BA/BSc, BVSc, PgDip, MANZCVS (Avian Medicine)
What made you decide to be a veterinarian/veterinary nurse?
- I have been interested in veterinary work from a very young age when helping vets treat my own pet bird, horse, dog and cat. However, I also liked the biotechnology world in which I studied and worked in for a couple of years. A backpacking trip in South America which involved volunteering in wildlife rescue centres and observing wildlife trafficking first hand was what pushed me to reconsider my childhood passion, quit my job and enrol in vet school as a mature age student.
Which aspect of the job do you love most?
- Being a vet allows me to work with all creatures great and small which involves thinking out of the box and constantly learning about different species and disease processes. I also like the detective work of internal medicine and the ultimate feeling of making all pets feel better. Palliative care is a field that I find rewarding as I place lots of importance on making sure both client and patient can have good memories up to the very last minute of their life.
Do you have any pets? Tell us something special about your pets!
- I have a chocolate Burmese cat who I often refer to as the “love of my life” as well as a Stimson python named Tim and a Shingleback named Jeff who enjoy hanging out with the family. You’ll also find me hand rearing baby macaws amongst other parrots or rehabilitating wildlife at home.
What are your favourite activities for your spare time?
- I rock climb indoors and outdoors often in the blue mountains or like to go sea kayaking and camping with the family. I also enjoy traveling in remote areas of the world to fully integrate in different cultures eating local food and treating wildlife.
If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
- I would like to be a sea eagle, I think flying or gliding in the sky and living on a sea cliff would be quite enjoyable.
