Wanslea Uplyft Grandcare Helpline WA: Services, Phone Number and What They Help With

Two Helplines, Two Different Agencies

If you are a grandparent raising a grandchild in Western Australia, there are two free helplines worth knowing about — and they do different things:

Wanslea (Uplyft) Grandcare: 1800 794 909 State-funded, WA-specific. Handles the Grandcarers Support Scheme (GSS) application, peer support groups, casework referrals and crisis counselling. Email: [email protected].

Centrelink Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers: 1800 245 965 Federal, Australia-wide. Handles Family Tax Benefit claims, Change of Care, ACCS Grandparent childcare subsidy, Medicare card transfers and other Centrelink payments.

Knowing which number to call for what saves you from being transferred back and forth.

What Wanslea (Uplyft) Grandcare Actually Does

Wanslea has been the WA Government's contracted provider for grandparent carer support since the Grandparent Carer Support Services (GCSS) Program was established. They now operate under the Uplyft brand. Their services include:

Grandcarers Support Scheme administration — Wanslea processes the GSS annual payment ($1,000 per grandchild, plus the $500/$250 cost-of-living top-up and $377 Gold Card energy relief from 2026–27). They handle applications, renewals and payment queries.

Casework and advocacy — A Grandcare caseworker can help you navigate the system when you are stuck. That might mean helping gather evidence for a Centrelink claim, making referrals to Legal Aid WA, or writing a support letter for a school enrolment.

Peer support groups — In-person groups in Perth and some regional areas where you meet other grandparent carers.

Crisis counselling — Immediate support if you are in distress. They can also refer you to emergency financial help through HUGS (Hardship Utility Grant Scheme) or other crisis services.

What the Centrelink Grandparent Advisers Do

The 1800 245 965 line connects you with specialised Centrelink staff who understand the specific situation of grandparents and kinship carers. They assist with:

• Lodging Family Tax Benefit Part A and Part B claims
• Processing a Change of Care when a child moves into your household
• ACCS Grandparent childcare subsidy applications
• Double Orphan Pension claims
• Medicare card transfers (adding the child to your card)
• Connecting you with a Services Australia Social Worker for urgent financial hardship

The claim process is administrative: it establishes care for payment purposes and is handled separately from the Department of Communities' child-protection functions. It is not itself a child-protection assessment.

Getting the Most From Your Call

Before calling either helpline, gather:

1. Your Centrelink CRN (Customer Reference Number) and the child's CRN if they have one
2. The child's birth certificate or at least their full name and date of birth
3. Any evidence of care you already have — school enrolment letter, GP letter, statutory declaration
4. A notebook — write down the date, the name of the person you speak with, and any reference numbers they give you

Processing the GSS takes 15 to 30 business days from a complete application. Centrelink claims for FTB take 21 to 42 days. Missing evidence is the main reason for delays, so having your documents ready before you call makes a real difference.

When You Need More Than a Phone Call

Both helplines are valuable starting points, but phone staff cannot sit with you and work through every form. If you want a structured, step-by-step guide covering the GSS application, every Centrelink payment, school enrolment, medical consent and the appeal process — all organised by what to do first and what evidence you need — our WA Kinship Carer Support Guide puts everything in one printable document.

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