Mater Hospital Springfield Archives

Cavoodle Spotty Dotty Brings Comfort to Patients at Mater Hospital Springfield

Every Wednesday, a Cavoodle named Spotty Dotty makes her way through the wards at Mater Hospital Springfield, offering comfort to patients, families, and staff with a wagging tail and a gentle nature. Whether she is curling up on a patient’s lap or stopping for a pat in the hallway, the seven-year-old therapy dog has become a familiar part of the hospital’s weekly routine.

Read: Australian-First Mater Care Model Delivers Better Outcomes for Mothers With Diabetes

Spotty Dotty is the first dedicated pet therapy volunteer based at Mater Hospital Springfield. Accompanied by her volunteer handler, she visits patients across the hospital, providing moments of calm and companionship during what can often be a challenging time.

For patients spending extended periods in hospital, those visits can provide a welcome break in the day. Julie Blackburn, who had been in hospital for two weeks during her latest stay, said Spotty Dotty’s visit was an unexpected highlight that lifted her spirits. She described the affectionate Cavoodle as a lovely surprise and said the cuddles helped change the atmosphere almost instantly.

Therapy dogs provide companionship through calm, in-person interactions. A gentle presence and a few minutes of shared time can help provide comfort for patients during their hospital stay.

Growing Volunteer Program

Spotty Dotty is one of only a handful of therapy dogs visiting Mater hospitals, and Springfield is looking to expand the program by recruiting more volunteers.

Kat Cunningham has volunteered with Mater for many years and, over the past 12 months, has been joined by her three-year-old red and white Border Collie, Hunter. A familiar visitor at Mater’s South Brisbane health campus, Hunter has also recently started making visits to Springfield.

Cunningham said seeing Hunter comfort patients and hearing that the visits had brightened someone’s day reaffirmed why she volunteers. She said therapy dogs offer reassurance simply by being present, creating moments of calm without needing to understand what a patient is experiencing.

The pet therapy program forms part of a much larger volunteer network across Mater hospitals. More than 650 volunteers support patients and families in a variety of ways, from cuddling newborn babies and providing foot massages to escorting visitors and offering companionship throughout hospital stays.

Mater Hospital Springfield Volunteer Coordinator Russell Williams said volunteers played an important role in helping patients and families feel supported during their time in hospital. He said even simple acts of care and reassurance could make a meaningful difference, particularly for people going through difficult circumstances.

The hospital is currently seeking more volunteers, particularly to assist in the Emergency Department by supporting triage and spending time with patients and their families. It is also looking for more pet therapy volunteers to accompany dogs like Spotty Dotty.

Volunteer shifts are available Monday to Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m, with most volunteers committing to a regular weekly shift of two to four hours. All volunteers receive onboarding and training before starting.

Read: Family Remembers Tama Harrison After Fatal Greenbank Hit-and-Run

Every Wednesday, Spotty Dotty’s visits bring quiet moments of comfort and companionship to patients, families and staff, while highlighting the valuable role volunteers play in supporting the Springfield hospital community.

Published 4-August-2026

Nightingale Specialist Suites to Rise Across Springfield’s New Public Hospital

Photo Credit: Springfieldcity.com.au

A new specialist medical complex is under construction opposite Mater Hospital Springfield, adding another major project to the Health City precinct. Springfield City Group says the Nightingale Specialist Suites are due for completion in mid-2027.

The purpose-built development will provide space for doctors, medical specialists, imaging providers and other health practitioners. It follows the opening of Mater’s new 186-bed public hospital beside Mater Private Hospital Springfield, further expanding the concentration of healthcare services in Springfield Central.

Four levels of specialist consulting rooms planned

Architectural firm MODE designed Nightingale Specialist Suites as a dedicated medical-suites development. Its plans include GP and medical imaging facilities on the upper-ground level, with 40 specialist suites spread across the four floors above.

Each consulting level is expected to contain 10 tenancies. The design also includes one level of basement parking, direct vehicle access to the upper-ground lobby and a prominent main entrance marked by a corner feature and awning. MODE describes Nightingale as the first of three developments planned around a landscaped pedestrian spine.

Woollam Constructions is delivering Nightingale for Springfield City Group. The privately owned Queensland company traces its history to 1884 and has delivered health, education and commercial projects.

Construction is underway, with Springfield City Group targeting completion in mid-2027.

