Mater Health Hub Helps Students Graduate Career-Ready in Healthcare

The newly opened Mater Health Hub in Springfield is giving high school students from Springfield and surrounding Ipswich areas a head start on their health care careers. Students can now gain nationally recognised qualifications in health support and assistance right in their local community.


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Mater Education has expanded its renowned Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) program to the Springfield hub to help meet substantial growth in demand for qualified healthcare workers in the booming region.

This year, a record enrollment of over 630 students makes this the largest cohort in Mater’s history. From years 10 to 12, students undertake certificates at the state-of-the-art simulation center, graduating job-ready years before completing high school.

Photo credit: Mater Health Hub/Google Maps 

Schools participating in the program at Mater Health Hub, Springfield include:

  • Brisbane School of Distance Education
  • Bremer State High School
  • Emmaus College
  • Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School
  • Ipswich State High School
  • St Mary’s College, Ipswich
  • St Peter’s Lutheran College, Springfield
  • The Springfield Anglican College
  • West Moreton Anglican College
  • Westside Christian College
  • YMCA Vocational School

Fueling the training push is the impending 2026 opening of the Mater Hospital Springfield Stage 2 – set to make healthcare one of the major local industries and employers.

Toni-Maree Henaway, Mater Education’s Director of Learning and Development, said the new Springfield facilities demonstrate Mater’s commitment to developing the region’s future healthcare workforce. Students can now rapidly gain qualifications, with the Certificate II course fully subsidized to be completed part-time alongside school in just two terms.

“Mater Education remains committed to training future healthcare heroes in Springfield, and our VETiS program provides local high school students the opportunity to pursue their dream career while they are still at high school,” Ms Henaway said

Those completing the Certificate II also have the option to continue with the Certificate III during a discounted 10-week school break stint, made affordable for families through government funding.


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Students interested in getting a head-start in jobs from patient care to admin roles can inquire about the VETiS program at their high school.

Published 27-February-2024 

Opening Soon in Springfield: Innovative Mater Health Hub for the Whole Family

Mater has announced its plans to open an innovative Mater Health Hub in Springfield, designed to cater to the health and wellness needs of the whole family.



Scheduled for a July 2023 inauguration, Mater Health Hub, Springfield offers services like GP clinics, consulting rooms, a new Mater Pathology department, a chemist, a childcare centre, a cafe and a gym.  

The facility will run allied health services, including women’s healthcare, pediatric and child development care, group therapies, diet and nutrition programs, and corporate wellness services. Some services currently delivered at Brookwater Health Clinic will be incorporated into the health hub when it opens.

Dr Fiona Hinchliffe, Mater Executive Director of Residential Care and Community Services, said that this facility is a deviation from traditional hospitals but it will still provide families access to health care services that are otherwise out of reach or require them to travel to Ipswich, Brisbane or Gold Coast. 

The new building will also serve as the centre for Mater Education for the Diploma of Nursing program, as well as provide practical training for students gaining experience at the nearby Mater Private Hospital Springfield and Mater Hospital Springfield. Thus, providing more options for the young people of Springfield who are looking for the right career path. 



In line with this, Mater has also enlisted HealthCo Healthcare & Wellness as the anchor tenant of the Mater Health Hub for 10 years. More healthcare service initiatives will be developed as a result of this strategic partnership.