Rhys Powell has spent over 15 years working in the welfare sector. As Community and Corporate Engagement Manager at Uniting WA, his passion is clear: helping the most vulnerable in our community find stability, dignity and hope.
After moving to Australia from Wales 15 years ago, he quickly found his place in community work. Rhys started as a team leader in transitional housing before moving through several roles at Uniting WA.
Today, he connects with communities, corporations, schools and churches to share the work of Uniting WA and how they can get involved.
Eight Pathways to Support
Uniting WA supports people through eight core pathways. These include:
- Children and young people
- Vulnerable families
- People living with a disability
- Financial wellbeing
- Homelessness services
“We try to cover every avenue where people might need extra support,” said Rhys. “But our biggest focus is homelessness.”
The Tranby Engagement Hub
One of Uniting WA’s standout services is the Tranby Engagement Hub which provides food, showers, and support services for people who are sleeping rough in and around the City of Perth.
“Tranby has been around since the early ’90s,” Rhys explained. “We’re open every single day of the year. No exceptions.” This hub is more than just a place to rest. It brings multiple services under one roof:
- Medical Support from Homeless Healthcare
- Laundry through Orange Sky
- Hairdressing services
- Legal help via Street Law
- An in-house Centrelink officer
But what sets Tranby apart is its trauma-informed approach. “We build relationships first,” Rhys said. “We don’t make people tell their story over and over. We walk the journey with them.”
A Growing Need
The need for services like Tranby is rising fast. “Before COVID, about 120 people came through daily,” Rhys said. “Now, it’s up to 400.”
That’s more than a threefold increase. And while Uniting WA works closely with the government, the rise in demand has made volunteers and donors more vital than ever. “We have over 200 active volunteers,” said Rhys. “They are the heart of what we do.”
Who’s Most at Risk?
The face of homelessness is changing. “One of the fastest-growing groups is women over 55,” Rhys shared. “That could be your mum, your aunt. It really hits home.”
He also pointed to people facing homelessness for the first time due to rising living costs and the housing crisis.
Show Your Heart for the Homeless
This May, we’re partnering with organisations like Uniting WA to collect items to show our Heart for the Homeless. You can join by donating sleeping bags, backpacks, hygiene products and warm clothing to one of the drop-off points listed here.
Listen to the full conversation below.