Child development — Waikato

To contact the Child Development Centre:

• phone: 07 839 8709
• email: CDCadmin@waikato.health.nz

The Child Development Centre is at:

Level 1
222 Pembroke Street
Waikato Hospital
Hamilton 3204

We provide the following services for tamariki diagnosed with a physical, sensory or intellectual disability and those at risk of developmental delay and disability:

• diagnostic assessments
• home safety adaptation
• equipment modification services
• visiting therapist services.

We also provide specialised services such as:

• splinting
• orthopaedic physiotherapy
• premature baby
• soiling clinics.  

The Child Development Centre diagnostic assessment clinicians assess and help children with or who are suspected of having a developmental disability and will be eligible for Whaikaha funded disability support.

These are

• autism spectrum disorder
• intellectual disability
• global developmental delay.

We may also refer children on to a neurodevelopmental paediatrician at the Child Development Centre if there are medical needs alongside disability needs.

We offer autism coordination service to those who have been diagnosed with autism, by helping families access information, supports, and other services through their links in the community. 

We offer social worker support to help families of disabled tamariki or rangatahi navigate their journey including supportive counselling by linking families to practical services available within our community. 

Our kaitiaki also offers cultural support to Māori patients and whānau.

Who do we help

We predominantly see tamariki and rangatahi aged 0 to 15 years, identified as having a physical, intellectual or sensory disability (or a combination of these) that:

• is likely to continue for a minimum of 6 months, and those tamariki and rangatahi who are at risk of developing such a disability
• needs ongoing support to live independently, to the extent that ongoing support is required.

Our service is available for all New Zealand citizens or those who are entitled to publicly funded healthcare. 

Our autism coordination service is available to any tamariki or rangatahi aged 0 to 19 years, diagnosed with only autism, or autism with a global developmental delay.

Our general exclusions are tamariki or rangatahi:

• who have short-term acute illness and are expected to return to their former level of wellness or function
• who require palliative care and are terminally ill
• who have an acute need
• whose parents have not consented and do not understand the reason for referral
• who have an isolated or specific mental health condition, such as ADHD, ADD, or severe anxiety and seeking diagnosis for this condition
• who have isolated speech and language concerns or isolated sensory processing difficulties and seeking a diagnosis.

Each service we offer has specific eligibility requirements. For any inquiries:

• email: CDCadmin@waikatodhb.health.nz

Who we are

Our team consists of:

• psychologists
• occupational therapists
• physiotherapists
• visiting neurodevelopmental therapists
• speech-language therapists
• social worker
• kaitiaki | cultural support worker
• autism coordinators
• developmental paediatricians
• paediatric registrars
• administration staff
• manager.

A referral for this service must come from:

• healthcare providers such as GPs
• Tamariki Ora | Well Child
• Whānau Āwhina | Plunket
• early childhood centres
• schools through:
  • specials education needs coordinator (SENCO)
  • resource teachers for learning and behaviour (RTLB)
  • Ministry of Education special education
  • other education professionals
• community and welfare agencies.

All referrals require parental consent.

It is important for referrals to contain as much information as possible about the developmental disability concerns. It can also be helpful if cross contextual information from parents can be included.  

Referral information for healthcare providers (external link)