About Us

About the Stewart Centre @ EIT

The Stewart Centre @ EIT provides rehabilitation for people with brain injuries. Our focus is on social, cognitive, educational and pre-vocational rehabilitation.

The Stewart Centre @ EIT was established in February 1999. It is a co-operative venture involving the Brain Injury Association of Hawke’s Bay and EIT Hawke’s Bay. As part of EIT Hawke’s Bay, the Stewart Centre @ EIT has access to many of EIT Hawke’s Bay’s services and courses, including the Disability Liaison Officer, the bookshop, Student Association facilities, the library, hairdressing, the Health Centre and cafes. This environment also provides many social opportunities for clients on a daily basis.

The Stewart Centre @ EIT Trust which meets four times a year, is responsible for the overall governance and a Management Committee which meets monthly is responsible for ensuring ongoing and smooth operation on a day to day basis. The Stewart Centre @ EIT Trust comprises seven trustees and three ex officio participants. The Stewart Centre @ EIT is registered with the Charities Commission as a Charitable Trust.

In 2009 the Stewart Centre @ EIT was initially assessed and registered as meeting the requirements of:

ISO 9001: 2008 Quality Management Systems requirements and
NZS Home and Community Support Sector Standard

We have continued to have all of our quality systems and delivery audited every six months. We have now reached the stage where we will have twelve monthly audits. Our audits are carried out by Health Audit New Zealand Ltd ( hauora arotake o aotearoa).

We are open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm and are staffed by a mixture of full time and part time staff members. Clients attend for a variety of days according to their needs.

Enquiries and referrals to the Stewart Centre @ EIT usually come from rehabilitation practitioners such as occupational therapists, our funding agencies and people can self-refer. Most people attending the Stewart Centre @ EIT are funded by either ACC or the Ministry of Health through Options Hawke’s Bay. Self funding is also an option.

Eligibility

People referred into the Stewart Centre @ EIT need to meet the following criteria:

Have a recognised or diagnosed acquired brain injury
Are aged between 16 – 65, though people outside these parameters will be considered.

Every enquiry will be assessed on an individual basis.

Exclusions

People whose needs are better met in mental health or intellectual disability services.

Printable Information Brochures (in PDF format)

Our Team

Lee Pepping
Manager
Ph (06) 974 8000 ext 5432
lpepping@external.eit.ac.nz

Lee has been manager of the Stewart Centre @ EIT since its inception in 1999 and prior to that she worked with people with disabilities for seven years. Her background is in teaching which blends well with rehabilitation. She enjoys working alongside people and seeing positive changes happen and independence increase. Lee never intended to move into a managerial position but working with such awesome staff and clients always makes her job easier. Time spent with family is important to lee and provides a good balance to work at the Stewart Centre @ EIT.

Kerry Harper
Assistant Manager
Supported Living Service Co-ordinator
Ph (06) 974 8000 ext 5433
kharper@external.eit.ac.nz

Kerry has been with the Stewart Centre @ EIT since 1999 and takes great pride in the services provided. He is the Assistant Manager and Supported Living Co-ordinator for the Stewart Centre @ EIT. Kerry is also the co-ordinator for the Central Hawke’s Bay one day a week service. Kerry has worked in the disability sector for over 27 years. Starting at Pukeora Centre in Waipukurau, he has seen many changes in services for people with disabilities. He has been part of eras such as disestablishing of institutional living, community integration and in the development of rehabilitation services for people with brain injuries.

Maxine Bevin
Speech Language Therapist and Rehabilitation Professional
Ph (06) 974 8000 ext 5256
ella@xtra.co.nz

Annie Spiekerman
Rehabilitation Coordinator
Ph (06) 974 8000 ext 5434
aspiekerman@external.eit.ac.nz

Annie has lived in Hawke’s Bay with her family since 2003, after leaving the fast pace of Europe behind. New Zealand is absolutely amazing with stunning nature and friendly people. This is the same attitude she found at the Stewart Centre @ EIT where she has worked since 2005 as a Rehabilitation Co ordinator. In December 2010 Annie gained registration as a Social Worker in New Zealand. Annie is always up for a challenge and she believes it is a privilege to support people on their road to recovery.

Kim Herd
Rehabilitation Coordinator
Ph (06) 974 8000 ext 5254
kherd@external.eit.ac.nz

Kim has nearly 13 years experience in brain injury rehabilitation. Kim’s association with the Stewart Centre @ EIT started in their first week when she was working with one of their clients. Kim loved the environment so much that in April 2001 she was offered a position on staff which she gladly accepted. She has worked her way up to Rehabilitation Co-ordinator, while also gaining tertiary qualifications along the way. She is humbled to be able to share in the lives of wonderful people at the Stewart Centre @ EIT.

Steven Hoskins
Rehabilitation Co-ordinator
Ph (06) 974 8000 ex 5247
shoskins@external.eit.ac.nz

Moving from the Waikato in 2009, Steven worked initially as a support worker for Enliven. Joining the Stewart Centre @ EIT in August 2010 gave him the opportunity to work in a community based brain injury rehabilitation service. He comes from a varied employment background including farming, truck driving and agricultural contracting. Steven is currently studying at Massey University to complete a Diploma in Rehabilitation Studies. He is still working out why he didn’t move to Hawke’s Bay to live years ago, what an awesome place.

Darryl Smith
Rehabilitation Coach
Ph (06) 974 8000 ex 5247
dsmith@external.eit.ac.nz

Darryl joined the Stewart Centre @ EIT in February 2010. Having worked in the disability industry for ten years Darryl has plenty of knowledge and experience. Born and raised in Hawke’s Bay, in his free time Darryl enjoys tinkering with computers, speedway, camping, tramping and socialising with friends.

Aly Zurcher
Rehabilitation Coach
Ph (06) 974 8000 ex 5433

Aly started with the Stewart Centre @ EIT to assist in developing a gym programme. This has now developed into an integral part for many clients’ programmes. Aly also has qualifications in Tai Chi which helps clients with co-ordination and balance. Aly is always looking for new and innovative ways to improve clients’ well being. At the moment he is looking at the C.H.E.K Institute and maybe will adopt some of their programmes.

Carron Burn
Administration
Ph (06) 974 8000 ext 5253
cburn@external.eit.ac.nz

Carron joined the Stewart Centre @ EIT in March 2009. Carron is responsible for administrative tasks and finance. You will always find Carron to be a friendly and helpful first point of contact.

Maria Dawson
Kitchen Support Person

Anita Miller
Assistant Cleaner and Administration

Anita has been lucky enough to be a client at the Stewart Centre @ EIT since 2007 after having a stroke in 2006. In 2008 she took on the roles of the editor for our monthly newsletter @ thought , the Secretary for the Stewart Centre @ EIT Social Club and the cleaning of the workroom. She has been involved with the trip planning for our annual trips which is a job she absolutely loves doing, in fact, she loves doing all her jobs here. This year Anita has taken on the role of Social Club Co-ordinator. In her spare time she enjoys scrapbooking, going to the gym and catching up with friends.