text: Families and friends hold grave fears for more than a dozen Australians who are reported missing after the catastrophic earthquake in Nepal, although information is starting to trickle through, with the heartwarming news that Ballantyne Forder is safe. The natural disaster has already claimed more than 1800 lives and more than 200 Australians are confirmed safe but authorities are still trying to contact hundreds of others. Around 549 Aussies are registered as travelling in the Himalayan region. The family of 20-year-old Perth volunteer Ballantyne Forder led a tireless campaign, making headlines as they pleaded for help to find Ms Forder, who had been working in an orphanage in Kathmandu. Finally, to her loved ones' immense relief, Ms Forder was able to make contact with her family on Sunday night (AEST). Scroll down for video . Zachary Sheridan (left) is believed to be missing after a devastating earthquake rocked Nepal . Actor Hugh Sheridan has made a heartbreaking plea on social media to ask for prayers for his brother . Packed to the Rafters star Hugh Sheridan pictured with actor John Travolta (left) At least 18 climbers were killed after the quake which buried tents at the base camp but it's not known whether any Australians were among the group . Australian actor Hugh Sheridan has made a desperate plea on social media to ask for prayers for his younger brother Zachary who is missing at Mount Everest following a deadly avalanche. 'Please. Anyone who is awake, please pray for my little brother Zachary who is on Mt Everest, I'd appreciate every prayer you have spare x,' the Packed to the Rafters star tweeted. His 20-year-old brother, from Adelaide, was last contacted four days ago. Several friends and family members have made a public appeal for help on Facebook and Twitter in a desperate attempt to find their loved ones. Among them are 18-year-old Liam Oliver, from Victoria and his aunt Dianne Joy Coburn, 59, who are believed to be missing following the quake, ABC reports. Liams' brother Darcy Oliver has posted on Twitter, saying he is searching for more information about his sibling, who was travelling from Change in Nepal's east to Dharpani on the Annapurna Circuit. He said he doesn't know where his aunt was when the quake struck on Saturday. Liam Oliver, 18, from Victoria, and his aunt Dianne Joy Coburn, 59, who are believed to be missing . Liams' brother Darcy Oliver has posted on Twitter, saying he is searching for more information . Justin Pomella, from Melbourne, was last contacted on Friday when he was at Swayambhunath Temple in Kathmandu. His cousin Lauren Caruana has posted a Facebook appeal along with photographs of Justin during his travels in a bid to find any information. The post has been shared more than 300 times. 'If anyone has any information, please let me know as your help would be much appreciated,' she wrote. Sydney business owner Matthew Graves was last contacted two days ago. Just hours before the quake, the 24-year-old posted a series of travelling photos in Pokhara, captioning 'The Nepali lifestyle'. His brother, Mitch Graves, is at home in Sydney waiting for news while their parents are overseas in America. 'It's a bit of a struggle trying to communicate to everyone. It is a waiting game at the moment,' he told AAP. Victorian reserve grade football player Richard Jaroszczuk, 22, is believed to be missing from base camp at Mount Everest. Justin Pomella, from Melbourne, was last contacted on Friday when he was in Kathmandu . Sydney resident Matthew Graves (left) and Richard Jaroszczuk (right) believed to be missing in Nepal . Perth woman Ballantyne Forder, 20, who had been reported missing, has made contact via Facebook to the relief of her loved ones. She's believed to have been working in an orphanage in Kathmandu at the time of the quake. Her family launched a desperate search to find her, posting information across social media in the hopes someone can provide them with information. Her Tasmanian-based sister, Amanda-Sue Markham, shared a number of pictures on Twitter and made a plea for help, saying the family has yet to hear from the 20-year-old. 'My sister at centre of earthquake was working in a baby's orphanage,' she said. 'Last heard of nine hours ago. If you know how to pray, please do so for the safety of my sister.' Ms Markham also told the Nine Network: 'We're trying not to get too worried but of course the pictures that are emerging out of Nepal - we're trying not to look at them.' She was due to return home to Australia on Wednesday. 'It's her 21st birthday on the third of May. She was coming home for her 21st birthday so we really would like to celebrate with her. We just need to get her home.' Perth woman Ballantyne Forder, 20, who was working in a number of orphanages when the earthquake hit . Ballantyne Forder's family launched a desperate search to find her, posting information across social media . Ms Forder's sister said she has 'been over there working at baby orphanages for seven weeks. She gave everything up to over there and help the kids' Ms Forder was due to return home to Australia at the end of May . Another sister, Priscilla-Anne Forder said the family was desperate for news. 'She's been in Kathmandu and Pokhara but we don't know where exactly she is right now,' Ms Forder told News Corp Australia. 'The family is sitting around the computer trying to get in touch and just looking for information. 