In July 2026 a comprehensive case study for the Aldinga pilot, covering the work done behind the scenes, was prepared.
ALDINGA PILOT - AT A GLANCE
12 months: July 2025 - July 2026
6 venues
1500 coasters
A local Whisperer Team established
Staff and community members trained
Multiple community locations involved
THE CHALLENGE
With pubs being a place people often go for connection, there was not a way to meet others where they were at, in hospitality venues, when they were struggling with suicide distress. People didn't have a way of communicating their distress, when the words were hard to speak. Community was sometimes oblivious to someone struggling, and weren’t being encouraged to reach out or for people to spot the signs and ask if they were “ok”
THE IDEA
The pilot introduced a suicide-prevention signal, education and community connection designed to help venue staff and community members respond to someone experiencing distress.
We made suicide prevention training easily accessible to bar staff and community members, and created a local “Whisperer Team”. With the GLASS EMPTY coaster we were able to create a signal, "an upturned glass with a coaster placed on its base", to help people start a conversation when the words about their distress were hard to find.
THE PILOT
Coasters featuring the GLASS EMPTY signal and links to the website were distributed free to participating venues, along with education, posters for walls and coaster holders.
Venue staff had access to the Blackdog Institute's Recognise and Respond online suicide prevention training.
The community was approached to create a team of helpers, aka The Aldinga Whisperer Team, to assist someone in distress in participating venues, if staff were too busy to assist.
A “supportive guide” flier was created and distributed to venues to help someone in those quiet moments, when a conversation can't be shared because staff are too busy or unable to engage in a conversation immediately.
WHO PARTICIPATED
WHAT WE OBSERVED
We distributed approximately 1500 coasters over the 12-month period from July 2025 to July 2026. The majority of which were taken by people wanting to share the idea with friends and family and/or start important conversations around suicide distress.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING
The GLASS EMPTY coasters are being taken by community members who want to share the idea with friends and family and start conversations around suicide distress. Venues displaying the coasters also tell the community that it's okay to ask for help when someone is struggling.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW YET
Whether the GLASS EMPTY Signal is something people feel self conscious about doing to strangers.
WHAT PEOPLE SAID
"Since joining the Whisperer Team about 15 months ago, I have really enjoyed our meetings, trainings and generally feeling empowered to help others. I have noticed an awareness of the program (in the community) which is encouraging."
"Incredible and well needed initiative. Well done legends."
LIMITATIONS OF THE PILOT
This was a community pilot rather than a controlled research study. The number of participating venues was small, and we did not systematically measure how many people used the GLASS EMPTY signal or the outcomes of individual conversations. The findings therefore should be viewed as early learning rather than evidence that GLASS EMPTY reduces suicide.
WHAT WE NEED TO LEARN NEXT
Does GLASS EMPTY create more opportunities for people to talk about how they're really going? Does it work for different communities? What could go wrong?
The Aldinga pilot is helping us learn whether a simple, recognisable community signal can make it easier for people experiencing suicide distress to start a conversation and connect with appropriate support.
In a NUTSHELL:
Version 1
Signal + coaster
WHAT WE LEARNED
Venue staff can't always leave what they're doing.
RESPONSE
Created the Aldinga Whisperer Team
WHAT WE LEARNED
Sometimes someone needs support when a staff member isn't immediately available.
RESPONSE
Created the supportive guide/community pathway.
Download the report below.
ALDINGA PILOT - AT A GLANCE
12 months: July 2025 - July 2026
6 venues
1500 coasters
A local Whisperer Team established
Staff and community members trained
Multiple community locations involved
THE CHALLENGE
With pubs being a place people often go for connection, there was not a way to meet others where they were at, in hospitality venues, when they were struggling with suicide distress. People didn't have a way of communicating their distress, when the words were hard to speak. Community was sometimes oblivious to someone struggling, and weren’t being encouraged to reach out or for people to spot the signs and ask if they were “ok”
THE IDEA
The pilot introduced a suicide-prevention signal, education and community connection designed to help venue staff and community members respond to someone experiencing distress.
We made suicide prevention training easily accessible to bar staff and community members, and created a local “Whisperer Team”. With the GLASS EMPTY coaster we were able to create a signal, "an upturned glass with a coaster placed on its base", to help people start a conversation when the words about their distress were hard to find.
THE PILOT
Coasters featuring the GLASS EMPTY signal and links to the website were distributed free to participating venues, along with education, posters for walls and coaster holders.
Venue staff had access to the Blackdog Institute's Recognise and Respond online suicide prevention training.
The community was approached to create a team of helpers, aka The Aldinga Whisperer Team, to assist someone in distress in participating venues, if staff were too busy to assist.
A “supportive guide” flier was created and distributed to venues to help someone in those quiet moments, when a conversation can't be shared because staff are too busy or unable to engage in a conversation immediately.
WHO PARTICIPATED
- The Aldinga Hotel, Aldinga
- The Alma Hotel, Willunga
- The Victory Hotel, Sellicks Beach
- Snapper Point Brewery, Aldinga Beach
- Louis Cafe, Aldinga Central Shopping Centre
- Willunga Golf Course, Willunga
WHAT WE OBSERVED
We distributed approximately 1500 coasters over the 12-month period from July 2025 to July 2026. The majority of which were taken by people wanting to share the idea with friends and family and/or start important conversations around suicide distress.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING
The GLASS EMPTY coasters are being taken by community members who want to share the idea with friends and family and start conversations around suicide distress. Venues displaying the coasters also tell the community that it's okay to ask for help when someone is struggling.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW YET
Whether the GLASS EMPTY Signal is something people feel self conscious about doing to strangers.
WHAT PEOPLE SAID
"Since joining the Whisperer Team about 15 months ago, I have really enjoyed our meetings, trainings and generally feeling empowered to help others. I have noticed an awareness of the program (in the community) which is encouraging."
"Incredible and well needed initiative. Well done legends."
LIMITATIONS OF THE PILOT
This was a community pilot rather than a controlled research study. The number of participating venues was small, and we did not systematically measure how many people used the GLASS EMPTY signal or the outcomes of individual conversations. The findings therefore should be viewed as early learning rather than evidence that GLASS EMPTY reduces suicide.
WHAT WE NEED TO LEARN NEXT
Does GLASS EMPTY create more opportunities for people to talk about how they're really going? Does it work for different communities? What could go wrong?
The Aldinga pilot is helping us learn whether a simple, recognisable community signal can make it easier for people experiencing suicide distress to start a conversation and connect with appropriate support.
In a NUTSHELL:
Version 1
Signal + coaster
WHAT WE LEARNED
Venue staff can't always leave what they're doing.
RESPONSE
Created the Aldinga Whisperer Team
WHAT WE LEARNED
Sometimes someone needs support when a staff member isn't immediately available.
RESPONSE
Created the supportive guide/community pathway.
Download the report below.
| glass_empty___the_whisperer_team_-_aldinga_case_study_-_august_2026.pdf |
