How are you going?
Get it off your chest.
Partners, parents and grown-up kids of Defence members, police, paramedics, firefighters, health workers, FIFO and shift workers. You carry some of it too. This space is for you.
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. Nothing is sent to their employer, to them, or anyone else. Unladen Kin is a prototype. It is not a medical or emergency service and is not connected to any employer, Defence, emergency service or government agency. · Give feedback
Take a moment.
Take a breath. Whatever has happened, you don't have to work it all out right now.
Breathe with this
What you might be feeling
- Shaky, sick, or a racing heart
- Numb, or oddly calm
- Tearful, angry, or both
- Wanting to fix it for them, and not being able to
These are normal reactions. They usually settle over hours or days.
If you're worried they might harm themselves
Ask them directly if they're thinking about suicide. It doesn't put the idea in their head. If they're in danger now, call 000. You can also call Lifeline (13 11 14), or the Defence Member and Family Helpline if they serve.
Ground yourself
Look around. Name them, out loud or in your head.
Call someone now
Add a friend, family member or a support line in so they're here when you need them.
Not sure who to tell?
Sometimes you can't talk to them about it, or to their workplace. There are people who support families directly. Or write down what happened, just for you, while it's fresh.
What helps after
Handover to yourself
A few minutes for you. Notice what you're carrying, then put down what you can.
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.
If home doesn't feel safe
Stress from hard jobs can spill into relationships, but violence, threats and control are never OK. 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) is there 24/7. If you're in danger, call 000. Use the eye button at the top to hide this screen quickly.
Your safety
You said you didn't feel fully safe. That matters. If someone at home is frightening or hurting you, call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), or 000 in an emergency.
Looking after yourself tonight
You said you've got very little energy left. Eat something, rest if you can, and let one person know how you're going.
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.
Carrying it at home
What to watch for, and what helps. Tap a heading to open it.
Worried about them
- Notice changes: sleep, drinking, anger, withdrawing, or talking about not wanting to be here.
- Ask how they're going, and listen without trying to fix it.
- Their workplace probably has peer support or an EAP. Defence families can call 1800 624 608.
- If you're worried about suicide, ask directly, and call Lifeline (13 11 14) together.
They came home changed
- After a hard job, people can be quiet, irritable, or not there even when they're home.
- It's often a normal reaction, and it usually eases. If it doesn't after a few weeks, gently encourage them to get support.
- You're allowed to find it hard too.
Deployments, rosters and time apart
- FIFO swings, deployments and night shifts mean doing a lot alone.
- Routines and something to look forward to help.
- Coming back can be harder than going. Give everyone time to readjust.
Kids and young people
- Kids notice more than we think. Simple, honest explanations help.
- Keep routines steady.
- Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) is free, any time, for kids and young people up to 25.
When you're not coping
- Families of people in hard jobs often put themselves last.
- Your GP can set up a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
- Open Arms supports families of current and former ADF members, 1800 011 046.
If home isn't safe
- Stress doesn't excuse violence, threats or control.
- 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) is there 24/7.
- In an emergency, call 000.
- The eye button at the top hides this screen quickly.
Signs you're carrying too much
- Always on edge, waiting for the phone to ring
- Not sleeping
- Feeling alone, even with them home
- Drinking more
- Snapping at the kids or yourself
Loving someone who does a hard job takes something out of you too. It's a normal response, not a weakness.
When to get more help
If things have been heavy 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
Support that's just for you
You don't have to go through them, or their workplace. Here are people who support families directly. You choose what to do, and when.
From their organisation
Their employer may have family support, and family members can often use the EAP too.
People who support families
- Defence Member and Family Helpline. For Defence families, 24/7, 1800 624 608.
- Open Arms. Counselling for current and former ADF members and their families, 24/7, 1800 011 046.
- Their workplace EAP. Many emergency services and employers let family members use it too. Ask.
- Relationships Australia. Counselling for couples and families, 1300 364 277.
- 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?"
"My partner does a hard job, and it's affecting me too."
"I don't know how to help them."
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 support line will listen without you having to explain the whole story.
- 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 at home or around them. 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 Kin
Unladen™ Kin 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 employer, Defence, emergency 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 Kin 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