The children and young people services provider of more than 80 years announced its rebrand to Uplyft while opening the facility it purchased in 2024.
Children, young people and family services provider Wanslea has opened its new 4,000-square metre Bentley facility, while announcing its rebrand to Uplyft.
After receiving $4.5 million in grants from Lotterywest, Uplyft has completed majority of the fit-out of two buildings at 3 Sarich Way in Bentley to deliver integrated services for children, young people and families.
The new look includes service delivery spaces, audio-visual equipment and modern training facilities, with a yarning circle still to come.
The second building gives Uplyft the opportunity to expand its services but could also be leased to other child and family services providers to generate income.
Uplyft chief executive Jo Sadler said at the launch today creating a one-stop shop for children, young people and families was the ultimate goal for the facility.
“This incredible campus has been designed with service integration,” she said.
“That is so that families can access multiple supports for their child or young person under one roof without having the need to navigate what we know can be really complex service systems.”
Uplyft bought the property two years ago at the start of 2024 for $8 million, according to RP Data.
“We were searching for two years for the ultimate location, and we sold two sites that we had, one in Scarborough and one in Cloverdale, to enable us to purchase this site,” Ms Sadler said.
“But we were really looking for something that was central for families, children and young people to access, as well as having parking and enough space for us to grow, so we were looking anywhere around the CBD.”
Early Childhood Minister Sabine Winton, Member for Victoria Park Hannah Beazley and Lotterywest general manager of grants and community development Lorna Pritchard were given a tour of the new hub.
“I cannot stress the importance of a facility with this hive of activity that reaches in and supports our families where they're at and with everything that they need and want to access,” Ms Beazley said.
“Some of the most complex pathways exist in referrals through our health and disability systems, bringing that all into a one stop shop takes so much burden and logistical burden off families and allows them to be safe and supported.”
With 23 facilities across the state, Uplyft provides a broad range of services to more than 20,000 people, including supporting children through the NDIS, early learning services and research.
The name change, Ms Sadler said, was more reflective of the charity’s mission, as well as its growth since it was established more than 80 years ago.
“We really see Uplyft as representing us, which is more reflective of exactly what we do in terms of providing that support for children and young people to enable them to have the confidence to grow into the future,” Ms Sadler said.
The charity said the rebrand would position it to also act as a “partner, advocate and leader for change”, alongside a service provider.
