Child disability service — Auckland (North and West)

Call the Child disability service on 09 488 4688

Wilson Centre for Children

1 St Leonards Road

Takapuna

Auckland

National child rehabilitation service

The National child rehabilitation service at the Wilson Centre offers a comprehensive, whānau-centred rehabilitation service for tamariki aged 0 to 16 years old, or while still at school. We provide tertiary level rehabilitation for tamariki and rangatahi nationwide, with neurological, orthopaedic, spinal and other complex conditions requiring intensive rehabilitation.

This includes inpatient, day patient (multiple sessions per day) and outpatient options (single sessions per day). Specialist outpatient clinics are also held on site.

Situated on beautiful grounds in Hauraki, on Auckland’s North Shore, we work together with you and your whānau to develop a goal-orientated programme tailored to meet the needs of your tamaiti and whānau.

The interdisciplinary team includes 24-hour support and care provided by skilled professionals including:

• rehabilitation specialists
• registered nurses
• enrolled nurses
• physiotherapists
• occupational therapists
• speech-language therapists
• social workers
• neuropsychologists
• play specialists
• therapy assistants
• health care assistants
• whānau support workers. 

The rehabilitation school classroom is staffed by the Northern Health Schools.

Respite service (Out of home support)

Respite (Out of home support) is free for whānau in the Auckland and Northland regions. The service offers periodic relief to whānau with tamariki, aged 0 to 16 years old, with disabilities, are medically fragile and have high support needs.

Your tamaiti can enjoy a range of planned stays, which may include:

• day stays
• overnight weekdays
• weekends
• school holidays.

Care is provided by registered nurses, enrolled nurses and skilled hospital aides 24/7. We have play specialists as part of our team who provide opportunities for play and recreation.

Our vision is to provide whānau-centred care and opportunities for your tamaiti. Because every tamaiti is an individual, we work with you to meet their needs in a flexible, fun and safe way. Staff will take time to listen to you. We will follow through programmes and goals you already have in place. We also develop a care plan with you, to meet the needs of your tamaiti.

As health professionals, we care about creating opportunities for your tamaiti to discover new experiences and friendships.

Child rehabilitation service

We accept referrals from healthcare professionals involved in the care of your tamaiti. They will make a referral as and when appropriate.

For healthcare professionals

The tamariki or rangatahi:

• has a complex presentation requiring specialised rehabilitation to maximise functional potential
• is under 16 years of age, or while still in full time education and under paediatric care — 18 years old if long term disability and still in school
• must be medically stable
• has to have an identified lead paediatric consultant, a link to a tertiary consultant, or both.
• must be able and ready to participate in a rehabilitation programme which is whānau centred, goal directed and time framed
• must have an identified primary caregiver who can be a resident for inpatient stays.

How to make a referral

If under Northern region, complete an e-referral, use:

• 'National Child Rehabilitation (Wilson Centre)' if home team is the lead consultant and not under rehabilitation paediatricians.
• 'Paediatric Rehabilitation Service' if wanting to be managed under the rehabilitation paediatricians. 

If outside of Northern region, complete the referral form and send to ncrsreferrals@waitematadhb.govt.nz

National child rehabilitation service referral form [DOCX, 405 KB]

Respite service

Referrals are made by Needs assessment service coordinators Kaikaranga.

Kaikaranga (external link)

You can also email referrals to respite@waitematadhb.govt.nz