Community Living Trust and Wintec

This week Community Living Trust celebrates 20 years of success in supporting people with intellectual disabilities to meet their needs and live their dreams.

Marese McGee, CEO of Community Living Trust said it was a good opportunity to announce the establishment of a new partnership between the organisation and Wintec (Waikato Institute of Technology).

Wintec chief executive Mark Flowers and Ms. McGee agreed that opportunities resulting from a Wintec and the Community Living Trust relationship were significant for both organisations.

"As a large public organisation with a high profile in the region, we believe Wintec has a responsibility to play a proactive role at various levels in our community.

“We continue to work with Habitat for Humanity, and in seeking another organisation to work with, the institute undertook a rigorous process to ensure the development of a community partner which shared similar values. He said other considerations included real mutual benefits in staff exchanges, professional development and potential opportunities for its trades staff and students to contribute to the design and construction of sustainable housing. He believed staff and students would also support the Community Living Trust with voluntary work.

Community Living Trust was established in 1989 by the Waikato Area Health Board to manage the transition of people with intellectual disabilities from Tokanui Hospital into their communities. In 1999, responsibility for the planning and funding of community placements was transferred to the Regional Health Authority and Community Living Trust focused on its role as a service provider primarily funded by the Ministry of Health. Based in Hamilton, the Community Living Trust has specialised Behavioural Support Services, Family Living Options, Supported Accommodation, Residential, Vocational, and Therapy services in the Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and greater Waikato area.

Community Living Trust Community Living Trust Marese McGee said the organisation currently supported more than 700 people with an intellectual disability.

“At the heart of everything we do is the success of the people that we support in having a home, purpose, fun and meaningful relationships. Our organisational spirit is “Together, breaking new ground” where ‘Together’ defines the way that we work best - in partnership with the person we support, their family/ whanau and their community working in synergy. The breaking of new ground symbolises our desire to always be flexible and think outside the square. We look forward to continue to breaking new ground - working in partnership with Wintec staff and students. We can see many innovations that will directly make a real difference in the lives of the people we support and their families, whanau and communities both near and far”.