Embedding culture: Brisbane North PHN welcomes Turrbal woman Refiti Tovi for blessing and room naming in language

Brisbane North PHN engaged Turrbal Dippil to collaborate on a series of names for the PHN’s meeting rooms, reflective of the PHN’s commitment to reconciliation and enhancing cultural understanding.

The Brisbane North PHN team voted on a shortlist of names and descriptions provided by Turrbal Dippil, who selected them not only for their cultural meaning, but also for their ability to reflect Brisbane North PHN’s purpose and values in a meaningful way.

For staff to be engaged with the selection process, know the meaning behind the words, and to speak them daily, is both a gesture of respect and a reminder of Country.

The following names, alongside their meaning, were chosen by the PHN team. These names are now displayed on meeting room doors and integrated into the organisation’s digital booking system.

Kittibilla (light)

Represents clarity, guidance and knowledge. This aligns with Brisbane North PHN’s role in providing direction, evidence and insight to support better health decisions. It also reflects education and helping both providers and communities navigate the system.

Warril (river)

Represents flow, connection and continuity. This aligns with Brisbane North PHN’s role in connecting services, providers and communities across the region. Like a river sustaining life and linking places, it reflects coordinated care and smoother journeys through the health system.

Tar (earth)

Represents foundation, grounding and connection to Country. This reflects the importance of culturally safe care and working in genuine partnership with First Nations communities, ensuring all work is grounded in respect and place.

Balumbir (butterfly)

A symbol of transformation and renewal. This reflects Brisbane North PHN’s role in supporting individuals and communities through change, improving health outcomes, strengthening services and enabling new pathways of care. It speaks to growth, healing and positive transformation over time.

Mirrun (bird)

Symbolises perspective, movement and awareness. This aligns with Brisbane North PHN’s work across a large and diverse region, requiring an understanding of different community needs and responding with flexibility and insight.

Talu (fire)

Represents energy, transformation and action. This reflects Brisbane North PHN’s courage to lead change, respond to priority health needs and drive meaningful impact across the region.

Kaiyar (cockatoo)

Known as a strong communicator and watchful presence. This reflects the importance of communication, engagement and listening across the health system. It aligns with Brisbane North PHN’s role in amplifying community voices and ensuring services are responsive.

Dibbil (eagle)

Symbolises vision, protection and the ability to see the bigger picture. This reflects Brisbane North PHN’s leadership role in planning and supporting health services, while looking after community wellbeing and focusing on long-term outcomes.

Kuruman (kangaroo)

Represents resilience, strength and forward movement. This aligns with Brisbane North PHN’s commitment to progress and supporting communities to move towards better health outcomes, even when facing challenges.

Read more about Brisbane North PHN’s commitment to reconciliation on the PHN Talk blog, or in our Reconciliation Action Plan.

About Refiti Tovi

Refiti Tovi is a proud Turrbal woman and the niece of the late Turrbal Elder, Songwoman Maroochy Barambah. Raised in culture and guided by her Elders, she has learned traditional lore and protocol.

With over a decade of experience in early childhood education, Refiti is deeply passionate about empowering the next generation and strengthening her community through truth-telling, advocacy and cultural connection.