Yarrambat
541 Yan Yean Road,
Yarrambat VIC
North Warrandyte
274 Yarra Street,
Warrandyte VIC
About Us
Meet the Team at The Veterinary Surgery
Meet Our Veterinarians
Dr Andy
Andy is the principle veterinarian of the practice and has been working at The Veterinary Surgery since 2006. Prior to working in Warrandyte and Yarrambat, Andy worked as a mixed animal vet in country practices located in Gippsland, Wales and England.
His areas of special interest are small animal orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery, small animal medicine and lameness involving animals of all shapes and sizes.
Read more about Andy
In 2013 Andy attended an Equine Dentistry workshop in which he furthered his skills in this field. He has also completed a Post Graduate Foundation course in Equine Medicine.
Andy is a very committed practitioner and always demonstrates a superior level of care and commitment to every one of his patients.
When he is not working he loves spending time with his wife, daughter and son. He has a keen interest in windsurfing, surfing and competitive sailing.
Dr Suzanne
Suzanne has worked at The Veterinary Surgery for many years.
Her family have strong associations with the equine industry and are well known in many fields including pony club, showing, eventing, racing, breeding and droving.
Read more about Suzanne
Suzanne has a passion for equine practice, however she is also a skilled soft tissue surgeon and enjoys both small animal and farm work. She has completed post graduate training in Equine Dentistry and Ophthalmology.
Suzanne is an accomplished horse rider, having ridden with success at many Royals, advanced level eventing, FEI level dressage and is a holder of the PC ‘A’ certificate. She lives with her family on a beautiful farm near Kilcunda. Their menagerie consists of cattle, horses (of course), geese and chooks.
Dr Aurelia
Aurelia started working as a locum at the Yarrambat and North Warrandyte clinics in 2017 and joined as a full time veterinary associate in 2018.
She grew up in the UK and graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2009. Aurelia worked in a mixed practice in Carmarthenshire, Wales for 2 1/2 years before returning to her come country of Oxfordshire, where she was also in mixed practice.
Read more about Aurelia
Aurelia moved to Australia in October 2016 with her gorgeous dog Ozymandias (Ozzie) and her husband. She spent the first year and a half working in various practices in Victoria as a locum vet before settling down at the Yarrambat and North Warrandyte clinics in March 2018.
She enjoys all aspects of mixed practice, especially surgery and farm work. She is also a keen baker in her spare time which all the vets and nurses love.
Dr Josh
Josh started working as a locum with us in 2018 and has continued to work part time for the clinic since.
He grew up in Melbourne and graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2010. He spent a year at a clinic in Maffra before relocating to Newcastle, NSW and worked at a small animal clinic in the Central Coast for five years. However, tiring of the nice weather and lovely beaches, he decided to come back to Melbourne to be closer to friends & family.
Read more about Josh
Josh lives with his partner Vivien and their much-loved cavalier Boggles. In his spare time he enjoys cycling, gardening and tending to his fish tanks.
He enjoys all aspects of small animal practice especially dentistry, surgery, radiology and chronic pain management.
Dr Vivien
The Veterinary Surgery is lucky to have Vivien part of our team as a part time veterinarian. Vivien hails from Ipoh, Malaysia and graduated from University of Sydney in Dec 2009. She had a short stint in mixed practice in country Victoria as a new graduate but quickly moved back to NSW in 2011 to focus solely on companion animal medicine. She worked in various small animal clinics in the Hunter region and Newcastle for the ensuing 6 years.
Read more about Vivien
In 2017 she decided to move to Melbourne with her partner Josh.
Vivien enjoys all aspects of small animal practice especially medicine, imaging and low-stress patient management. In her spare time Vivien adores spending time with her beloved Cavalier, Boggles, and seeking out the best Malaysian food in Melbourne.
Dr Amy
Amy graduated from Melbourne University in 2018 and started working shortly after at The Vet Surgery. Her love for mixed animal practice has grown over the last 5 years and she finds huge satisfaction in being able to see different animal species throughout her day. She has a particular interest in preventative health for small ruminants (goats, sheep & alpacas) and loves to provide clients information about parasite control, vaccinations and supplement injections.
Read more about Amy
Amy grew up locally in Eltham and loves the community of Yarrambat and surrounds. She completed year 12 at Eltham High School and was awarded her Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary BioScience at La Trobe Univeristy before undertaking the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at Melbourne University.
Dr Eloise
Eloise grew up in rural NSW surrounded by plenty of dogs, cats and horses. She moved to Melbourne to pursue her career as a veterinarian.
She enjoys all aspects of mixed practice, however has an interest in anaesthesia, pain management (especially arthritis management in senior dogs) and equine dentistry. Eloise enjoys building relationships with clients in order to achieve the best outcomes for their pets.
Read more about Eloise
She lives with her husband Michael and Golden Retriever ‘Ella’. The trio enjoy going on as many dog-friendly adventures as possible.
