Senator, partners and community come together for Brisbane North PHN office opening

The new Brisbane North PHN office in Chermside has officially opened after an intimate but meaningful ceremony attended by partner organisations, community representatives, PHN Board of Directors and staff, and Senator for Queensland Corinne Mulholland.

After a Welcome to Country by Kabi Kabi Elder Uncle Alex Davidson, Brisbane North PHN Board Chair Jane Schmitt spoke about the PHN’s mission and the importance of being located more centrally to the region the PHN serves. The new location positions the PHN closer to local health providers, stakeholders and the broader community.

‘This is more than a change of address; it’s a practical space to help us fulfil our mission where good health is available to all,’ Ms Schmitt said.

‘Helping shape an efficient and values-based health system through strong primary care must be grounded in the community it serves.’

Senator Corinne Mulholland also addressed attendees, noting the recent significant body of work conducted by the PHN to commission vital services.

‘It has been a huge 12 to 18 months of delivery for the Brisbane North PHN, from urgent care clinics to Medicare Mental Health centres,’ Senator Mulholland said.

‘These services have already provided care for tens of thousands of people in our community.’

Following the speeches, Uncle Alex, Senator Mulholland, Brisbane North PHN CEO Libby Dunstan, Ms Schmitt and Board members Sharon McAvoy and Dr Jared Dart cut a cake for attendees’ afternoon tea.

Ms Dunstan reiterated the importance of collaboration between partner organisations and the community to address healthcare gaps in our region and facilitate care closer to home.

‘Collaboration is one of our core values at Brisbane North PHN and as a commissioning organisation, it’s important for us to work together to achieve our shared goals,’ Ms Dunstan said.

‘Our new office space in the centre of North Brisbane will not only support our own internal team working together, but will also support how we engage with our partners, community and key stakeholders.

‘The space is a great reflection of the organisation we are—innovative, inclusive and designed to support contemporary and high-performing ways of working.’

Brisbane North PHN relocated from Lutwyche to Level 1, 14 Banfield Street, Chermside in early February 2026 to better support the evolving needs of the organisation.

To support different ways of working, the office features a range of desk options, meeting rooms of various sizes and configurations, quiet rooms for focused work and a large breakout space in the kitchen where staff can connect and recharge.

The new workspace is already enhancing connection across teams and supporting productivity, with staff feedback being overwhelmingly positive.

Visitors to the office are greeted with the artwork Flowing Knowledge, Healing Country by First Nations artist Riki Salam, commissioned for the PHN’s Reconciliation Action Plan, with other First Nations art incorporated throughout the office.

In Flowing Knowledge, Healing Country, the depiction of water represents the geographical river systems that are found throughout the Brisbane North PHN region. Metaphorically these bodies of water represent our stories and the exchange of knowledge—knowledge of the land, its people and its law.

The central symbol represents the PHN, with the two symbols either side representing both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and knowledges.

An integral element of our approach to reconciliation includes the amplification of First Nations voices, including the deliberate gesture of recognising First Nations peoples through the naming of internal spaces.

The PHN is currently working with Turrbal and Jagera peoples to incorporate words in language into the naming of meeting rooms. For staff to know the meaning behind the words and to speak them daily is both a gesture of respect and a reminder of Country.