*Photo Credit: Springfield City/Facebook*

Mater expansion reshapes Springfield’s health precinct

Mater began opening its new Springfield public hospital in stages on 13 April 2026. The emergency department and paediatric unit started operating on 25 May, completing the staged opening of the 186-bed facility.

Mater expects the hospital to care for about 185,000 patients each year. Its services include emergency care, intensive care, maternity, paediatrics and six operating theatres.

The public hospital operates beside Mater Private Hospital Springfield, which has 80 private beds. The private facility also provides day surgery, four digitally integrated operating theatres and cancer care services.

Together, the public and private hospitals give Springfield a broader range of acute, surgical and planned healthcare services. Nightingale is intended to add specialist consulting rooms close to both facilities, although the final mix of services will depend on which practitioners commit to the building.

Population growth drives demand for healthcare

Nightingale Specialist Suites forms part of continued health-related investment in Greater Springfield. Ipswich City Council promotes health, education and innovation as important sectors within the area’s economic base.

Council data shows that Ipswich reached 270,624 residents on 1 January 2026. Over four years, the larger Springfield region grew from 33,333 to 38,415 residents.

The projected growth is expected to increase demand for hospitals, general practices, diagnostic services and specialist care. It is also adding to wider transport and infrastructure demands across the region.

Triplets Mark New Chapter for Neonatal Care in Mater Hospital Springfield

Photo Credit: Mater.org.au

Joseph, Simon and Pita Cokiverata have become the first set of triplets cared for at Mater Hospital Springfield, marking another early milestone for the hospital’s new maternity and neonatal services. The three brothers are receiving care in the Special Care Nursery after arriving eight weeks early.

The triplets were born at Mater Mothers’ Hospital in South Brisbane, where they received around-the-clock care. Four days later, they transferred to Springfield to continue their care closer to home.

Three brothers, one carefully managed routine

Their mother, Salote Cokiverata, learned she was expecting triplets about four or five months into her pregnancy. The news came as a major surprise, and she is now preparing for life with five children.

Her older children, Dasha, 6, and Ezra, 3, are also getting ready for their three younger brothers to come home. In the meantime, Ms Cokiverata has been balancing family responsibilities with visits to the Springfield nursery.

She said the boys were growing stronger each day. She also described bathing them as a particularly happy moment during their hospital stay.

Joseph, the eldest, weighed 1920 grams at birth. Simon weighed 2484 grams, while Pita weighed 2409 grams.

Staff follow a precise routine for the three babies. Nurses coordinate their feeding and daily care while closely managing each child’s needs.

New nursery brings care closer to home

Neonatal Critical Care Nurse Unit Manager Liji Pullookaran said the triplets had brought considerable excitement to the Springfield team. She said the boys were doing well under the nursery’s carefully managed care schedule.

Ms Pullookaran has worked in neonatal nursing for 18 years. She also led the clinical planning and operational preparations for the neonatal service at Mater Hospital Springfield.

The facility includes 16 individual Neonatal Critical Care units. Their design gives families greater privacy while their babies receive specialist care.

The triplets’ admission shows how continued neonatal care can be delivered closer to a family’s community. Their care has also given the new nursery team its first experience managing three premature siblings simultaneously.

Maternity service records 160 births since May

Mater Hospital Springfield has recorded 160 births since maternity services began in May. The hospital expects about 1,700 babies to be born there each year. The Special Care Nursery forms an important part of that service by supporting vulnerable babies and their families.

Although Joseph, Simon and Pita were not born at Springfield, their admission remains an important first for the hospita, as the first set of triplets cared for in its nursery.

Staff have managed each baby’s care while helping Ms Cokiverata take part in everyday moments with her sons. For now, the boys remain together in the nursery as they continue gaining strength.

Brisbane Lions partnership welcomes Springfield-born babies

The hospital has also partnered with the Brisbane Lions to welcome babies born at Mater Hospital Springfield. Under the initiative, every baby born there receives a complimentary Lions membership and supporter pack.

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A post shared by Mater Mothers (@matermothers)

The pack includes a beanie, socks, a rattle and a supporter’s scarf. With about 1,700 births expected each year, the program could add a large new group of young “Lion Cubs” to the club’s membership base.

Brisbane Lions AFLW player Natalie Grider also works at Mater as a student midwife. Her roles connect the football club’s membership initiative with the hospital’s maternity service.

