Vet Clinic and Grooming Staff

Meet more staff at Animal Aid. click here >> Carrie - Practice Manager Hey, I’m Carrie and I work in the Vet Clinic at Animal Aid. I have worked in the animal welfare industry and various animal advocate charities for the past 16 years within many different and diverse roles. During my career I have had the opportunity to travel and work at Animal sanctuaries overseas including an elephant rescue park in Thailand and Free the Bears in Cambodia. This has been an excellent chance for me to gain experience working with a number of different animals and make a positive contribution to the level of animal welfare in countries less fortunate than ours. I am passionate about animals and making a positive contribution to the welfare sector. Currently I have my own small animal rescue farm called “ Sebastian’s Sanctuary” which cares with over 14 different animals, this includes pigs, steers, sheep, horses, 2 dogs and 1 cat. So both in my professional and personal life animal welfare is a top priority. Elise - Senior Veterinarian My name is Elise. I grew up just around the corner in Coldstream, and as a veterinary student I spent some time training here at the Animal Aid. After graduating I worked in mixed practice in the western districts of Victoria, before moving to England to work and travel for nearly 5 years. When I returned home late in 2009 I was very glad to have the opportunity to live in the Yarra Valley again, and to work once again for a fantastic organisation like the Animal Aid. I find the mix of private and welfare cases at this clinic both challenging and rewarding. I don't have any pets of my own at the moment (unless you count my worm farm), but love getting to spend time with all the animals here at the shelter. Adele - Veterinarian Hi, my name is Adele and I am one of the vets who work at the Animal Aid Vet Clinic. I have been a part of the Animal Aid team since 2008 when I was just beginning my veterinary career. Being a vet at Animal Aid is both challenging and very rewarding and it is fantastic being able to work with and care for both private and welfare animals. Over the last fews years I have had the opportunity, through Animal Aid, to help out both locally (2009 bushfires) and internationally ( helping out the SPCA in Fiji while their sole veterinarian was away). In 2011 I took a break from Animal Aid and did some exciting travelling around UK and Europe. But now I am back and there is no place I would rather work than at Animal Aid. At home I have a 9 year old Chihuahua cross who was rescued from a shelter when I was a vet student. She often thinks she is a lot bigger than she actually is and is ever ready to take on the world. Rebecca - Veterinary Nurse Hi, my name is Rebecca and I am a vet nurse at the Animal Aid Vet Clinic. I started working at the vet clinic in 2008, after initially helping out as a volunteer. I enjoy working at the vet clinic, some days can be quite a challenge but at the end of the day helping sick animals is very rewarding and that's what makes this job so great. I enjoy being part of a amazing team that find helping welfare and private patients so for fulfilling. I have always had the opportunity to have lots of animals when I was younger, after studying natural medicine for many years but I found Vet nursing a more satisfying job. At the moment I have a beautiful cavalier King Charles spaniel, a smoochy British Short hair that I adopted from the shelter called Teak and hermit crabs. Linda - Groomer Hello, my name is Linda. I have been grooming for over 10 years and I have been with the Animal Aid since the start of 2004. I absolutely adore my job, I love all the animals I groom and the people I work with are fabulous. I also have a menagerie of pets at home; 3 dogs, 3 cats, 3 horses, 2 sheep, chickens and a duck called Fonzi! Shonnie - Veterinary Nurse My name is Shonnie. I started at Animal Aid as a volunteer in 2007 and since then have worked in our Boarding facility, Welfare Dogs, Welfare Cats and the Vet Clinic. I currently work in the Vet Clinic and am studying to be a Vet Nurse at Box Hill TAFE. I have always been passionate about animals and have always had an especially keen interest in their welfare. I am also interested in horsemanship and agricultural aspects of the animal care industry. I have a dog called Barkley, he is a kelpie x and is very energetic! Some of his favourite activities include sheep herding and high jump competitions. I also have a horse called Stormy; he is an appaloosa and am currently re-training him and getting to know him. I enjoy my work at Animal Aid very much. Sharan - Veterinary Nurse My name is Sharan I’m the new trainee vet nurse. I have been a foster mum for cats and kittens here at the Animal Aid since 2008 and started volunteering in the vet clinic in 2010. I was extremely lucky to be offered a part time position as a nurse at the Animal Aid vet clinic in October 2010. The staff are a great group of people and very welcoming, always with their patients best interests at heart. I have worked in the retail industry for the past 22 years but I have always loved and adored animals. Now that I’m working in my dream job with animals it is just fantastic! At home my pets are Kira, a Chihuahua, Charlie, a Golden Retriever and 4 chooks. I am also on the lookout for a new feline friend. Narelle - Veterinarian Hello my name is Narelle and I am the newest vet to be a part of the friendly and caring veterinary Animal Aid community. I completed my studies in sunny Perth but was happy to come home to Victoria and live in Healesville with my fiancé and two dogs Ruby (the not so smart Great Dane) and Tyson (the neurotic Staffy). On returning to Victoria I worked in Broadford in a mixed animal clinic and started at the Animal Aid at the beginning of 2012 and am loving meeting and helping our clients both from the private side to the clinic as well as the welfare animals. Jessica - Veterinary Nurse Hi Im Jess and I am a vet nurse here at Animal Aid. I love my job and being part of a team that provides exceptional care to all of our patients. I have a special interest in Animal Welfare and educating the community in environmental enrichment and stimulation for their pets. I share my home with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier “ Thai” who is 3 years old. I have completed a certificate 2 in Animal Studies and look forward to studying Certificate 4 in Veterinary Nursing this year. Tanya - Veterinary Nurse Hi my name is Tanya, I'm one of the veterinary nurses at the Animal Aid Vet Clinic, I started working in February 2011. I'm currently studying certificate 4 in Veterinary Nursing, I have my Certificate 2 in Animal Studies as well. I enjoy both the private side and the welfare side at Animal Aid, gives you a variety of different things to learn and see! And trust me not one day is the same! When I was younger my heart was set on becoming a Vet Nurse, and as soon as I turned 15 I was up there volunteering at the RSPCA which turned out to be 5 years of voluntary work, then in year 11 I was offered a place in a traineeship for Certificate 2 which lead to a job as a Veterinary Nurse, I have worked in a variety of different practices but I wouldn't change where I work now, as its has awesome staff and great patients! :) I have 4 Central Bearded dragons, as well as two rat dogs who are defiantly intent on destroying the backyard.