How are you today?
Get it off your chest.
Living alone, retired, widowed, new to the area, or just not seeing many people. Pop the kettle on and check in with yourself. Then find someone to talk to.
Which best describes you?
This changes a few questions and which support lines come first. You can change it any time.
Everything you enter stays on this phone. Everything you enter stays on this phone or tablet. Nothing is sent to your family, a service or anyone else. Unladen Kettle is a prototype. It is not a medical or emergency service and is not connected to any aged care provider, service or government agency. · Give feedback
Take a moment.
Sit down, take a slow breath, and have a glass of water. If you're hurt or unwell, call 000.
Breathe with this
What you might be feeling
- Shaky, sick, or a racing heart
- Numb, or oddly calm
- Tearful, angry, or both
- Wondering who you could call
These are normal reactions. They usually settle over hours or days.
If someone is taking advantage of you
If someone close to you is taking your money, pressuring you, neglecting you or hurting you, that's elder abuse. Call 1800 ELDERHELP (1800 353 374) for free advice.
Ground yourself
Look around. Name them, out loud or in your head.
Call someone now
Add a neighbour, friend or family member in so they're here when you need them.
Not sure who to tell?
If there's no one close by, there are friendly people you can call, just for a chat. Or write down what happened, just for you, while it's fresh.
What helps after
Handover to yourself
A few minutes for you. Notice how you're going, then think of one small thing for tomorrow.
Please talk to someone now
You said you've had thoughts of harming yourself or not wanting to be here. Please call one of these now. If you're in immediate danger, call 000.
Light load
This phone isn't letting the page save. Your result shows here but won't be kept.
About being taken advantage of
You don't deserve to be pressured, neglected or hurt, even by family. 1800 ELDERHELP (1800 353 374) gives free, confidential advice. You can talk it through before you decide anything.
Your safety
You said you didn't feel fully safe. That matters. If someone is hurting or frightening you, call 1800 353 374, or 000 in an emergency.
Looking after yourself tonight
You said you've got very little energy left. Have something warm to eat, keep your phone close, and plan one small thing for tomorrow.
What might help
People you can call
This isn't a medical assessment. It's a way to notice how you're going over time.
How it's been going
Last 14 days
Handovers
This phone isn't letting the page save, so handovers won't be kept.
Privacy & your data
Add a PIN, download what you've entered, or delete everything from this phone.
You matter, and people want to hear from you
What to watch for, and what helps. Tap a heading to open it.
Feeling lonely
- Loneliness is common, at any age. It's not a failure.
- FriendLine (1800 424 287) is a free, friendly chat with a volunteer, 10am to 8pm every day.
- Small regular things help: a library, a walk group, a men's shed, a choir.
- Saying hello to the same person each day counts.
A fall or a health scare
- If you're hurt, call 000.
- Tell your GP, even if you feel fine afterwards.
- Ask about a personal alarm if you live alone.
- My Aged Care (1800 200 422) can help you find support at home.
Losing a partner or friends
- Grief can bring loneliness, even years later.
- Talk about the person you've lost. It helps.
- Unladen Grief is there for this too.
Being taken advantage of
- Elder abuse can be money, pressure, neglect or harm, often by someone close.
- 1800 ELDERHELP (1800 353 374) gives free advice.
- You don't have to decide anything straight away.
After work or caring ends
- Retirement, or the end of caring for someone, can leave a big gap.
- Volunteering, learning something new or helping a neighbour can bring back purpose.
- It's OK if it takes time.
Signs you're carrying too much
- Days going by without talking to anyone
- Not bothering to eat properly
- Sleeping a lot, or very little
- Losing interest in things you enjoyed
- Feeling like a burden
Anyone can feel this way. It's a normal response, not a weakness.
When to get more help
If you've been feeling low for two weeks or more, talk to your GP. A GP can set up a Mental Health Treatment Plan for Medicare-subsidised sessions with a psychologist.
People to call
Save the ones that apply to you. They stay on this phone and show up on the Help now screen.
Support lines
Someone to talk to
You don't have to wait for someone to call you. Here are friendly people and services you can reach out to.
From a local service
A local council, library or community centre can add its own groups and contacts here.
Friendly people to call
- FriendLine. A free, anonymous chat with a friendly volunteer, 10am to 8pm every day, 1800 424 287.
- My Aged Care. Help at home, transport and social support, 1800 200 422.
- Your local library or community centre. Groups, classes and a friendly face.
- A neighbour. Often happy to be asked.
- Your GP. Can refer you on.
Text or chat instead of calling
For when talking out loud isn't possible, or feels like too much.
For particular situations
Numbers and services are for New South Wales and Australia-wide.
Spiritual and religious support
Some people find strength in prayer, ritual or their faith or cultural community after a hard day. Others find it in nature, music, exercise or quiet. Whatever gives you meaning counts.
If your workplace has a chaplain or wellbeing officer, they support people of any faith or none. Their role is to listen, not to persuade.
Words to start with
The first sentence is often the hardest. You could say:
"I'm not ready to make a complaint. I just need to talk this through."
"Can this stay between us? Is there anything you'd have to pass on?"
"I'm just ringing for a chat."
"I've been feeling a bit lonely lately."
What happens if I tell someone?
- Counsellors, peer supporters and helplines keep what you say private. The main exception is if someone is at serious risk of harm. If you're unsure, ask at the start.
- A union can give you confidential advice before you decide anything.
- A friendly line is happy to just chat. You don't need a reason to call.
- Your private record in this app stays on your phone unless you choose to share it.
Not ready to tell anyone?
That's OK. You can write down what happened, just for yourself, and decide later.
Numbers and services are for New South Wales and Australia-wide. Check with your organisation for its own services.
Write down what happened
It stays on this phone. It isn't a report, and nothing is sent anywhere. If you later decide to raise something, notes written at the time are easier to rely on than memory.
My entries
Entries can't be edited, so each one shows when it was written. To add something, write a new entry.
No entries yet.
If you decide to share it, you can download it or send it to yourself.
Your phone, your data
PIN lock
Ask for a PIN when the app opens, and after it has been in the background for a minute.
PIN is on.
The PIN stops someone else opening the app on your phone. It doesn't encrypt what's stored, so keep your phone locked too. If you forget it, you can delete everything and start again.
Hide the screen
Tap the eye button at the top of any screen to cover the app straight away, for example when someone is visiting. Tap to come back, or enter your PIN if you've set one.
Download my data
Download everything you've entered (handovers, private record and contacts) as a text file. You could keep a copy, or show it to your GP or counsellor.
Delete everything
Deletes your handovers, private record, role, contacts and PIN from this phone.
Delete everything from this phone? This can't be undone.
About Unladen Kettle
Unladen™ Kettle is a prototype made by Co-Synthesist Pty Ltd, Newcastle NSW. Unladen™ is a trade mark of Co-Synthesist Pty Ltd. It isn't a medical or emergency service, and it isn't connected to any aged care provider, service or government agency. The questions haven't been clinically validated yet.
What's stored: your role, handovers, private record, saved contacts and settings, only in this phone's browser. Nothing is sent to anyone. There are no accounts, analytics or trackers.
Feedback: the feedback form is the only part of Unladen Kettle that sends anything, and only when you press Send. It doesn't include anything else from the app.
Keep in mind: if you clear your browser data or remove the app, what you've entered goes too. Download a copy first if you want to keep it.
Version 0.1 prototype · October 2026