Mater Education grows training opportunities for high school students in Springfield

Mater Education, in partnership with WesTEC Trade Training Centre launched a brand new health training facility in Springfield last week.  

Education Minister Di Farmer and State Member for Jordan Charis Mullen opened the $4.2 million training centre on Tuesday 23 January, featuring an 8-bed hospital ward for hands-on learning and a classroom for theory.  

The facility will allow students from WesTEC partner schools in years 10, 11 and 12 to gain nationally recognised healthcare qualifications through the Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) program. Students participating in the program will graduate school job-ready and able to kickstart their healthcare careers. 

Mater Education will deliver training five days per week during school terms, with two dedicated educators teaching future healthcare heroes onsite. 

Mater Education Director of Learning and Development Toni-Maree Henaway said Mater Education has been working with WesTEC to provide high school students with pathways into the healthcare industry for more than five years.  

“Mater Education values our ongoing partnership with WesTEC, and we look forward to bringing even more training opportunities to high school students in Springfield with the launch of this new dedicated facility,” she said.   

Students participating in the VETiS program through Mater Education will complete a 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.  

Students who complete the two certificates will graduate high school as a qualified assistant in nursing, able to start a rewarding career in the healthcare industry, or gain recognised prior learning credits towards further training.    

“The VETiS program is an incredible opportunity for high school students to gain hands-on experience in a healthcare environment and set themselves up for success directly after graduating high school with state funded nationally recognised Certificate II and the option for further study at a heavily subsidised rate,” Ms Henaway said.  

Mater Education and WesTEC will welcome the first cohort of students to the brand new facility next week. 

Want to kickstart your healthcare career at high school through our VETiS program? Find out more here: https://mater.li/VETiS