Thirty-four hospital-trained enrolled nurses have graduated debt-free in Springfield through Mater Education, boosting the local healthcare workforce.
The graduates are the first cohort from Mater Education’s Diploma of Nursing programme to complete their studies at the Mater Health Hub in Springfield without tuition fees, benefiting from the Queensland Government’s Free Nursing initiative.
Introduced in 2023, this funding saved each student almost $25,000, removing a significant financial barrier to entering the nursing profession. Mater Education reports it is training over 200 more students in Springfield under this scheme.
The programme was essential for graduates like Samantha Adams. The 43-year-old Middle Park resident stated that without the fee-free option, her family would not have been able to undertake the studies.
The mother-of-three, who enrolled in October 2023, saw the course as a great opportunity to re-enter the workforce after being a stay-at-home mum. The former medical research worker now intends to find work as an enrolled nurse and pursue further university studies to become a Registered Nurse.
The training occurred at Mater’s modern Springfield facility, designed to equip students effectively for healthcare roles. Springfield Educator Dominique Willison explained that the Diploma of Nursing course provides students with current, hospital-based nursing training.
She added that Mater Education focuses on preparing students for employment through real-world clinical experience, noting the proximity of Mater Private Hospital Springfield provides practical advantages.
This graduation comes as the region prepares for a significant increase in healthcare demand. The new public Mater Hospital Springfield is scheduled to open in 2026 and is expected to employ more than 1,000 people. This development promises exciting new opportunities for nursing graduates and those considering a career change.
Mater Education’s Interim Executive Director, Sean Hunter, described the chance to qualify debt-free as an enormous opportunity. He highlighted that nursing is incredibly rewarding and encouraged anyone considering a healthcare career, including job seekers, career changers, recent high school graduates, and those returning to the workforce, to consider applying for the fee-free programme intake in 2025.
Published Date 16-April-2025