Mater Hospital Springfield General Manager Suzanne Hawksley said the partnership brought together two organisations focused on the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders. She also acknowledged the Lions’ support for the babies expected to be born at Springfield each year.

Published 31-July-2026

Community Donations Help Bring Cutting-Edge Surgical Technology to Mater Springfield

The new Mater Hospital Springfield has become the first hospital in Queensland to receive the Intuitive da Vinci 5 surgical assist robot, with the technology made possible through support from community donors and philanthropic contributors.

Read: First Baby Born at Mater Hospital Springfield as Families Gain Local Maternity Care

The $4.2 million robotic system is the latest generation of surgical technology and is designed to assist surgeons performing complex minimally invasive procedures. Its arrival expands the advanced surgical capabilities available at Mater Springfield.

The da Vinci 5 system is used in keyhole surgery across a range of specialties, including urology, gynaecology and general surgery. By providing surgeons with enhanced precision and control, the technology is designed to support minimally invasive procedures for patients requiring surgery.

Advancing Local Healthcare

Da Vinci 5 surgical system (Photo credit: Intuitive)

The arrival of the robot comes as Mater Hospital Springfield continues to expand its services following its opening earlier this year.

According to Mater, the da Vinci 5 is the first system of its kind to be installed in a Queensland hospital. The technology is capable of supporting surgeons during complex procedures, including some cancer-related operations, through minimally invasive techniques.

Springfield-based urologist Dr Stuart Philip said the robot would assist specialists across several disciplines in performing minimally invasive procedures, including urology, gynaecology and general surgery.

Mater Hospital Springfield General Manager Suzanne Hawksley said the investment reflected Mater’s commitment to bringing world-class healthcare services to the western corridor. She also noted that robotic-assisted surgery continues to evolve and is helping improve patient outcomes, including recovery following surgery. The installation forms part of Mater Springfield’s expanding healthcare services.

Community Support Making a Difference

The robot was made possible through support from Mater Foundation and several donors, including Springfield City Group, the Nudgee Trust, Cheryl Nicholson, and the Wu family.

The robot’s arrival has also drawn attention to Mater Foundation’s annual Giving Day campaign, which raises funds for medical research, patient care and equipment across Mater facilities, including Springfield.

Mater Foundation chief executive Andrew Thomas said donations support care, equipment and research across Mater facilities. He also noted that donations made during Giving Day would be tripled through the support of matching partners, helping increase the impact of every contribution.

Read: Mater Hospital Springfield Takes Shape as Doctors Begin Onboarding

Mater is aiming to raise $2 million through this year’s campaign to support care, equipment and research. The installation demonstrates how donor support can help bring advanced medical technology to Springfield.

The arrival of the da Vinci 5 adds a new level of surgical capability at Mater Hospital Springfield and highlights the role donor support can play in funding advanced healthcare technology.

Published 24-June-2026

First Baby Born at Mater Hospital Springfield as Families Gain Local Maternity Care

Photo Credit: Mater

For years, many expectant parents in Greater Springfield packed hospital bags knowing one thing for certain — when labour began, they would likely face a long drive out of their own community. That changed as Mater Hospital Springfield began delivering maternity services locally, giving western corridor families access to birthing and neonatal care close to home for the first time.

A Baby Named “Wishing Star” Marks Historic First Birth

On 11 May 2026, Mater Mothers’ Springfield officially began operating from level five of the new public hospital at Springfield Central.

Hiwa-i-te-Rangi Broughton, whose name means “wishing star”, became the first baby born at Mater Hospital Springfield. Her parents, Miriama and Remedi Broughton, reached the maternity unit just hours earlier after labour began unexpectedly at their Spring Mountain home.

Miriama realised the baby was coming earlier than expected when contractions woke her while she was 38 weeks pregnant. Living only minutes from the hospital meant the family could quickly reach the new maternity unit at Health Care Drive in Springfield Central.

The Broughtons were admitted to one of the hospital’s six birthing suites, where staff gathered to witness the first delivery. Miriama said the atmosphere inside the ward felt special, with midwives eager to be part of the milestone moment as the hospital welcomed its first newborn.

After around 90 minutes of pushing, Hiwa-i-te-Rangi was born weighing 3.77 kilograms, delighting her parents and older sister, two-year-old Te Waimaringi.

Hospital staff celebrated the birth with flowers, gifts and a complimentary Brisbane Lions membership for the newborn, marking the occasion as a major moment not only for the family but also for the wider Springfield community.

