'champion connection,' august 2020

Korero with Susan

Kia ora koutou, ngā mihinui,
 
It is with mixed feelings that I write this, my last Director's column, for the Champion Centre's newsletter.  After almost 17 years as Director I will be moving on to the next phase of my life at the end of August. Although sad to leave, I am looking forward to having time for research and to adding to the list of publications produced by a range of individuals associated with the Champion Centre over the years. (See our website for the bibliography as well as the other materials for both families and professionals.)

My job at the Champion Centre has been the very best I have had, and I have only appreciation and awe for the incredible work of the Centre. I am therefore extremely pleased and relieved to be able to pass the baton on to Wendy Entwistle, our newly appointed Executive Director.  Wendy will soon be joined by a new Clinical Director, and together they will no doubt weather the challenges of meeting the needs of children and families in the years to come.

The Champion Centre is a place that truly translates the science of human development into practice and makes it possible for infants and young children with challenges to their development to reach their full potential.  That it has been able to do this for more than 40 years while being chronically under-funded is testament to the dedication of staff and the generosity of private donors and trusts who help us plug the gap between government funding and programme costs.

My parting plea, therefore, is for each person who reads this newsletter to make a donation to the Centre.  It could be a regular donation or a larger one-off.  Your donation would be the best parting gift I could receive.  Please mark it 'Susan's goodbye' so I know you have heard my plea! 

Noho ora mai,
Dr Susan Foster-Cohen

Incoming Executive Director, Wendy Entwistle.