mater education

What mater education does

Mater Education is Queensland's only hospital-based Registered Training Organisation (RTO 5210), established in 1998 and operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Mater Group (Mater Misericordiae Ltd). The organisation provides nationally accredited vocational and professional education programs for healthcare workers and aspiring health professionals, delivering career-entry qualifications (Diploma of Nursing; Certificate III in Pathology Collection, Health Services Assistance; Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance), continuing professional development short courses for practicing clinicians, workplace solutions for healthcare organisations (including the High Value Conversations communication framework), and vocational education pathways for high school students.

Programs combine classroom theory, hospital-based clinical simulation, online learning through a Virtual Learning Environment, and mandatory workplace placements (ranging from 35 to 400 hours depending on the qualification). Mater Education operates across seven Queensland locations — Brisbane (headquarters at Mater Hospital South Brisbane), Springfield, Townsville, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Redland, and Mackay — embedding students directly within Mater's hospital network. Mater Pathology and other Mater Group facilities serve as primary placement partners, and clinical placements are integral to the value proposition rather than a downstream add-on.

Revenue is generated primarily through course tuition fees (full fees ranging from $4,490 to $7,990, with concessional rates from $375 to $1,249) and is subsidised for eligible students through the Queensland Government's Career Start (Certificate III) and Career Boost (Certificate IV and above) programs. A secondary revenue stream comes from professional development courses and tailored corporate training delivered through the Workplace Solutions offering. Customers span four segments: career-entry healthcare students (primary), practicing healthcare professionals seeking CPD, healthcare organisations purchasing workforce development programs, and high school students undertaking vocational education. Mater Education holds ANMAC, AHPRA-aligned, and multiple specialist medical college accreditations (RACGP, ACEM, ANZCA, RACS, ACM, ACN), making regulatory compliance a core operational pillar.

Name

mater education

Legal name

Mater Education Ltd

Website

https://matereducation.qld.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Mater Education is Queensland's only hospital-based Registered Training Organisation, established in 1998 as part of Mater Group. It delivers accredited vocational qualifications, professional development short courses, and workplace solutions for healthcare workers, organisations, and high school students across seven Queensland campuses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Schools of Nursing (EDAHAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Allied Health & Rehabilitation Sciences Schools (PT/OT/SLP, etc.) (EDAHAGAH), Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB), Online Healthcare & Nursing Universities (Allied Health, RN-to-BSN, etc.) (EDAHALAF)

Keywords

• Healthcare vocational training
• Nursing education programs
• Clinical simulation training
• Hospital-based RTO
• Allied health certificates

Headquarters

HQ city

Brisbane

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Course tuition fees: Mater Education generates revenue through course tuition fees for vocational education qualifications including certificates and diplomas. Fees vary by funding arrangement with government subsidies available through Career Boost and Career Start programs.
2. Professional development and workplace solutions: Revenue generated from professional development courses for healthcare workers and organisational communication training programs delivered to enterprises.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mater Education delivers nationally accredited vocational education and training programs for healthcare careers, including the Diploma of Nursing, Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance, Certificate III in Pathology Collection, and Certificate III in Health Services Assistance. Programs combine theoretical instruction, hospital-based clinical simulation, and workplace experience placements across Mater's Queensland hospital network. The organization also delivers professional development courses and organizational workplace solutions (including the award-winning High Value Conversations program) to practicing clinicians and healthcare organizations.

Product overview

Mater Education is Queensland's only hospital-based Registered Training Organisation (RTO 5210), established in 1998 as part of the Mater Group. The organization offers a portfolio of nationally accredited vocational education and training programs for healthcare careers, including the Diploma of Nursing, Certificate III/IV qualifications in Allied Health Assistance, Pathology Collection, and Health Services Assistance. Programs combine theoretical learning with simulation-based training and workplace clinical placements across Mater's hospital network. The portfolio also includes professional development courses for practicing clinicians, organizational workplace solutions for communication and leadership development, and vocational training programs for secondary school students. All accredited qualifications are approved by ASQA and aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), with nursing programs additionally accredited by ANMAC for AHPRA registration eligibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• High Value Conversations: Award-winning, evidence-based program that equips individuals and teams with practical tools to communicate with curiosity, respect and helpfulness. Originally developed in healthcare and now used across a range of industries.

