Canterbury children supports
Discover the services available to support our rangatahi and tamariki in the Christchurch and Canterbury region
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Discover the services available to support our rangatahi and tamariki in the Canterbury region.
Our Canterbury region is part of the South Island | Te Waipounamu region through Health New Zealand.
If you live in Christchurch (Ōtautahi), Timaru, Ashburton, Rangiora, Geraldine, Fairlie, Twizel, Tekapo, or Kaikōura or anywhere else in the Canterbury region; there are support services available for you and your children.
You can access Child Development Services through a referral from your GP (doctor), Plunket nurse, or a pediatrician at the hospital. Take a look at the providers in your region below.
The Champion Centre
The Champion Centre supports babies and young children in Canterbury with significant developmental challenges. They work with families, offering centre-based programmes that follow international best practices.
Their purpose is to create hope and communities where every child can thrive.
They help children with a wide range of needs, including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, and developmental delays. Services include:
Early intervention for children from birth to school age.
Specialised support for children with communication and social difficulties.
Monitoring for children at risk due to health issues or prematurity.
Individual assessments to better understand a child’s development.
Equipping families and communities with lifelong tools.
What to expect at The Champion Centre
Based in Burwood Hospital, The Champion Centre is an early intervention service for children with complex developmental challenges. They have a team of expert teachers and therapists to support this service.
In the words of the team
“The Centre helps children discover their voice, their joy, and their place in the world. For parents struggling with fear and uncertainty, it becomes a guiding light through the darkest moments.
Every connection, every session, every act of kindness transforms lives, proving that no child is ever beyond reach when compassion and expertise come together.”
Contact the team
Email office@championcentre.org.nz
Website championcentre.org.nz
Phone 03 383 6867
Address
Gate 1, Burwood Hospital, 300 Burwood Road, Christchurch