Maters across the State unite under one Banner

A new era for Catholic Healthcare in this Diocese dawned on Wednesday 1 July. On that day the Mater Private Hospitals at Rockhampton, Mackay and Bundaberg came together with Maters in South-East and North Queensland to legally merge as one entity. This merger makes Mater the state’s largest not-for-profit healthcare provider.

The bringing together of Mater Ministries in Queensland under one Mission will be of significant benefit to the communities that our Maters currently serve by providing these communities with greater access to statewide expertise and services. This can only further enhance the wonderful tradition of quality, compassionate healthcare services that Maters in our Diocese have been delivering since the Mater Rockhampton opened its doors in 1915.

Mater Health Regional Executive Director, Gerard Wyvill, said the future of Mater in Queensland was positive, with capacity for greater service delivery only continuing to grow across the state.

“We are moving confidently into our future to become Queensland’s largest not-for-profit healthcare network,” Mr Wyvill said.

“Our collaboration creates a network of hospitals, and integrates our shared expertise and capabilities across healthcare, education and research so we can to continue to serve our communities with best practice, contemporary healthcare.  

“This new chapter in the Mater story will proceed with the integrity of our heritage and our long-standing Mater values, based on compassionate service and patient-centred care.”

Mater CEO, Dr Peter Steer, said that Mater was deeply proud of its heritage and cognisant of its responsibilities to honour the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy as Mater Ministries came together with one Mission to serve communities across the state. 

A Prayer Ritual was held at Mater Ministry sites across the State at 11am on Wednesday 1 July to mark this significant milestone in the history of Mercy Healthcare in Queensland.

After this Prayer Ritual, a Bringing Mater Together Cake was cut and staff received a gift of a Mater lapel pin as a memento of this historic occasion.