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Ellen is one of our owners and Head Veterinarian, having graduated from the University of Queensland in 2008. Originally from the Atherton Tablelands, she was inspired to pursue veterinary medicine through a love of science and animals – though she’ll happily admit it was mostly the animals.
Ellen’s favourite part of her role is building long-term relationships with clients and their pets. She values knowing her patients so well that their history feels second nature, allowing her to confidently manage both medical and surgical cases. Her areas of special interest include feline medicine, soft tissue surgery, dentistry, and complex medical cases.
Outside of work, Dr Ellen is kept busy by Sully, her big, silly “wolfhound rat,” and cats Soda (who thinks she’s a dog), and ‘The Boys’ Banksy and Pickles…..oh and her partner Dylan. A self-confessed cat at heart, she enjoys spending her downtime gardening with a glass of wine and a podcast, swimming, and sipping on a chai tea that’s never too sweet.
Lee-Anne started working at Southside in February 2008 and has never looked back. After finishing her certificate in Veterinary Nursing, she gradually took on more of the administrative side of things and is now our head nurse. In 2022 Lee-Anne took on an exciting new role as practice owner with Ellen. She has a special interest in wildlife and dedicates much of her spare time to rehabilitating wild birds. Lee-Anne loves continuing education, so you know your pets are always in safe hands with her.
When she isn’t working with animals, she focuses her attention on her husband, Kelvin and their two children, Kayla and Liam. She enjoys anything outdoors including hiking and playing cricket. Her spare time is also consumed maintaining her many fish tanks and looking after her birds. Lee-Anne brings a lot of experience to our team and is a great asset.
Helen graduated from UQ with first class honours in 1993. She worked in Victoria for a few years and then travelled and worked around Australia for the following 3 years, before buying the clinic with her now husband, Wade, back in May 2000. Together they have helped their little 3-man clinic grow to be the success it is today. Southside now has over 20 staff members and a very loyal following of wonderful clients and their furry companions. Helen has always ensured the clinic feels family orientated and is always looking for ways to ensure we are offering not only gold standard practices, but the best for ‘your’ pet. Helen has a particular interest in medicine, soft tissue surgery and dermatology.
Outside of work, Helen enjoys spending time with her 3 (no so little) kids, Lucas, Emma and Tyler. She also has a small menagerie of pets at home. Two dogs, Bizy and Tipsy; a cat, Monsoon; an eclectus parrot, Ruby Rose and a bearded dragon lizard, Mewah. She also enjoys reading and walking.
Brooke may look small, but she’s one of the strongest players on our team. A JCU Townsville graduate, she has been working as a veterinarian for 6 years (after 5 years of uni) and is about as local as it gets, having grown up in Babinda.
Her passion for animals started early, raising pet goats as a kid, and today she finds the most satisfaction in the small wins – like a patient finally eating after days of not feeling well. Those moments matter a lot to Dr Brooke!
Brooke has a special interest in radiography and radiology, particularly hips, knees, and elbows (which she insists are pretty cool). She’s thorough, practical, and quietly determined when it comes to patient care.
At home, Brooke lives with her partner Simon and her two rescue doggos, Grace and Poppy, who weren’t quite cut out for farm life. Outside of work, she enjoys crocheting baby blankets, exercising with friends, fishing, camping, and unwinding with trash TV in the aircon alongside the dogs. Powered by chips and a latte, Brooke would be a dolphin if she were an animal – free, curious, and always on the move.
Meet Dr. Kaitie! A familiar face to Cairns pets, she’s been working in the region for 6 years before joining the Southside team. Kaitie loves the variety the veterinary world offers, with something new and exciting every day. Always up for a challenge, she believes that’s where the best growth—both personally and professionally—happens.
Kaitie’s true passion lies in surgery, especially soft tissue procedures, but she’s also a big fan of emergency medicine, having completed a year-long continuing education course in this area.
When she’s not busy caring for pets, Kaitie enjoys exploring the Tablelands with her hubby Scott and their two fur-babies, Tobi and Arlo. She’s also a creative spirit, making stunning clay earrings, dabbling in woodwork, painting, and cultivating her love for plants.
We’re so lucky to have such a talented and adventurous vet on our team.
Dr. Alice, a Cairns local who’s swapped emergency medicine for the Southside team—and we’re so glad she did! With years of experience in the fast-paced world of emergency care, Alice brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our clinic. She’s especially passionate about ultrasound, particularly echocardiograms, and we’re lucky to have her invaluable skills on board.
When she’s not saving lives, Alice likes to stay active & has completed (and crushed) the Cairns Ironman. To relax she enjoys kicking back with a good book on her Kindle. At home, she’s the proud fur-mum to Tilly and Pete, the adorable three-legged besties, and her rescue cat Penny, who definitely won her over with those irresistible kitty eyes.
Emma is one of our friendly vets here at Southside, joining the team in 2025 as a new graduate after completing her veterinary degree at the University of Adelaide. Emma was drawn to veterinary medicine by her passion for supporting both animals and the people who love them.
