FREE training to boost Queensland’s nursing cohort

In an attempt to grow Queensland’s nursing workforce, fee-free nursing training is now being offered to aspiring healthcare workers.

Mater Education is offering a free Diploma of Nursing in Brisbane and Springfield to existing students who joined during this year’s Brisbane and Townsville intakes, as well as those who join during the upcoming October intake. In just 18 months, the Diploma allows students to become Enrolled Nurses for free!

Krystle Magdalinski, 35, started the nursing Diploma course with Mater earlier this month and was pleasantly surprised to find she would not be out of pocket for her studies.

The mum of two said, “It was very exciting news – fee-free training will definitely lift the financial pressure on me and allow me to fully focus on my studies.”

Queensland’s health sector requires about 87,000 new nurses and midwives by 2025 – up from around 75,000 today. 

Mater Education Executive Director Barry Hankinson said the decision will be a major boost for Queensland’s health sector.

“Fee-free nurse training at Mater Education is a massive boost for current and future students, but it’s also fantastic news for the patients our graduates will care for,” he explained.

“Nursing is an incredibly rewarding career and there has never been a better time to train for this profession […] Our course connects the classroom with Mater’s statewide network of hospitals, ensuring our students learn through immersive, real-world experience.”

Fees were dropped after Mater Education became an approved provider for the Australian and Queensland Governments’ Fee-Free TAFE initiative, effective from July 1. 

Mater Education is the largest non-Government training organisation of nurses in Queensland.

New applicants must live in Queensland and be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

To find out more, contact Mater Education student services on 1300 070350 or visit their website.