Two local high schools are now offering students a health career pathway by gaining nationally-recognised qualifications at the new Mater Health Hub, Springfield.
Mater Education’s Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) program will support the region’s growing demand for healthcare professionals.
This will be especially true when Mater Hospital Springfield Stage 2 – the public hospital expansion with 174 new beds, an emergency department, intensive care unit, and maternity service – becomes operational in 2026.
The Springfield Anglican College and St Peter’s Lutheran College, Springfield are among 11 schools across Brisbane to collaborate with Mater this year.
Students in years 10, 11, and 12 can graduate high school job-ready, with qualifications gained at Mater Education’s purpose-built centre with state-of-the-art simulation technologies.
In total, Mater Education is training more than 630 school-based students across Queensland in term one, 2024 – the largest cohort in Mater’s history.
Mater Education Director of Learning and Development Toni-Maree Henaway said that the expansion of the VETiS program to Mater Health Hub, Springfield reinforces Mater’s ongoing commitment to the region to build the healthcare workforce of the future.
“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.
Students can complete a state-funded, nationally recognised Certificate II in Health Support Services in just six months (two school terms), with the option to obtain a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance via a ten-week (one school term) gap program at a heavily subsidised rate.
Successful completion of these certificates contributes towards each student’s Queensland Certificate in Education.
“VETiS provides students with the hands-on experience they need as healthcare professionals and [gives] them the skills and knowledge they need to enter the workforce as assistants in nursing or continue their studies,” Ms Henaway added.
The project is being built through a partnership between the State Government and Mater and will deliver Springfield’s first public emergency department, intensive care unit and comprehensive maternity and birthing services. The expanded hospital will employ more than 1,000 people.
Other 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, West Moreton Anglican College, Westside Christian College (pictured), and YMCA Vocational School.
Springfield students interested in undertaking this opportunity are encouraged to enquire with their school about participating in Mater Education’s VETiS program.
For more information, visit mater.li/VETiS.
