Compassion at the Heart of Mater Hospitals
In this edition of our newsletter, we highlight the Mercy Partners value of compassion and how it is lived every day within our health ministry, Mater. Mater exists to respond to unmet community need, offering compassionate care to those who need it most. Their work can be uplifting, sometimes heartbreaking, and always humbling—an expression of genuine kindness given freely, without expectation.
For more than a century, Mater hospitals have been places where compassion is not simply an ideal but a daily practice. Founded in 1906 by the Sisters of Mercy, Mater has remained steadfast in its mission to bring God’s mercy to the community through compassionate, transformative, and healing ministries.
Across Brisbane and throughout Queensland, Mater’s network of hospitals delivers world‑class clinical care—from emergency and surgical services to maternity, paediatrics, and cancer care—always with empathy, respect, and a deep commitment to each person’s wellbeing. This compassionate approach is strengthened by Mater’s unique integration of health, education, and research, enabling innovative, holistic, and evidence‑informed care for patients and families.
Mater’s legacy is one of kindness, excellence, and unwavering service to the community. Guided by the enduring values of the Sisters of Mercy, they continue to respond to unmet needs, support vulnerable people, and ensure that everyone who enters their doors receives care for the body, mind, and spirit.
Since 1906, Mater has honoured the dignity of human life and all of creation, acting with compassion and integrity while striving for excellence. Today, this tradition lives on through dedicated clinicians, staff, researchers, and educators who work together across the Mater network to provide comprehensive, person‑centred care at every stage of life.
By uniting clinical excellence with a genuine commitment to human connection, Mater continues to honour its foundations while embracing the future—ensuring the Mercy tradition of caring for all remains strong, vibrant, and firmly rooted in the heart of the community.
Mater is embedded deeply in the Queensland community. Across 11 hospitals, they employ more than 10,000 staff and provide over 700,000 occasions of service each year to inpatients, day patients, outpatients, and hospital‑in‑home clients. More than 11,000 babies are welcomed into the world at Mater hospitals each year. Mater Education supports more than 2,000 students annually, and over 600 volunteers generously contribute their time to support patients and staff. Mater also leads more than 200 clinical trials and studies each year—always ensuring compassion is central to their work.
Mater invites the community to join them on their journey to Get Better, reflecting a commitment to continuous improvement in care, innovation, and health outcomes. In a constantly evolving healthcare landscape, Mater continues to learn, grow, and pursue excellence—always with compassion at the centre of their mission.
From homes to hospitals, groundbreaking research to impactful community programs, Mater and its people remain dedicated to delivering world‑leading, best‑in‑class care. Because good enough is never enough—everyone deserves better.
Click here to explore inspiring stories from Mater that showcase the compassionate care they bring to Queenslanders as they work every day to help the community get better.
