Mater Archives - Springfield Lakes

Springfield Welcomes First Debt-Free Nursing Graduates

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

Greater Springfield to Turn Pink for Mater Chicks in Pink Fun Run

Greater Springfield’s breast cancer survivors and their supporters are invited to paint the town pink on 9 March by joining the community’s second Mater Chicks in Pink International Women’s Day Fun Run.

Read: Springfield Lakes Ready for Community Fun Run

Presented by Queensland X-Ray, this inspiring event aims to raise critical resources to assist women battling breast cancer.

Uniting for a Cause

Photo credit: International Women’s Day Fun Run/Facebook

Breast cancer remains a pressing health challenge in Australia. In 2022 alone, Cancer Australia reported a staggering 20,428 new cases of breast cancer diagnosis, making it the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the country.

The Mater Chicks in Pink initiative empowers women affected by breast cancer to focus on what truly matters—their health and cherished moments with loved ones—by alleviating the emotional and financial burdens of the disease.

Your Impact Matters

By participating in the 5K Your Way event or donating, you can help fund essential services that make a tangible difference in the lives of breast cancer patients. Contributions will support:

Personalised Support Services: Free, practical support such as mastectomy bras, wigs, and scarves to help women feel more like themselves.
Advanced Medical Technology: Investment in cutting-edge equipment to provide faster and potentially life-saving breast cancer diagnostics.
Programmes for Wellness: Initiatives like Mum, Memories and Me and Return to Wellness that help women navigate their journey to survivorship.
Breast Cancer Research: Groundbreaking studies conducted at Mater to improve diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.

Making a Difference Locally

Funds raised will directly benefit breast cancer patients at Mater hospitals across Queensland, including Brisbane, Springfield, Redlands, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, and Bundaberg.

Mater Private Hospital Springfield’s Breast Care Nurse, Shiralee Bremner, highlights the vital role of community support. Shiralee Bremner explained that breast care nurses assist patients in navigating specialist appointments, managing treatment side effects, and preparing for success in survivorship.

Shiralee’s position was made possible by community donations to the Mater Foundation, underscoring the importance of fundraising initiatives like the Fun Run.

Join the Movement

Read: Little Lifesavers Returns to Orion Lagoon: A Fun Way to Learn Lifesaving Skills!

Signing up for the Fun Run is simple—visit Mater Foundation’s website to register for the 5K Your Way event. Whether you choose to run, walk, or jog, every step you take helps create a brighter future for women facing breast cancer.

Published 21-January-2025

Mater Hospital Springfield Breaks Ground on Public Health Facility

Construction is well underway on a new public hospital in Springfield, under a public-private partnership that will provide world-class maternity and paediatric services to local families. Once complete, the new public facility will be integrated with the existing Mater Private Hospital Springfield.

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

The facility, scheduled to open its doors in 2026, represents a significant advancement in healthcare infrastructure for the rapidly growing Western Corridor community.

Aerial view of construction at Mater Hospital Springfield (Photo credit: Mater/Facebook)

The hospital is the result of a partnership between Mater and Queensland to expand healthcare services in the region. Once complete, the new public facility will be integrated with the existing Mater Private Hospital Springfield (MPHS), providing a combined total of 228 beds.

Key Features

The new hospital will feature an Emergency Department, an Intensive Care Unit, and a range of specialist services. Its maternity services will include six birthing suites, two birthing pools, 16 special care neonatal cots, and a Pregnancy Assessment Centre.

The new paediatrics unit, expected to open alongside the main hospital in 2026, is projected to handle approximately 2,500 inpatient admissions annually. It will offer acute care for various conditions including chest infections, pneumonia, asthma, epilepsy, croup, and jaundice.

“The new hospital will be part of the nation-leading Mater Mothers’ hospital network – Australia’s largest provider of maternity services, transforming healthcare services for families in the region,” said Suzanne Hawksley, General Manager of MPHS, highlighting the significance of the project.

This development represents a significant step forward in meeting the healthcare needs of the growing South East Queensland population. The 288 new beds are expected to play a crucial role in addressing the increasing demand for quality healthcare services in the area.

Read: Digging for Truth: How the Goodna Cemetery is Central to the Wolston Park Mental Hospital Inquiry

As construction progresses, local residents eagerly anticipate the enhanced medical care and services that will soon be available in their community. The new hospital is set to become a vital asset, ensuring that families in Greater Springfield have access to top-tier healthcare facilities right on their doorstep.

Published 1-October-2024

Mater Celebrates Springfield Lakes Leadership Team’s Achievements

Mater Private Hospital Springfield has received significant recognition for their exceptional service as its leadership team is honoured with the prestigious Clinical Excellence (Team) Award.

More than 13,000 procedures are performed at this hospital in Springfield each year, across specialty areas ranging from oncology and orthopaedics to gastroenterology and maxillofacial surgery.

The recognition comes as Mater embarks on Stage 2 of the expansion of Mater Hospital Springfield.

Scheduled to open in 2026, the expansion will include 174 public beds and a much-needed Emergency Department, further enhancing healthcare accessibility in the area.

The new facility will integrate Mater Health and Mater Education, offering a range of specialist consultancy suites, allied health services, and healthcare education.

Mater Springfield Lakes — Photo Credit: Mater

The Clinical Excellence (Team) Award, presented at the Mater People Awards, acknowledges the team’s dedication to the 12,500 patients they have cared for over the past year.

Paul Darcy, the Executive Director, commended the team for their unwavering commitment to the rapidly growing Springfield community. Their approach, particularly in pressure injury and fall prevention, has been a highlight in the realm of patient care.

“Greater Springfield is a rapidly growing community, with evolving health care needs, and Mater’s Springfield leadership team has been unwavering in its efforts to ensure these needs are met,” Mr Darcy said.

“They’ve been innovative, resilient, and responsive in achieving excellent patient outcomes, particularly in pressure injury and fall prevention – that’s been a real highlight over the past 12 months.

“The award also recognises the team’s collaborative approach, irrespective of position or department, which has also gone a long way to ensuring our patients receive comprehensive and compassionate care.”

Published 17-Nov-2023