sets of unidentified human remains in mortuaries, labs and police stations across Australia, with some unidentified bones dating back more than 50 years.

Now, Australia’s first National DNA Program by The Australian Federal Police aims to make it possible for final goodbyes, and for the remains to at last be laid to rest. The program will be directed by Associate Professor Jodie Ward, a forensic DNA identification specialist from the AFP’s National Missing Persons Coordination Centre, who advocated for this project for five years.

She joined The Daily to tell us just how this initiative will work.