Centre Director/OT

NZROT

I trained as an Occupational Therapist and graduated in 1982. Since then I have been involved in working with children at Tokanui Hospital, Child Development Centre: Waikato Hospital, Conductive Education Unit: Hamilton and the McKenzie Centre. I began at the McKenzie Centre in July 1997 and worked as an OT until I took the position as Centre Director in August 2006. I have had 3 trips to Ireland, the Mid West area to train early intervention teams in using the transdisciplinary approach to early intervention.

Speech Language Therapist

B Logopedics (University of Pretoria, SA, 1994)

I qualified as a Speech/ Language Therapist and Audiologist in South Africa in December 1994. My work experience involved intervention and consultation in Schools for Children with Special Needs, Mainstream Schools, Kindergartens and Early Intervention Centres. I have worked within my own private practice for some time in South Africa. I have worked fulltime as a locum Speech/ Language Therapist in South Africa, the United Kingdom as well as New Zealand. Within my professional career I have special interests such as early childhood communication development, early childhood Dysfluency, stammering and voice disorders. I currently reside in Hamilton, New Zealand.

Assistive Technology Specialist

Diploma in Teaching (1979)

I am a recent arrival to the McKenzie Team. I trained at Hamilton Teacher’s Training College and studied at Waikato University. I have developed a strong interest in maximising the learning and communication opportunities available for children with disabilities and so I was drawn to explore assistive technologies. I have eight years experience in the assessment and implementation of assistive technologies for learning and independence for preschool and school aged children. I’ve worked for a Waikato based charitable trust and latterly for the Ministry of Education-Special Education Services before coming to the McKenzie Centre.

Early Intervention Teacher

B Ed, Dip

Hi, my name is Andrée McGibbon. Started in February 2005 I am an Early Intervention Teacher at the McKenzie Centre. I have a Diploma in Early Childhood, a Higher Teaching Diploma and a Bachelor of Education. I also have a Diploma in Early Intervention. The children and families who attend McKenzie Centre are awesome people. I continue to learn so much from them and my colleagues at McKenzie Centre. I feel very privileged to work in this area of education.

Speech Language Therapist

I finished studying Speech and Language Therapy in 2006 in Christchurch and started working at the McKenzie Centre in January 2007. As a student I really enjoyed working with children and am very fortunate to have a job where I work so closely with children and their families.

Occupational Therapist

NZROT

I completed my training as an Occupational Therapist in 1983. I have worked in a variety of settings since that time; at Community Health Service, Child Development Centre, Hillcrest High School and then coming to McKenzie Centre in April 1999. Since being at McKenzie Centre I have had the opportunity to attend many valuable courses and notably attended a Bobath Neurodevelopmental Course in 2002. McKenzie Centre is a rewarding and stimulating environment to work in, allowing opportunities to share in the success of a child achieving a skill- what could be greater!

Business Manager

I’ve been at McKenzie Centre since August 2006 in the role of Business Manager. That means I work with the Management and Admin staff to ensure that everything is humming along nicely in the background so that the Intervention staff can do the really important work with the kids. Aside from work I am a busy mother with two sets of twins. Two of my children have autism, which is the reason I switched careers from the business world. I am also (at this late age!) studying Law at University. I am interested in how NZ law affects the rights of children and disabled people, and just about everything I learn seems applicable to my work and my home life!! I am originally from New York City, but I left there in 1988 to live in Denmark, and came to New Zealand with my family in 1995. The result of this is that the six people in my family have a total of 13 passports from three different countries! We love New Zealand and consider ourselves kiwis now.

Administration Support

I’m Sandra and I have worked at McKenzie Centre since October 2006. My position is Administration Support which includes answering all incoming calls, marking the roll each day, mail and filing, photocopying, email, invoicing and generally helping out wherever required. Prior to coming to McKenzie Centre I was employed at Special Education for 2 years where I also worked in the Administration team. I especially enjoy getting to know the children and parents who attend the Centre and being part of this team of dedicated staff.

Early Intervention Teacher

Hi my name is Ursula Rapley and I am an Early Intervention Teacher at the McKenzie Centre. My career of working with children and their families began with completing the Diploma of Teaching in early Childhood in 1990.I worked as a kindergarten teacher for about 7 years before completing the Diploma in Early Intervention in 1996. I started working as an early Intervention teacher at the McKenzie Centre in 1997.Over the past ten years I have gained valuable experience and knowledge from the children, their families and my colleagues. I have a young son Shannon who I am sure will provide me with many wonderful first hand experiences of parenthood.

Early Intervention Teacher

Hi, I am Teresa Blake and I have been working as an Early Intervention Teacher at McKenzie Centre since August 2007. I originally trained in Early Childhood and taught in kindergartens in both Hamilton and Tauranga. While my two children were young, I worked as an Education Support Worker for Ministry of Education, Group Special Education for seven years, so that I had the flexibility to be available for their school activities. While studying for the Diploma in Early Intervention which I gained in May 2008, I also worked at Conductive Education. I have a passion for children and have gained a variety of skills and knowledge during my teaching career.

Physiotherapist

I qualified in 1990 with a Diploma in Physiotherapy from Auckland and have worked in the Paediatric field since both in the hospital setting and privately in Tauranga and Whakatane. I have been at McKenzie Centre since 2003 and really enjoy seeing the children progress (both big and little gains), and I love being the physiotherapist at McKenzie Centre. When not working I’m busy caring for our three children (and husband) plus a “zoo” of animals at home, or maybe escaping to the beach.

Office Coordinator

Hi, my name is Lillian Martin and I am the newest member of the McKenzie Centre team. I started in January 2009 as the part time Office Coordinator. I am married to Tony and we have two teenage children, one of whom has special needs. We came to McKenzie Centre when my son was young so I am very pleased to be able to come back now and share my skills.

Pyschologist

Hello I trained as a clinical psychologist at Waikato University and qualified in the early 1990s. For 13 years I worked for the Behaviour Assessment Team of the Community Living Trust, where I worked to support people with an intellectual disability and their families. In the last four years I have been in private practice as a psychologist and work at Patricia Avenue Special School, and with adult services that support people with intellectual disabilities. I will be working 6 hours per week: most weeks I will be in on Monday and Friday mornings. I will also be available to do some home visits and visits to early childhood centres and schools. I enjoy working with families and hearing their stories. I see my work at McKenzie Centre as a way of supporting families to find ways of enhancing their child’s life. I am looking forward to meeting you!

Social Worker

Kia ora koutou My name is Marcia Ranginui Charlton and I am the latest addition to the McKenzie Centre team. As a social worker, my role is assisting families to access community services and making sure you are receiving as much support as is available. I can help with personal or family issues so speak to your key worker about a referral. Look forward to meeting you all 