Mater Hospital Springfield General Manager Suzanne Hawksley described the newborn as an instant favourite among staff and said the birth represented the beginning of a new chapter for local healthcare in the western corridor.

A Long-Awaited Change for Springfield Families

For many residents, the opening feels less like the arrival of a new building and more like the closing of a long-standing gap in daily life. Now, families can move through pregnancy, birth and postnatal care within their own community.

The new maternity unit forms part of the wider Mater Mothers’ Springfield service, which includes specialist midwifery support, nursing care and neonatal services for babies born prematurely or requiring urgent treatment.

Two of the birthing suites include birthing baths, mood lighting and Bluetooth connectivity, while the Neonatal Critical Care Unit has capacity for 16 newborns needing advanced medical care.

A short drive away, Mater Health Hub Springfield is also expanding services for new mothers through breastfeeding clinics, physiotherapy appointments and the Fourth Trimester Essentials program, which focuses on early parenting support, recovery and maternal wellbeing after birth.

Hospital Gradually Comes to Life

The maternity launch is part of a staged opening process that began in April across the nine-storey public hospital. Rather than bringing every department online at once, Mater introduced lower-complexity services first while staff tested systems, workflows and patient care processes before moving into more intensive clinical operations.

Operating theatres, pathology, pharmacy services, outpatient clinics, medical wards and antenatal services are already running onsite. More than 100 staff completed training and simulation exercises before each department opened.

The Emergency Department and paediatric ward are still to come, with both scheduled to begin operating on 25 May 2026.

When fully operational, Mater Hospital Springfield is expected to include 186 public beds, a 54-bay Emergency Department and enough capacity to manage around 185,000 patient presentations annually.

Built for a Region Growing Faster Every Year

The scale of the hospital reflects the pace of growth across the western corridor.

Developed through a partnership between Mater and the Queensland Government, the project represents a $1 billion investment in healthcare infrastructure for Greater Springfield and surrounding communities. Construction was completed by John Holland, with more than 1,000 staff expected to work across the facility, including over 500 nurses and midwives and more than 130 doctors.

Mater has been part of Springfield since 2015, when Mater Private Hospital Springfield became the city’s first hospital. The adjacent public hospital now expands that footprint into a much larger health precinct designed to serve the growing population across the western corridor.

Hospital leaders said the new facility was built to meet increasing demand as more families settle in the region each year.

The maternity service alone is expected to support around 1,700 births annually once fully established. While maternity services are now operating, the hospital’s full rollout is still continuing.

Published 11-May-2026

Springfield Families Set to Welcome First Babies at New Mater Hospital

Pexels

Mater Hospital Springfield on Health Care Drive is days away from welcoming its first babies, with Mater Mothers’ Springfield set to open, giving families across Greater Springfield, Ipswich and West Moreton access to maternity services they have never had locally before.

The opening marks one of the most significant milestones in the community’s history. For more than a decade, Springfield families expecting a baby have had no choice but to travel to Brisbane, Ipswich or Logan to give birth. That changes this week, with six birthing suites, a 16-bed maternity ward, a 16-cot Neonatal Critical Care Unit and a 24-hour Pregnancy Assessment Centre all coming online on level five of the new hospital.

Mater Hospital Springfield General Manager Suzanne Hawksley said the moment had been years in the making.

“It’s hard to believe we will soon be welcoming our first babies,” Hawksley said. “We are all excited to be part of such a huge moment for Springfield and its wonderful families.”

Antenatal clinics have already been running at the hospital since it began its staged opening on 13 April, meaning some expectant mothers are already familiar with the building where they will give birth.

A hospital built for one of Australia’s fastest-growing communities

The nine-storey Mater Hospital Springfield represents a $1 billion investment in healthcare for the western corridor, comprising $393 million in capital funding and a $638 million operational commitment over the first four years, alongside a $26 million land contribution from Mater. Construction was completed by John Holland, with more than 100 staff already onsite for training, simulations and onboarding before each service opened.

Once fully operational, the hospital will carry 186 public beds, a 54-bay Emergency Department, and is forecast to handle around 185,000 patient presentations annually. The maternity service alone is expected to deliver approximately 1,700 babies each year.

The facility employs more than 1,000 staff including over 500 nurses and midwives, and more than 130 doctors. The Springfield Lakes News estimates the hospital will increase employment across Greater Springfield by around eight per cent.

