The Champion Centre came about through the vision of Dr. Patricia Champion who, in the late 1970’s, drew together key individuals who shared her ideas about child development and the rights of children with developmental disabilities. Together they managed to battle against prevailing notions of child development and intervention to create a new kind of early intervention service for New Zealand. It was not an easy road, but the value of the programme can be seen in the positive impact on the more than 3,000 children and their families who have accessed its services over the last 40 years.

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Prior to 2000 the Centre was recognised as the Christchurch Early Intervention Trust and operated from various different locations over time, including the Christchurch College of Education, Glenmoor School, and Ward 4 of Burwood Hospital. Each had its advantages and disadvantages, but none were truly the programme's home. Finally, with the help and support of Professor Alan Clarke, the programme moved to the ground floor of the old nurses’ home on the campus of Burwood Hospital. With this move, the home of the programme was officially named the Champion Centre and was gifted the name of Tamariki Toiora by Ngāi Tahu when it was opened on February 21st, 2002, by The Honourable Roger McClay, Commissioner for Children.