What Emma enjoys most about her role is building strong, positive relationships with clients and their fur babies – alongside being part of a genuinely supportive team. She has a special interest in animal behaviour, having worked closely with a positive reinforcement trainer during university and even helping train a guide dog. More recently, she’s developed a growing passion for musculoskeletal health and rehabilitation.
At home, Emma lives with her partner John, and while there are no pets just yet, this is very much a “watch this space.”
Often described as an energiser bunny or a Labrador, Emma personally identifies more as an otter – fun-loving and known for making cool noises. Outside the clinic, you’ll find her cooking up something delicious, unwinding with a great dinner and a face mask on the couch, or powering through a long shift with a soy cappuccino and her favourite snack: Sour Geckos.
Fun facts? Emma’s favourite animal is the Aardvark.
Tamasyn is our Purchasing Officer and Nutritional Nurse, bringing over 21 years of experience in the veterinary industry to the team. Originally from Innisfail, Tam was inspired to pursue a career in veterinary nursing by a lifelong desire to help animals, and she continues to be passionate about supporting their health and wellbeing – especially through pet nutrition, her key area of interest.
One of Tam’s favourite parts of the job is puppy cuddles, which is fitting given her very full household at home! She shares her life with her partner Matt, daughter Willow, three dogs (Ivy, Hugo and Pretzel), two cats (Pom Pom and Lucy), and an impressive collection of 11 birds – many of which she has hand-raised herself.
Outside of work, Tamasyn enjoys beach walks with her dogs, shopping and exploring local markets, usually fuelled by a caramel soy flat white. If she were an animal, she’d be a cat – independent, calm, and quietly observant.
Sam hopped on board with our team in September 2018, bringing with her a wealth of experience from the world of early childcare. Fast forward to today, and she’s now a Certificate IV qualified Veterinary Nurse who stepped into the role of Practice Manager in June 2022. But Sam’s not stopping there—her next big goals? Tackling a Diploma in Leadership and Management and becoming a registered Veterinary Nurse.
When she’s off the clock, Sam is all about living her best life—whether it’s hitting the hockey field, catching some sun at the beach, or hanging out with her adorable fur squad: Millie the Dachshund, Penny the Cat, and Sunny the Jack Russell. Always on the move and always with a smile!
Nat has a decade of nursing experience under her belt, and became a fully qualified and registered Veterinary Nurse in 2015. Nat joined the Southside team in February 2021, and we are so pleased she did. We feel as though she has been a part of our team for much longer and is a great asset to Southside. Nat particularly enjoys surgery and emergency nursing.
Outside of nursing, Nat enjoys the outdoors, camping and spending time with her family. Nat has two wonderful dogs called Captain and Gypsy that keep her busy on her days off.
Helle is a highly experienced Senior Registered Veterinary Nurse with 13 years of hands-on experience across both The Netherlands and Australia. Her international background brings a broad perspective and strong clinical skillset to the team, grounded in a deep respect for both the science and care behind veterinary medicine.
Helle’s favourite part of her role is seeing pets return home healthy and happy. She has a particular love for surgery and complex hospital cases, and also holds a strong interest in pathology – always keen to understand the “why” behind each case.
Currently awaiting the perfect fur baby (no pets… yet), Helle enjoys unwinding with long walks or settling in with a good TV series after a busy day at the clinic. She has a genuine love for animals (with the exception of insects and cane toads).
With her experience and curiosity, Helle is an invaluable part of the nursing team.
Angie is one of our wonderful Veterinary Nurse’s, originally from the Cooktown/Rossville region. She was drawn to veterinary nursing through a passion for science and biology, paired with a genuine love for caring not only for animals, but for the people who love them too.
One of Angie’s favourite parts of the job is seeing patients recover and thrive after illness, knowing she’s played a meaningful role in their healing journey. She has special interests in dentistry, exotics, and neonatal care, and brings a thoughtful, detail-oriented approach to every case she’s involved in.
At home, Angie shares her life with her dog Jedi and her 11-year-old parrot Arno. If she were an animal, she’d choose an eagle – drawn to their longevity, loyalty, and the freedom of flight. Outside the clinic, Angie enjoys reading, gaming, spending time with friends, and expressing her creativity as a talented artist.
When she’s not working, you’ll often find Angie motorbike riding, camping, paddle boarding, or perfecting what she insists is the best coffee – though she won’t say no to chocolate, fruit, or a good café stop either. Angie’s calm presence, curiosity, and compassion make her a wonderful part of the team.
Tim joined the Southside team in February 2022 as a Kennel Hand. It was soon clear that Tim possessed the perfect qualities to become a Veterinary Nurse, and he started studying in mid 2022! Since transitioning into the nursing team, Tim says that his favourite part about being in the vet industry is gaining the knowledge and ability to look after animals. Once he has finished his studies, Tim has a keen interest in emergency care and would like to train further in this area.
Tim is ‘Dad’ to 3 Jack Russell’s, Ella, Alle and Cookie. Aside from spending time with the doggo’s, outside of work Tim enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, relaxing with a good computer game or spending time outdoors either camping or motorbike riding.