Mater Group CEO Julia Strickland-Bellamy said the hospital reflects the organisation’s longstanding commitment to communities experiencing rapid growth.

“Mater Hospital Springfield will transform health services across the western corridor, delivering high-quality care in the heart of the community,” Strickland-Bellamy said.

Care closer to home for Springfield families

Mater Mothers’ Springfield is part of Australia’s largest maternity service network. The Springfield campus offers six birthing suites, two of which include birthing baths with mood lighting and Bluetooth connectivity, alongside a 16-bed inpatient maternity ward, a 24-hour Pregnancy Assessment Centre and a 16-cot Neonatal Critical Care Unit for babies requiring lifesaving care or born prematurely.

For the first time, families in the catchment, Greater Springfield, parts of Ipswich and West Moreton, can now access the full Mater Mothers’ service from antenatal appointments through to birth and postnatal care without leaving their community.

The Mater Health Hub in Springfield, a two-minute drive from the main hospital, provides additional support including a Fourth Trimester Essentials programme, women’s health physiotherapy and a drop-in breastfeeding clinic.

Mater has been part of the Springfield community since 2015, when it opened Mater Private Hospital Springfield as the master-planned city’s first hospital. That campus grew from an 80-bed facility into an integrated private precinct. The new public hospital on the adjacent site completes the vision.

What’s still to come

The maternity opening on 11 May is not the hospital’s final milestone. The Emergency Department and paediatric ward open on 25 May 2026, completing the full service rollout. The paediatric unit is expected to handle around 2,500 inpatient admissions annually, covering conditions including chest infections, asthma, epilepsy, croup and jaundice.

Mater Hospital Springfield is at Health Care Drive, Springfield Central. For service information, visiting hours and updates as the hospital continues its staged opening, visit mater.org.au/hospitals/mater-hospital-springfield.

Published 28-April-2026

Mater Hospital Springfield Takes Shape as Doctors Begin Onboarding

Greater Springfield’s long-awaited public hospital has reached a landmark moment, with Mater Hospital Springfield confirming a staged opening schedule and its first staff already on the ground preparing to receive patients.

Read: Springfield Lakes Is About to Get Its First Public Hospital

Medical and non-clinical staff have been moving into the hospital for onboarding, training and service preparation, with the first outpatient appointments commencing on-site on 13 April. Operating theatres and the intensive care unit follow on 20 April, with full maternity services introduced on 27 April.

Among the first clinicians to begin work at the facility was Dr Ben Butcher, Clinical Director of the hospital’s new Emergency Department. Having transferred from Mater Hospital Brisbane, Dr Butcher said he had been involved in recruiting many of the new ED staff and described the team as excellent and enthusiastic. He said the Emergency Department would open with 55 doctors and more than 100 nurses.

Dr Butcher said being among the first team members in a brand-new hospital built in an area of need was a privilege, and that he was honoured to be part of what he considered an essential resource for the Springfield community.

The Emergency Department is scheduled to be one of the last services to open, with a planned date of 25 May. New staff have been recruited from across Australia, as well as from the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Mater Hospital Springfield — Photo credit: Facebook/Charis Mullen MP

Springfield Central MP Charis Mullen also shared on Facebook a sneak peek of the facility, noting that the John Holland Group and Mater teams were working on finishing touches ahead of the opening.

A Building That Is Already Buzzing

Construction contractor John Holland and the Mater team have just handed over the completed facility, and more than 100 staff have already moved in for onboarding, training and simulations. The corridors that were empty building site just months ago are now alive with medical and non-clinical teams running through scenarios in the actual spaces where they will care for patients.

General Manager Suzanne Hawksley said reaching practical completion was a proud milestone for everyone involved in the project. “Reaching practical completion and seeing our teams come together for training and preparation is an exciting step as we prepare to open our doors to the community in the coming weeks,” she said.

Midwifery unit manager Tess Willis, who oversees the birth suites and Pregnancy Assessment Centre, said the chance to train inside the real building had been transformative for her team. “After months of planning, it’s incredibly exciting to finally be inside the hospital and start simulations in the spaces where we’ll be caring for families,” she said. “Mater Mothers’ Springfield is expected to welcome around 1700 babies each year, and we’re now looking forward to welcoming mothers into the new hospital in less than two weeks.”

