Waalbiirniny Garden: A living space for cultural healing and connection

St John of God Subiaco Hospital is proud to unveil the Waalbiirniny Garden - a dedicated Aboriginal Healing Garden created in partnership with Whadjuk Elder Robyn Collard, Aboriginal artists, and the hospital's Reconciliation Working Group.

23 Oct 2025

St John of God Subiaco Hospital (SJGSH) is proud to unveil the Waalbiirniny Garden - a dedicated Aboriginal Healing Garden created in partnership with Whadjuk Elder Robyn Collard, Aboriginal artists, and the hospital's Reconciliation Working Group.

Located in the Pomegranate Courtyard, this sacred space honours Whadjuk Noongar culture and invites reflection, storytelling, and spiritual connection. With its native healing plants, symbolic mosaic artworks, and grounding presence, the garden embodies our commitment to reconciliation and culturally safe care.

‘Waalbiirniny’, the Noongar word for healing, is an Aboriginal Healing Garden, located in the Pomegranate Courtyard at St John of God Subiaco Hospital (SJGSH). The Waalbiirniny Garden is a place of reflection, connection, and cultural healing. Developed in collaboration with the SJGSH Reconciliation Working Group and Whadjuk Elder and cultural consultant Robyn Collard, the garden honours the rich and enduring cultural heritage of Whadjuk Noongar people.

The Waalbiirniny Garden invites all who enter to pause, to learn, and to honour the stories that have long been shared on this land while also making space for the personal stories of patients, families, and caregivers. It offers a gentle sanctuary amid the clinical environment - a place of quiet, of solace, and of peace in times of vulnerability. It is a reminder that healing is not only physical, but also emotional, cultural, and spiritual.

Embedded into the pavement of the Waalbiirniny Garden, is a kaarl or fire mosaic designed as a yarning circle - a gathering place to sit, to listen, and to share stories. In Aboriginal cultures, storytelling is central to the passing on of knowledge, culture, and wisdom. It is through story that truth is spoken, relationships are strengthened, and reconciliation and healing can begin.
Grounded in the values of compassion, hospitality, and respect for human dignity, the Waalbiirniny Garden continues the mission and legacy of the Sisters of St John of God, who walked alongside.

Aboriginal communities across Western Australia with courage and deep respect. Their spirit lives on in the work of St John of God Health Care, particularly in our commitment to reconciliation, healing, and culturally safe care for all.

This sacred space stands as a symbol of shared journey – of listening deeply, walking together, and healing together.

Traditional healing plants

The garden features a selection of traditional healing plants chosen for their cultural significance and medicinal properties, reflecting the deep knowledge Aboriginal people have of Country and its gifts of nourishment, healing, and care:

Dwarf peppermint tree (Agonis flexuosis nana): The dwarf peppermint tree's leaves were used to create infusions or poultices to treat fevers, aches, and as a general antiseptic. Its aromatic oils were also utilised.
Native hibiscus (Alyogyne huegelii West Coast Gem): The native hibiscus was valued for its flowers and fibrous bark. The flowers were a source of nectar, and the bark was used to make string and rope for various purposes.
Big Red Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos ‘Big Red’): Kangaroo paw plants, in general, were used for their rhizomes and leaves. A poultice from these parts was applied topically to treat wounds, snakebites, and skin irritations.
Old Man Saltbush (Atriplex cinerea): This plant served as a significant source of bush food. Its salty leaves were eaten raw or cooked, providing essential vitamins and minerals, and were also used in poultices for insect bites.
Candlestick Banksia (Banksia attenuata dwarf): Banksias are well-known for their large nectar-filled flower spikes. These flowers were soaked in water to create a sweet, refreshing drink. The flowers were also used to filter water.
Couch Honey Pot (Banksia blechnifolia): Similar to other banksias, this species was a source of nectar. The flowers were soaked to produce a sweet drink, a common practice for hydration and sustenance.
Dwarf Acorn Banksia (Banksia prionotes dwarf): This banksia, like other species, provided a sweet drink from its flower spikes. The seeds from the cones were also occasionally roasted and eaten.
Cousin It (Casuarina glauca): The foliage of casuarina trees was sometimes used to make a brew for treating coughs and other respiratory illnesses. The wood was also valued for its hardness, used in making tools.
One sided bottlebrush (Calothamnus quadrifidus prostrate): The nectar-rich flowers of the bottlebrush were sucked directly or soaked in water for a sweet drink. The brush-like flowers were also used to apply medicines.
Swan River mrytle (Hypocalymma ‘Coconut Ice’): The leaves of this myrtle, like others in the family, were likely used to create an aromatic infusion for medicinal purposes, such as treating colds or as a general antiseptic.
Purple Kunzea (Kunzea recurve): Kunzea plants have medicinal properties similar to tea trees. An infusion from the leaves was used for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects to treat various ailments.
Coastal sword segde (Lepidosperma gladiatum): The tough, fibrous leaves of the sedge were used to make strong, durable baskets and other woven articles. The starchy base of the plant was sometimes eaten.
Dwarf honey myrtle (Melaleuca incana nana): This plant, a type of Melaleuca, has medicinal leaves with potent antiseptic properties. They were crushed to make a poultice for treating wounds and infections.
Fairy fan flower (Scaevola aemula): This plant, with its fan-shaped flowers, was sometimes used for its medicinal properties. The crushed leaves were applied to wounds and sores.
Grass tree (Xanthorrhoea preissii): The grass tree is a highly versatile and significant plant. Its resin was a powerful adhesive for making tools, the flower spike was used for spears, and the base of the leaves was eaten as a source of food.

