How are you going?
Get it off your chest.
Studying far from home, at university, TAFE, college or school. Studying, working, paying the rent and keeping your family's hopes up is a lot to carry. This is a private place to put some of it down.
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. Nothing is sent to your university or college, your education agent, your employer, your landlord, immigration or your family. Unladen Abroad is in early release and still being tested with the people it's for. It is not a medical or emergency service and is not connected to any university, college, education agent, government department or immigration authority. · Give feedback
Take a moment.
Take a slow breath. If you're in danger, call 000. You can ask for an interpreter.
Breathe with this
What you might be feeling
- Shaky, sick, or a racing heart
- Numb, or oddly calm
- Tearful, angry, or both
- Feeling very far from everyone who knows you
These are normal reactions. They usually settle over hours or days.
If someone uses your visa to control you
No employer, landlord, partner or agent can threaten your visa to make you work for less, pay more, or stay quiet. The Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) and 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) can help, and the International Student Legal Service NSW gives free legal advice on (02) 9698 7645.
Ground yourself
Look around. Name them, out loud or in your head.
Call someone now
Add a friend, your student support service or a counsellor in so they're here when you need them.
Not sure who to tell?
It can feel impossible to tell your family you're struggling, especially when they've given so much for you to be here. You don't have to start with them. There are free services that keep things confidential, in your language. Or write down what happened, just for you, while it's fresh.
What helps after
Handover to yourself
A few minutes at the end of the day. 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.
About being underpaid or exploited
Being paid less than the minimum wage, made to work unpaid "trials", or threatened over your visa is not OK. Everyone working in Australia has the same rights. The Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) and the International Student Legal Service NSW ((02) 9698 7645) can help. Call 131 450 for a free interpreter.
Your safety
You said you didn't feel fully safe. That matters. Tell your student support service, or call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). In an emergency, call 000. Ask for an interpreter.
Tonight
You said you've got very little energy left. Eat something, rest if you can, and message someone who knows you, here or at home. If you're getting home late, let a friend know when you're back.
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.
Studying a long way from home
What to watch for, and what helps. Tap a heading to open it.
Family expectations
- Many international students carry their family's hopes, and sometimes their savings or loans.
- Struggling doesn't mean you're letting anyone down. Most families would rather know.
- A counsellor can help you work out what to say, and when.
Failing or falling behind
- A fail is not the end of your course.
- Talk to your course coordinator or international student adviser early. They can explain your options, including how your enrolment and visa are affected.
- Ask about extensions and special consideration before the deadline, not after.
Problems at work
- You have the same workplace rights as everyone in Australia, whatever your visa.
- Cash-in-hand jobs below the minimum wage, unpaid "trials" and having your passport kept are not OK.
- The Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) can help. Call 131 450 for an interpreter.
Housing
- Before you pay, see the room or have someone you trust see it, and get a written agreement.
- Your bond should be lodged with the NSW Government, not kept by the landlord.
- NSW Fair Trading (13 32 20) and the International Student Legal Service NSW ((02) 9698 7645) can help with renting problems.
Loneliness and homesickness
- Missing your language, food and people is real grief, even when you chose to come.
- The first few months and the first big holiday away from home are often the hardest.
- Student clubs, cultural societies, faith groups and peer mentors can help you find your people.
Sexual harassment or assault
- It's never your fault, and it won't affect your visa to get help.
- Your university or college has a support service, and you choose whether to report.
- 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) is there 24/7, with interpreters.
Worrying news from home
- Worrying about family far away, especially if they're ill or in danger, is exhausting.
- Limit how much news you watch, especially at night.
- If it's affecting your studies, your student support service can help with extensions or a break.
Signs you're carrying too much
- Can't concentrate or sleep
- Skipping meals to save money or time
- Dreading classes, or staying in your room
- Feeling numb or hopeless about the future
- Not telling anyone how you really are
These are common for international students. They're signs you need support, not signs you're failing.
Free interpreters
TIS National (131 450) gives free interpreters for calls to many services, including helplines. Just say the language you need.
When to get more help
If things have been heavy for two weeks or more, talk to your university or college counselling service, which is free for students, or a GP. Your student health cover (OSHC) helps pay for GP visits, and many OSHC providers also run a 24/7 student support line. The number is on your membership card or app.
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 confidential
You don't have to go through your family, your education agent, your employer or your landlord. Here are services that keep things private. You choose what to do, and when.
From your university or college
Your university or college can add its own counselling, international student and safety contacts here.
Services that can help
- Your university or college counselling service. Free and confidential for students.
- Your international student adviser. For questions about enrolment, results and your visa.
- International Student Legal Service NSW. Free legal advice on housing, work, harassment and complaints about your college, (02) 9698 7645.
- Fair Work Ombudsman. Workplace rights for everyone, whatever their visa, 13 13 94.
- TIS National. Free interpreter for calls to services, 24/7, 131 450.
- Your OSHC provider. Many run a 24/7 student support line. The number is on your card.
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. Call 131 450 for a free interpreter.
Your state's mental health line
Free advice, assessment and referral from your state or territory's public mental health service, 24/7. Choose your state.
Faith, culture and meaning
Some people find strength in prayer, ritual, or their faith or cultural community. Others find it in cooking food from home, music, exercise or quiet. Whatever gives you meaning counts.
Many universities have chaplains or multi-faith spaces. They support students 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 tell my family. I just need to talk this through."
"Will this affect my visa or my enrolment?"
"I need an interpreter, please."
"I'm a long way from home and I'm not coping."
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.
- Counselling services don't share what you tell them with your lecturers, your family or immigration.
- A legal service can give you confidential advice before you decide anything.
- 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 in a share house or at work. 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 Abroad
Unladen™ Abroad is an early release 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 university, college, education agent, government department or immigration authority. 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 Abroad 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 early release · October 2026