What the Hospital Will Deliver

The facility represents a $1 billion investment, comprising $393 million in capital funding, a $638 million operational commitment over the first four years, and a $26 million land contribution from Mater. Once fully operational, the hospital will provide 186 public beds, including a 54-bay Emergency Department, and is forecast to handle 185,000 patient presentations a year.

Read: Mater Hospital Springfield Seeks 500 Nurses Ahead of 2026 Opening

More than 1,000 staff will work across the campus, including more than 50 midwives serving six birth suites, a Pregnancy Assessment Centre and a dedicated maternity inpatient ward. The hospital is also expected to increase employment in Greater Springfield by an estimated eight per cent.

Mater has been part of the Springfield community since 2015, when it opened Mater Private Hospital Springfield as the master-planned city’s first hospital. That original facility grew from an 80-bed private hospital into an integrated campus, and the new public hospital on the adjacent site now completes the vision. The expansion will deliver 186 public beds for the community, meeting its health needs for decades to come.

Published 13-April-2026

Mater Hospital Springfield Seeks 500 Nurses Ahead of 2026 Opening

Springfield is gearing up for a major boost to its healthcare workforce as Mater Hospital Springfield launches a statewide search for 500 new nurses. The hospital, set to open early next year, will be Mater’s first new public hospital in more than 60 years, bringing vital services to the Ipswich, Logan, and Greater Brisbane regions.

Read: Mater Hospital Expansion Progress In Springfield Central

The new nine‑storey facility will sit adjacent to the existing Mater Private Hospital Springfield and, once open, is expected to treat more than 200,000 patients annually from the Ipswich, Logan and Greater Brisbane regions.

The hospital will offer a suite of services including an Emergency Department, an Intensive Care Unit, 10 operating theatres, and a full maternity service. When fully operational, it is slated to employ in excess of 1,000 clinical and support staff.

The recruitment drive for 500 nurses has already generated substantial interest. Mater reports receiving over 1,000 expressions of interest so far, yet the call remains open — applications close February 2026. Mater Private Hospital Springfield’s Director of Clinical Services, Tilana Van Deventer, said the hospital is seeking compassionate, committed people to join the Mater team. She also described Springfield as a community well‑suited to work and life for nurses.

For newly graduated nurses, the hospital offers the prospect of working in a modern, purpose‑built environment. Nurses who recently completed the graduate program at Mater Private Hospital Springfield spoke of the deep satisfaction that comes from helping patients recover, and highlighted that personal qualities such as empathy and compassion are central to nursing, alongside skills that can be learned on the job.

The hospital project carries a price tag of $393 million, funded by Queensland,, with Mater contributing the $26 million site. Once completed, the hospital’s services are intended to relieve pressure on existing hospitals in the region, ensuring families have access to local, high‑quality public care rather than travelling to Brisbane or Ipswich.

The new hospital will join the existing Mater Private Hospital Springfield, which continues to operate while the public hospital is constructed. Staff at the private hospital recently marked International Nurses Day, a moment that underscores the depth of existing nursing capacity in Springfield. As the public hospital prepares to open in early 2026, its leadership hopes to build on the supportive, patient‑centred culture already present.

Mater encourages prospective nurses to submit their expressions of interest soon, emphasising that the hospital is looking for staff who combine professional competence with compassion and teamwork. The goal is to have the hospital staffed and ready in time for its staged opening in early 2026.

Read: $638M Boost Secures Public Services for Mater Hospital Springfield

For nurses seeking to start or advance their careers, and to contribute to a growing community, Mater Hospital Springfield represents a significant opportunity. The combination of a brand‑new facility and a clear commitment to public healthcare could make it an attractive workplace for those passionate about patient care.

Applications close February 2026. Interested candidates can submit their expressions of interest online via the Mater website.

Published 28-November-2025

Mater Hospital Expansion Progress In Springfield Central

Photo Credit: Mater/Facebook

Mater Hospital Springfield in Springfield Central is progressing toward staged openings from late 2025 to mid-2026, delivering the first emergency, maternity and paediatric services locally for public and private patients in Greater Springfield.

Foundations of the Springfield Central Upgrade

Mater first opened a hospital in the Springfield community in 2015 to address unmet healthcare needs in Brisbane’s western corridor. The current expansion includes Springfield’s first public hospital and responds to significant population growth across Greater Springfield.

Construction of the new facility is scheduled for completion in early 2026, while the existing Mater Private Hospital Springfield continues operating alongside the development.

