First Bundaberg graduates ready to begin health careers

Nine aspiring healthcare professionals have become the first students to graduate from Mater Education’s Certificate III in Health Services Assistance in Bundaberg.

The milestone cohort completed their training close to home, gaining practical skills to help them pursue entry-level healthcare roles in hospitals and community-based facilities.

Among the graduates are Skye Moyle and Shawna Rasmussen, who were drawn to the course by their personal experiences and ambitions to build meaningful careers in healthcare.

The students have qualified with a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance at Mater Education, Bundaberg and now have the skills to work in community-based healthcare facilities or hospitals, straight away.

For Ms Moyle, 29, caring for family members throughout their journey through heart and renal failure inspired her to turn her compassionate nature into a career.

“I want to bring that same care and kindness to other people through a career in healthcare,” Ms Moyle said.

“Being able to study in Bundaberg made the opportunity possible for me, and it was great to have the Mater Education team supporting me every step of the way.”

Graduate Shawna Rasmussen, 24, currently works as a support worker and hopes to use the qualification as a pathway to a hospital role and a first stepping stone to further study in midwifery.

“I was ready to take the next step and begin building a long-term career in healthcare,” Ms Rasmussen said.

“The opportunity to learn through practical, hands-on experience in a hospital environment was one of the things that attracted me to the course.

“It has given me greater confidence in my skills and a clearer pathway towards my goal of becoming a midwife.”

More than 540 students have completed a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance through Mater Education across Queensland.

Mater Education also supports secondary students to begin healthcare training through its Vocational Education and Training in Schools program.

It is Queensland’s only independent, hospital-based Registered Training Organisation, with training facilities in Brisbane, Springfield, Townsville and Bundaberg.

Building on Mater’s history of training nurses and other health professionals since 1906, Mater Education is expanding access to healthcare training and creating more opportunities for people in regional Queensland.

Mater Education’s Director of Education and Training Toni-Maree Henaway said the first graduating cohort demonstrated the value of providing hospital-based education in regional communities.

“Queensland urgently needs to expand its healthcare workforce to meet the growing needs of communities now and into the future,” Ms Henaway said.

“Creating training opportunities in regional communities allows people to gain practical skills close to home while contributing to a stronger local healthcare workforce.

“Our students learn in a hospital environment, where they can connect their studies with the realities of caring for patients and working as part of a healthcare team.

“We are proud to see Bundaberg’s first cohort graduate with the skills, experience and confidence to take the next step in their healthcare careers.”