'She's been over there working at baby orphanages for seven weeks. She gave everything up to over there and help the kids.' Officials have confirmed about 100 New Zealanders in Nepal are safe but are still trying to reach other Kiwis in the affected areas. Efforts are being hampered by disrupted communication networks, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says. A New Zealand Everest climbing team is safe at Camp One as is a group at Mera Peak in Lukla, says NZ high altitude expedition company Adventure Consultants. Collapsed buildings after an earthquake in Kathmand Earthquake hits Nepal on Saturday . A man is pulled from the rubble of a building destroyed in the huge earthquake that rocked Nepal . The scene after an avalanche triggered by a massive earthquake swept across Everest Base Camp . Climbers walk towards their helicopter (not seen) after their Mount Everest expeditions were cancelled . Aid agencies including Oxfam are already sending teams to Nepal in a bid to help in the aftermath of the country's deadliest earthquake in more than 80 years. Oxfam Australia chief executive Helen Szoke said a group of disaster specialists from the UK are flying in with supplies, including clean water, sanitation and emergency food. 'Communication is currently very difficult. Telephone lines are down and the electricity has been cut off, making charging mobile phones difficult,' Dr Szoke said in a statement. 'The water is also cut off. The number of people killed is continuing to rise. Many of the old houses have been destroyed and at least one large apartment block has come down in Kathmandu. 'People are gathered in their thousands in open spaces and are scared, as there were several aftershocks. 'Oxfam staff in Nepal, along with thousands of others, are sleeping outside tonight in football fields and other open spaces because they are the safest place to be.' People gather in Kathmandu's Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was severely damaged . People work to rescue trapped people inside a temple in Bashantapur Durbar Square after the major earthquake hit Kathmandu, Nepal . Emergency rescue workers carry a victim on a stretcher after Dharara tower collapsed . The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is yet to release a statement about any Australians who might have been caught up in the disaster. The federal opposition has called on the Abbott government to offer every assistance towards the recovery effort in Nepal. 'Labour has asked the government for urgent advice about the safety of Australians reported to have been in the area at the time,' Opposition foreign spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek said in a statement on Sunday. Several hundred Australians registered with DFAT as travelling in Nepal. New Zealand said it stands ready to assist with financial and practical help, after authorities confirmed that about 100 Kiwis in Nepal are safe and efforts to contact others continue. A group of men carry a person on a stretcher after the powerful earthquake . People desperately search for survivors stuck under the rubble of a destroyed building . People gathered beside damaged buildings after an earthquake in Kathmandu on Saturday . Effects of the quake were felt hundreds of miles away in neighbouring countries with 20 killed in India, six in Tibet and two in Bangladesh. Two Chinese citizens died at the Nepal-China border. The earthquake is also said to have triggered a massive avalanche on Mount Everest killing eight and injuring at least 30. Several groups of climbers were also said to be trapped at Base Camp which was severely damaged. Officials confirmed that 758 people have died, with 181 people killed in the capital, as rescue teams continue to search for survivors who are feared to be trapped under the rubble. Home Ministry official Laxmi Dhakal warned the death toll is almost certain to rise. Collapsed buildings are seen at Durbar Square after an earthquake in Kathmandu Earthquake hits Nepal . Rescuers search for survivors trapped under rubble of the landmark Bhimsem Tower, also known as Dharahara . The United States Geological Survey said the quake struck 81 kilometres northwest of Kathmandu, with walls crumbling and families racing outside of their homes . The United States Geological Survey said the quake struck 81 kilometres northwest of Kathmandu, with walls crumbling and families racing outside of their homes. The 7.8 magnitude tremor was the worst to hit the poor South Asian nation in over 80 years. Television footage showed a huge swathe of houses had collapsed in while roads had been split in two by the force of the impact. A terrified Kathmandu resident said: 'Everything started shaking. Everything fell down. The walls around the main road have collapsed. 'The national stadiums gates have collapsed,' Anupa Shrestha said. Government emergency workers are reportedly already on the scene in the most damaged areas while Save the Children teams on the ground are coordinating an emergency response.
target: More than a dozen Australians are reported missing following the quake .
  Julie Bishop confirmed there are no reports of Australian deaths .
  The Australian Government has committed $5 million in aid to help Nepal .
  Families have launched a desperate search for information on social media .
  Australian actor Hugh Sheridan has made a desperate plea for his brother .
  Zachary Sheridan is missing after a huge earthquake rocked the country .
  The powerful quake has caused massive damage in the capital Kathmandu .
  Officials have confirmed about 100 New Zealanders in Nepal are safe .
  More than 1800 were killed and warned the death toll likely to rise .