Overview of the Springfield Central Expansion

The expanded hospital will provide 228 beds, with 174 allocated for public patients and the remainder supporting private care. A purpose-designed 28-bed pandemic ward forms part of the development. The new building covers roughly 38,000 square metres across nine levels and includes a central energy plant able to support future stages.

Services will open in a staged sequence between late 2025 and mid-2026. These include outpatients, antenatal clinics, intensive care, operating theatres, medical wards, maternity services, pathology, surgical wards, an emergency department and a paediatric ward. Clinical and administrative teams will relocate to the onsite facility by late June 2026.

Facility Access and Infrastructure

Following construction, the main entry will be accessible via Health Care Drive, connecting directly to a ticketed car park with more than 600 spaces. Additional access will be available from Nightingale Avenue, while ambulance arrivals and outpatient access will be via Mercy Avenue. Outpatient and antenatal clinics will initially operate offsite before transitioning to the new facility as staged openings progress.

Sustainability and Hospital Design

The project is targeting a 4 Star Green Star accreditation. Planning includes energy-efficient and water-efficient systems, renewable energy exploration and nature-based offsets. Level seven has been reserved for future expansion capacity, enabling additional services to be added if required.

hospital expansion — *Photo Credit: Mater/Facebook*

Community Sentiment In Springfield Central

Community interaction shows strong interest in the expansion, with residents noting the value of having emergency, maternity and paediatric services available locally for the first time. Public questions have focused on bed numbers, parking availability, staffing, ward features and job opportunities.

Expressions of interest are open for clinical, non-clinical and specialist roles. More than 700 construction jobs have been created, with over 1,000 permanent roles expected once the hospital is fully operational.

Next Steps for Greater Springfield

The expansion remains on track for completion in early 2026, followed by phased service openings through mid-2026. Mater will continue to provide updates as each stage becomes available. The combined facility will operate under an integrated model, offering care to both public and private patients.

Published 24-Nov-2025

$638M Boost Secures Public Services for Mater Hospital Springfield

Public healthcare at Mater Hospital Springfield is now firmly on the horizon after a $638-million injection that will transform the existing private facility into a 174-bed public hospital by 2026.

Read: New Mater Public Hospital in Springfield: A Boost for Healthcare and Real Estate

The expansion will lift the total bed count to 233 and introduce an Emergency Department, intensive-care ward, operating theatres and dedicated maternity and paediatric services, including 12 extra paediatric beds.

Mater Health says the project will let residents access complex care closer to home instead of travelling to Ipswich or Brisbane. When complete, it will operate alongside other Mater public hospitals, delivering free, high-quality services within Greater Springfield’s rapidly growing health precinct.

Local demand is strong: more than 55,000 people already call Greater Springfield home, a figure expected to double within two decades, according to Springfield City Group’s 2025 fact sheet.

Site works are already under way, and internal fit-out is scheduled to begin next year. Mater’s project team says the new hospital will be “future-proofed” for further growth, with shell space built in for additional theatres and wards should demand outstrip projections.

Where the Money Comes From

The $638 million package was confirmed last month as part of a wider Queensland plan to add 2,600 public beds across the state.

The funding will cover staffing, equipment and operational costs for the hospital’s first four years, ensuring the facility can open its doors on schedule in 2026. Mater will continue to own and manage the campus, with public-patient services delivered under a service agreement similar to those in place at Mater South Brisbane and Mater Redland.

What Patients Can Expect

Beds: 174 new public overnight and same-day beds (233 total on campus)
Emergency care: A fully staffed 24/7 Emergency Department
Critical care: An eight-bed intensive-care unit
Surgery: Four theatres plus endoscopy suites, expandable as demand grows
Women’s & children’s health: Maternity ward, birthing suites, neonatal cots and 12 dedicated paediatric beds

Mater says the layout mirrors contemporary “hospital within a health precinct” design, allowing seamless referrals to adjacent specialists, imaging and university-based research partners.

Construction and commissioning are expected to generate more than 1,000 jobs over the next two years, with ongoing clinical and support roles once the hospital opens.

Read: Groundbreaking Marks Major Step for Greater Springfield Fire Station

Community reaction

Springfield Lakes resident Sarah Khoo, whose daughter was born at Mater Mothers South Brisbane last year, welcomed the move. “Having a full public maternity service five minutes from home will be life-changing for young families like ours,” she said.

Published 24-June-2025