Dr Christine
Christine has a passion for all animals, large and small but thanks to her upbringing has a special interest in cattle medicine. She is passionate about disease investigation and herd-health management.
Read more about Christine
Outside of work, you’ll find Christine exploring her local dog-friendly pubs and restaurants with her Briard, Camo.
Dr Bridget
Bridget grew up in Melbourne and did both her Undergraduate Degree and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Melbourne.
Before becoming a vet, she worked as a veterinary nurse in an inner city small animal clinic, so appreciates and takes pride in all aspects of animal care.
Read more about Bridget
Bridget enjoys the versatility of mixed practice and small animal internal medicine. She enjoys treating large animal pets and has a soft spot for alpacas. Bridget enjoys wildlife medicine where she spent time within a vet team at Adelaide Zoo and a Wildlife rehabilitation centre in South Africa. She continues studying in Australian Wildlife medicine and finds the complexity of wildlife medicine fascinating. Outside of work, Bridget enjoys camping and hiking as well trying new recipes in the kitchen. You can also find her pet napping her brothers. pets – Border Collie “Jamu and “Tuna” the cat.
Meet Our Nurses
Jackie
Practice Manager
Jackie is one of our senior nurses and is one of the two principles at The Veterinary Surgery.
She has been nursing for 20 years and joined the team at The Vet Surgery in October 2012. Her nursing career started at the Wonga Park Vet Clinic where she was there for 10 1/2 years, then moving onto Heathmont Animal Hospital for 5 years. Jackie wanted something a little closer to home and she was given the opportunity to start working for The Veterinary Surgery.
Read more about Jackie
Jackie has completed the Veterinary Nurse Certificate and then to further her career she went back to study a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Biotechnology, before returning to her true passion, vet nursing. She is a very compassionate nurse and enjoys looking after all the client’s pets that come in.
Her family home consists of her husband, 2 children, Obi – the super smoochy rescue mastiff x from Queensland, Echo – a kelpie, Mookie – a gorgeous cat, Rhett – the big quiet Clydie x, and a few chooks – Nutella, Chickybabe, Blob, Browny – just to name a few.
Jackie loves gardening, horse riding, going to the beach and taking her dogs for a walk.
Karen
Head Nurse
Karen joined our team in 2007. Following 5 years based at a small animal clinic in Forest Hill, Karen was keen to broaden her horizons to work with horses and livestock.
Karen maintains a high standard of nursing and actively seeks opportunities to further extend her experience, knowledge and practical skills wherever possible. With a passion for surgery and orthopaedics, Karen manages the surgical department and handles all equipment and ordering behind the scenes.
Read more about Karen
Karen owned and rode horses for several years, and for many years looked after one rather small horse, Koda. Koda used to spend many years roaming the grounds at Yarrambat and paying regular visits to The Royal Children’s Hospital.
On the side Karen is also a registered wildlife carer, rearing and rehabilitating wild ducks and reptiles from the district.
Water-sports consume all the spare time left in her life – snorkeling, surfing, windsurfing and sailing her dinghy. The weekly keel-boat racing with family and friends out of Sandringham Yacht Club presents the perfect chance to express her competitive streak!
Abbey
Abbey is a senior nurse who has worked in the practice for more than 20 years. Abbey is highly experienced and competent and enjoys all aspects of nursing.
Read more about Abbey
Abbey lives in Christmas Hills with her husband Nick, daughter Kiah and son Brayden. Abbey now works for us part time, and in her spare time enjoys gardening, camping, looking after her horse and spending time with her family and friends. Other members of her family include her beautiful birds, two cute little dogs, a cat and two guinea pigs.
Victoria
In 2011 Victoria traded in her career as a personal trainer to become a vet nurse. With a love for animals and fierce determination to achieve her goals, Vic’s ambitious nature paid off and she has since become an exceptionally capable and valuable member of our practice.
Read more about Victoria
She has an ongoing thirst for knowledge, continuing to advance her skills and interest in small animal surgery. Always cheerful, helpful and hardworking, she is easily recognised by her raucous laugh!
Victoria has always enjoyed sport, outdoor adventures and generally keeping very active. These days she is challenging herself in new endeavours with her wonderful husband Ben and gorgeous son and daughter. Together they have completed in several mini triathlons by the bay and enjoy working out in their home gym.
Vic’s family also includes Lily, a pint sized chihuahua X with the courage of a lion and some friendly chooks.
Caitlin
Caitlin joined our team in August 2015, having spent the last 4 years working professionally with horses as a World Cup show jumping groom travelling up and down the east coast. She completed a Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Biosciences at La Trobe University as well as a Diploma of Horse and Business Management at Marcus Oldham College, where she was awarded Dux and Excellence in horse health and husbandry.
Read more about Caitlin
Having such a strong interest in horses, it will come as no surprise that she owns an Percheron x Anglo Arab gelding called Maverick with whom she regularly competes in dressage. Additionally, Caitlin owns an over excitable kelpie, Indy, who thoroughly enjoys his time being outdoors with the horses.