We gratefully acknowledge Tim Davies Landscaping for their generous donation of plants and for their thoughtful design of the garden, which brings together beauty, cultural significance, and healing intention in every element.

The mosaic artworks

At the heart of the Waalbiirniny Garden is a striking mosaic artwork by Aboriginal artists Emily Rose and Robyn Jean, symbolising the four elements: Fire, Water, Earth and Air. Each element reflects a connection to Country and the rhythms of life, with fire forming the central yarning circle, a sacred space for storytelling, truth-telling, and shared healing.

Artwork title: Koort Boodja (Heart of Country)

Artists: Emily Rose and Robyn Jean in Collaboration with: Chris Rose and Scape-ism

Artwork description

Created by Noongar/Yamatji mother-daughter artists Emily Rose and Robyn Jean, Koort Boodja (Heart of Country) celebrates the sacred role of Fire, Water, Earth and Air, which are central to Noongar understandings of healing, balance, and connection to Boodja (Country) in nurturing wellbeing. The colours harmonise with the surrounding garden, forming a calming sanctuary space. Designed to be inclusive and welcoming, this space invites all who enter to slow down, breathe, and feel held.

Community members and caregivers were invited to collaborate artistically through tile painting, which were used collectively as inspiration during the mosaic-crafting process. Each tile held a story, a part, that was vital to the integration of the whole - a metaphor for the shared journey of reconciliation.

This work honours the wisdom of Whadjuk Noongar ancestors and aligns with the healing mission of St John of God Subiaco Hospital. It stands as a quiet reminder that when we connect to Country, to each other, and to spirit, healing becomes possible.

Artwork Elements

Fire: At the heart of the Waalbiirniny Garden lies the Fire/Yarning Circle, a symbolic centre of community, warmth, and transformation. In Noongar culture, fire represents energy, renewal, and connection. It is where stories are shared, where we gather to listen, yarn, and grow together.
Rich hues of orange, amber, and deep red echo the coals of a nurturing fire, contrasted with grounding tones that speak to strength and stability. Surrounding this central motif are key cultural symbols:
- Zamia Palm seeds: Signifying nourishment, growth, and the continuation of life across generations.
- Coals: Representing the fire’s heart, where transformation begins.
- Mia-Mia: A place of home, safety, and community.
- Balga: Used to create fire sticks for smoking and cultural burning practices, a reminder of knowledge passed down.
This circle is a space for all - a welcoming place to sit, reflect, and connect. It anchors the Waalbiirniny Garden as a place of cultural strength, collective healing, and belonging. Here, the fire never fades. It continues to connect and welcome us.

Water: Water represents movement, emotion, and the life-giving essence of the Derbarl Yerrigan and the freshwater systems that flow across Noongar Boodjar. This design speaks to the deep relationship between water and healing, highlighting its power to cleanse, soothe, and renew both body and spirit.

Flowing lines and layered tones of blue, teal, and soft white create a gentle visual rhythm, inviting stillness and emotional ease. The mosaic mirrors the natural currents of rivers and streams, reminding us of water’s role in nurturing all life and guiding us through change with grace.

This circle is a quiet offering, a place to pause, reflect, and reconnect with self and spirit through the ever-moving language of water.

Earth: This circle honours the grounding energy of Ngangk Boodjar, our Mother Earth. It reflects nourishment, fertility, and the deep stability that comes from being connected to place. Earth holds, supports, and reminds us of who we are and where we come from.

Warm ochres, soft rusts, and muted greens echo the native plants, seeds, and sands of Noongar Boodjar. These tones speak to cycles of renewal, growth, and the quiet strength found in stillness.

This design symbolises safe return, deep belonging, and the comfort of being held by Country. It invites us to slow down, feel our feet on the earth, and remember that healing begins when we are rooted in place and culture.

Air: This circle draws on the element of wind, moorditj warra, and its role in carrying stories, seeds, and change across Noongar Boodjar. It speaks to the movement of air through leaves, the shifting of seasons, and the messages carried on the breeze.

Leaves drifting in the wind reflect the quiet wisdom of nature: always moving, always listening. Soft greys, muted pastels, and cloud-like patterns evoke the gentle presence of sky and breath, creating a space for reflection and clarity.

This design honours the unseen pathways that connect Country, people, and knowledge. Just as the wind stirs the branches of the wattle tree, it reminds us to stay open, alert, and connected to our surroundings. It is a whisper from the land, urging us to pause, observe, and move forward with care.