McKenzie Centre was officially opened on 27 September 1984 by His Excellency the Governor General, The Hon Sir David Beattie. Speaking at the ceremony was McKenzie Education Foundation chair Roy McKenzie speaking to the umbrella-sheltering spectators with Sir David and Norma, Lady Beattie.
Since it opened 40 years ago in Hamilton, McKenzie Centre has been dedicated to supporting children with disabilities and helped children achieve both short-term goals and long-term success.
Over the decades, thousands of children and their families have benefitted from the centre’s early intervention approach.
This service delivery model which incorporates a transdisciplinary approach effectively assesses each child’s unique needs and connects them with a highly trained team of professionals through parent-led and tailored planning.
Service manager Suzanne Kok highlights the team’s skill, experience and passion for early childhood development.
“Despite evolving service delivery models, the centre’s mission remains unchanged since its opening in 1984,” she says.
Before it opened, representatives from the Child Development Centre at Waikato Hospital, the Society for the Intellectually Handicapped, Hamilton West School and the Hamilton Children’s Trust spent three years developing its goals and laying the centre’s foundation.
“Their vision was to offer a coordinated, transdisciplinary programme of specialised care, intervention, and education for children with disabilities from birth, with working in partnership with parents being crucial to its success,” says Suzanne.
The centre’s goal today is to help whānau identify their unique priorities for support and learning for their child, their family and themselves.
“The team collaborates with families to enhance children’s interaction and play skills, communication, understanding, expressive language, learning, emotional regulation, sensory awareness and social skills.”
Even after children leave the centre to go to school, the team maintains connections with them.
“The children that come through McKenzie Centre are part of our whānau,” says Suzanne.
“We don’t forget them, and we love seeing them when they come back for a visit.”
To mark its 40th anniversary, McKenzie Centre is hosting a celebration on Saturday, November 2, at Hamilton West School grounds.
The event will feature food and refreshments, bouncy castles, raffles, and plenty of fun and festivities and provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and reconnect with current and past families and staff.