Taryn
Taryn came to work with us in 2018 with 4 years nursing experience under her belt. In 2013 she completed a Bachelor of Equine Science at NMIT and since then has been very keen to put her acquired equine knowledge into practice. Taryn aims to complete her Certificate VI in Veterinary Nursing in coming years.
Read more about Taryn
Growing up in Eltham and now living in Diamond Creek with her partner Jesse, Taryn has always been a local. That said she has been fortunate enough to be a seasoned traveller, having travelled to 28 countries so far! Taryn needless to say loves to explore and experience new cultures.
When she’s not jet-setting, Taryn leads a very civilised life riding her quarter horse Beau up in the Kinglake ranges or camping at various locations in Victoria’s wilderness. Taryn and Jesse are currently renovating their house, so she is not afraid of a challenge either! It’s a full house these days with ball-obsessed George the Rotti and Lenny the German Shepherd.
Tara
Tara started with The Veterinary Surgery in September 2018, with 7 years of prior vet nursing experience. She has completed Certificate IV in Vet Nursing. Tara loves nursing in mixed practice where her long established small animal nursing skills have been supplemented with skills in large animal healthcare.
With her partner Jack and daughter Maggie, Tara is currently renovating a 1950’s weatherboard in Healesville which is home to George, a 6 year old French Bulldog, and Hank, a 2 year old Australian Bulldog.
Read more about Tara
Tara enjoys sharing her knowledge on everything Bulldog. And there’s lots to know!
Tara has a strong interest in the anaesthetic monitoring component of nursing and likes to ensuring every patient undergoing an anaesthetic are carefully monitored with a smooth recovery.
She spends lots of time over the weekends in Mansfield where her family have a hobby sheep farm, along with 2 quarter horses, Summer and JLo. Summer had a Gypsy cob x quarter horse foal in January 2020.
Tara worked until recently with her Aunty and Uncle at the Hurstbridge Deli and Larder that they own.
Coming from a background in customer service she prides herself on giving caring service and making every clients experience pleasant when visiting the clinic.
Michelle
Michelle joined The Veterinary Surgery team in 2020 with over 10 years of nursing experience. It all started for her as a part time job hydro bathing dogs at the local vet surgery on Saturday mornings while she was in high school. It soon became obvious that nursing was the path she wanted to follow, spending everyday helping animals and their owners. She can’t imagine a day where she isn’t covered in fur!
Read more about Michelle
From working in a 24hr Emergency hospital and specialist care, Michelle has enjoyed all aspects of Veterinary Nursing. Providing the highest standard of care is her number one priority. Michelle enjoys continued education to ensure she offers all our clients and their pets the best possible options and care.
She also has a keen interest in medically managed patients, behaviour and training. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks is not something Michelle believes to be true! We just need to see what motivates each dog and help them learn accordingly. She likes a positive only style of training making sure the dog enjoys its successful behaviour.
Michelle’s family is overflowing with furry friends. Michelle has 2 Golden Retrievers, 1 of whom has special needs and has only 1 kidney! There is also a fluffy Maltese who sports a ponytail and who Michelle plans to enter in trick training competitions, 2 lazy cats, a bunny and 3 horses.
Michelle enjoys spending her spare time riding her horses including 1 older pony in his late 20’s who sulks at the gate if it’s not his turn to go riding, taking the dogs on adventures, cooking and reading.
Abbey
Abbey started at The Veterinary Surgery in 2020 while completing work placement for her studies in Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing. She has now completed her studies and works as one of our full-time nurses.
Read more about Abbey
Abbey has grown up around horses and regularly competes her thoroughbred Sharkie on weekends all over Victoria. She is also a part of the Yarrambat pony club and still has her first pony Sonny who is now retired and enjoys the quiet life in the paddock on her property in Diamond Creek.
Abbey also has a number of other animals – 2 dogs Nellie and Poppy, 2 elderly cats Oscar and Leo as well as a 2 hand reared lambs Nino and Eli.
Another passion for Abbey is fostering neonatal orphaned kittens. It is very time consuming, but Abbey enjoys every minute of it.
Kayla
Kayla started working with us late 2021 and we are so glad she has joined our team of excellent nurses. Kayla is very knowledgeable and caring and enjoys her reception shifts building great relationships with our clients.
Read more about Kayla
It all started for Kayla in a cattery at a local Vet Practice in 2013, which then lead to her completing her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2016.
A highlight for Kayla is the time she spent at a clinic on The Sunshine Coast.
Kayla lives in Kilmore with her husband Lachie and “the zoo”; Mayah the Lab, Bundy the Bull Arab x, Arthur the Corgi x, Trig the Staghound x, Caddy the Stock Horse, Ellie the Clydie x and Missy the coloured pony.
In her spare time, she can be found camping with friends and the dogs or at clinics/competitions with Caddy and Ellie.
Chelsea
Bella
Read more about Bella
Alex
Alex has completed her Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Science.
Read more about Alex
During her down time Alex enjoys watching the footy and generally being outside spending time her 14 yr old Labrador called Bella.