Products and services

• Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121) An 18-month nationally accredited program qualifying graduates as Enrolled Nurses (EN). Delivered across Mater's hospital facilities in Brisbane, Springfield, and Townsville with 400 hours of clinical placement. Approved by ANMAC and enables registration with AHPRA/NMBA.
• Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (HLT43021) A six-month qualification preparing graduates to work as therapy assistants, physiotherapy assistants, or occupational therapy assistants. Includes 120 hours of workplace placement and covers therapeutic and program-related support under allied health professional supervision.
• Certificate III in Pathology Collection (HLT37215) A 15-week program qualifying graduates as pathology collectors/phlebotomists. Provides skills in venepuncture, specimen handling, and infection control. Includes minimum 35 hours of placement at Mater Pathology and partner facilities.
• Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (HLT33115) A 15-week course with three pathways: Assistant in Nursing, Hospital Assistant, and Aged Care. Qualifies graduates for roles including patient care attendant, wardsperson, and health support worker. Includes 40-80 hours of placement depending on pathway.
• Professional Development Courses Short courses for healthcare workers including Advanced Life Support, Basic Obstetric Skills Stations (BOSS), Central Venous Access Devices (CVADs), Clinical Skills Refresher, Vaginal Surgical Skills, and Introduction to Simulation Methodology. Programs accredited with RACGP, ACEM, ANZCA, RACS, ACM, and ACN for continuing professional development.
• High Value Conversations Program Award-winning workplace communication framework designed to equip individuals and teams with tools for feedback, escalation, and psychological safety. Originally developed for healthcare and now used across multiple industries.
• Vocational Education and Training Schools Program Programs for high school students in Years 10-12 providing pathways into healthcare careers while completing senior schooling. Includes Health Adventure experiences and certificate qualifications.
• Workplace Solutions Organisational development programs including Leadership Roundtable, Workplace Coaching for Results, and Roadmap to Resilience. Offers tailored training programs for healthcare organisations seeking workforce development.
• Healthcare Terminology Course Online 60-hour course providing knowledge and skills for interpreting and applying medical terminology in healthcare settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nationally recognised qualifications under Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mater PathologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMater Pathology serves as the primary placement partner for Certificate III in Pathology Collection students. Students complete their mandatory minimum 35 hours of workplace experience placement at major pathology providers including Mater Pathology, gaining practical experience in real pathology collection environments.
• Mater Hospitals and Healthcare ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMater Education operates within Mater's healthcare facilities across Queensland, providing students access to workplace experience placement across hospitals in Brisbane, Springfield, Townsville, Bundaberg, Mackay, Redland and Rockhampton. The integrated hospital environment enables hands-on training in real clinical settings.
• Queensland Government - Department of Trade, Employment and TrainingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Queensland Government, through the Department of Trade, Employment and Training, provides funding for vocational education through Career Start and Career Boost programs. Mater Education is a Skills Assure supplier delivering subsidised training under these government-funded programs for eligible Queensland students.
• University PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMater Education offers partnership with universities enabling graduates to enrol via direct entry pathways with credit recognition (approximately 80 credit points towards Bachelor of Nursing). Spots are limited and all other university entry requirements must be met. The organisation coordinates student placements for undergraduate and postgraduate students through select university partners.
• Aged Care Facility PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiploma of Nursing students undertake practical placement at aged care facilities during semester one, with many external aged care providers requiring COVID-19 vaccination for workforce access.
• Medical Colleges and Professional BodiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVarious education and training programs are accredited with specialist medical colleges including RACGP, ACEM, ANZCA, RACS, ACM, and ACN for continuing professional development delivery.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TAFE Queensland: Queensland's public vocational education provider offering nursing, allied health, pathology and health services assistance programs. Mater Education competes head-to-head with TAFE Queensland for the same subsidised student cohorts under Career Boost and Career Start funding.
• Open Colleges Australia: National private RTO providing vocational healthcare certificates (pathology collection, allied health assistance, health services assistance) online and blended. Competes for the same Cert III/IV healthcare student pool, particularly for non-subsidised full-fee learners.
• CQUniversity Australia: CQUniversity delivers vocational and higher-education health programs with a strong regional Queensland footprint (Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Townsville, Cairns), directly overlapping Mater Education's regional campuses and Diploma of Nursing offerings.
• Australian Catholic University (Faculty of Health Sciences): Australian university offering nursing and allied health programs, including pathway arrangements similar to Mater Education's university credit articulation. Competes for the same career-entry nursing and allied health student base in Queensland and nationally.
• Health Skills Australia: Private RTO specialising in healthcare vocational training across certificates and diplomas. Operates in a similar niche to Mater Education, competing for the same healthcare career-entry student market in eastern Australia.

Broad incumbents

• Box Hill Institute: Major Victorian TAFE with strong healthcare vocational programs including Diploma of Nursing and allied health certificates. Comparable scale and program breadth; serves as a useful national benchmark for hospital-affiliated and community-based RTO models.
• TAFE NSW: Largest Australian public VET provider delivering healthcare vocational programs across nursing, allied health and pathology. Mater Education's positioning as a hospital-based RTO distinguishes it, but TAFE NSW is the closest analogue in scale and breadth of healthcare VET offerings.

Others

• Vital Smarts Australia: Provider of corporate communication and leadership training programs similar in spirit to Mater Education's High Value Conversations and Workplace Solutions offerings. Useful peer for benchmarking expansion of healthcare-origin training IP into adjacent industries.
• Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) Training Programs: Specialist medical college accrediting Mater Education's continuing professional development courses. Represents a peer in the CPD/clinical upskilling segment rather than direct student recruitment, illustrating the regulatory ecosystem in which Mater Education operates.

Regional players

• Charles Darwin University (Faculty of Health): Offers vocational and undergraduate nursing and health programs in the Northern Territory with regional and remote delivery models. Conceptually analogous to Mater Education's regional Queensland footprint but in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL0jT2N3aEf7uF0iQfilxDr6RwFXNXFRFp
• Facebookfacebook.com/matereducation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/mater-education

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about mater education