Nate Palmer's family has thanked Canberra for its support as they rally around the teenager to give him every support he needs.
"We're eternally grateful," his dad Rhett Palmer said.
Mr Palmer also revealed it was Nate's Chicago Bulls shorts that helped to locate him in Sydney on Monday.
Nate was located by CCTV in central Sydney on Monday after a ranger monitoring screens recognised his distinctive shorts.
The 16-year-old electrical apprentice was found by members of the NSW Police Force in the Sydney CBD and reunited with his father Rhett and stepmother Rachael on Monday at a nearby police station.
The couple had been distributing posters asking for any information about Nate's whereabouts just before their emotional reunion with their much-loved son.
Mr Palmer just hugged his son and told him he loved him.
"It is a massive relief because we have been up, down, up, down [with our emotions]," he said.
Nate had last been seen by his mother Katie Hill and sister 11 days earlier when going to bed at his Isabella Plains home on the evening of September 19.
His disappearance was out of character and grave concerns were held for his welfare.
Mobile phone locators and CCTV placed Nate at Darling Harbour and the Sydney CBD soon after he disappeared.
But before he was located, there had been no sign of the teenager for nine days.
The agony of his disappearance and the joy of him being reunited with his family seemed to be shared by all of Canberra.
Mr Palmer thanked Canberrans for their support, whether it was sharing information, cooking meals for the family or sending a message to them.
He also thanked local media including The Canberra Times for spreading the word in the effort to locate Nate.
They felt like they were part of a wonderful community.
"We're very fortunate that this was a positive outcome for us," Mr Palmer said.
"My heart goes out to those who are to this day, still, looking for their loved ones."
The Palmers, Ms Hill and Nate's older siblings, came together to try to find him. They printed posters, set up a Facebook page and liaised with police. The Palmers then travelled to Sydney last weekend to trace Nate's last steps and distribute posters. Then came the miraculous reunion on Monday.
Rachael Palmer said she was relieved and exhausted and was now focused on helping Nate in whatever way he needed.
"Canberra is a really amazing community," she said.
Nate is part of a large, blended family that includes sisters Chani, 21, and Nevaeh, 18; stepsisters Brooklyne, 21; and Eden, 17; and stepbrothers Chase, 12; and Blaise, five.
They are all overjoyed to have him back home.