Maddy has been part of the veterinary world since 2018 and brings a hands-on, animal-first approach to everything she does. Originally from Bathurst, NSW, her passion for animal care began as a wildlife carer – an experience that helped shape her calm, compassionate approach.
She has a strong interest in surgery and dog breeding, and loves being involved in procedures where she can make a real difference behind the scenes. That said, her absolute weakness is puppy cuddles, which she considers one of the best perks of the job.
When she’s not at work, Maddy spends most of her time with her three dogs: Leo the Doberman, and Cocker Spaniels Piper and Ellie-Mae (a very proud mum-and-daughter duo), along with her husband Sean. Outside of the clinic, you’ll often find her spear fishing, relaxing at home with her dogs and the TV, or reaching for sour straps and chippies during a busy shift.
One of Maddy’s most memorable moments in vet practice was hand-raising a baby brushtail possum—an experience that perfectly reflects her dedication to caring for animals of all shapes and sizes.
Georgia is one of our vibrant and caring veterinary nurses, bringing boundless energy and a genuine love for animals to the clinic every day. Originally from Brisbane, Georgia has been working in the veterinary field since 2023 after completing her Certificate II in Animal Studies, and she’s currently studying her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.
Georgia’s passion truly shines when caring for hospitalised patients. She loves giving them extra comfort, cuddles, and attention while they’re on the road to recovery. Her bubbly & compassionate approach helps pets (and their humans!) feel at ease during their stay with us.
When she’s not at the clinic, Georgia’s world revolves around her little family – partner Lachie, her crazy Cocker Spaniel Peaches, and her beloved kitty Lexi. Outside of work, you’ll likely find her dancing or performing in musical theatre, iced caramel latte in hand and dreaming about giraffes and horses.
Known for her positive attitude, infectious smile, and ability to laugh at herself (even after a wardrobe malfunction in x-ray), Georgia is a much-loved member of our team and someone your pets will adore just as much as she adores them.
Alex has been a veterinary nurse for 8 years and knows her way around a surgical suite better than most people know their own kitchens. A University of Queensland graduate with a Bachelor of Veterinary Technology, she’s originally from the Gold Coast and somehow combined a lifelong love of animals with an interest in medical dramas (thanks, House MD) into a career that actually makes sense. Her favourite part of the job is surgery, with a particular interest in anaesthetic monitoring and critical nursing care.
At home, Alex’s household consists of herself and her two dogs. Freya is a 14-year-old Staffy she found on the side of the road as a teenager, and Atlas is an 8-year-old Bull Arab who joined the family after being surrendered at a previous clinic. They run the house. Alex just pays the bills.
When she’s not at work, Alex unwinds by blasting music on the drive home, walking the dogs, reading, hiking, or getting stuck into a good K-Drama. She runs on triple-shot coffee and the occasional cold Coke during long shifts.
If Alex were an animal, she’d be a jellyfish—floating mindlessly through the ocean. Fun facts include having lived on Christmas Island as a kid and vaccinating meerkats and a mongoose for rabies during a month spent in Africa.
Jordan has been a veterinary nurse for 6 years and is the gentle, calming presence everyone hopes their pet ends up with. Originally from Hobart and raised in Cairns from the age of eight, she brings warmth, patience, and a whole lot of compassion to her role.
She holds a Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing and was drawn to the profession by the special bond between pets and their owners – something she never takes lightly. Jordan’s favourite part of the job is seeing patients recover and head home with their families after a tough time. She has a strong interest in surgery, emergency cases, and hospital care, and is always ready to step in when patients need a little extra support (or a cuddle).
At home, Jordan lives with her partner and two cats, Milo and Callie – one well-behaved cat and one mischievous kitten (according to Jordan).
Outside of work, Jordan unwinds by cuddling her cats, sewing, and enjoying an Annees Vietnamese coffee. She runs on cookies during long shifts and, fun fact, speaks fluent Japanese. If she were an animal, she’d be a cat – lounging, sleeping, and eating all day sounds like the dream. She also has a soft spot for Chihuahuas, proving that good things really do come in small packages.
Steph has been working in the veterinary field since May 2024 and has quickly become a valued part of the team. A Cairns local, she brings a calm, quietly bubbly nature to the clinic and is one of those people who fits in effortlessly.
She completed her Cert II in 2025 and is set to commence her Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2026. Steph was drawn to vet nursing by a genuine love for animals and a strong desire to help and care for patients of all species. Her favourite part of the job is exactly that – making a difference through hands-on care. She has a growing interest in behaviour and surgery and is always keen to learn.
At home, Steph lives with her mum, dad, brother, and her dog Ollie, a 3-year-old Border Collie cross with endless energy and a serious love for toys and walks.
Outside of work, Steph enjoys gym sessions to unwind, coffee runs with friends, riding horses, and relaxing with a sweet treat and her favourite TV shows. She’s fuelled by lollies, Pods chocolate, and a Caramel Delight from Annees. A fun fact many don’t know: Steph has no sense of smell. One of her most memorable moments in practice involved a nurse emerging from the dog ward completely covered in activated charcoal – proof that vet nursing is never dull.
Bronte is one of our experienced Registered Veterinary Nurses, bringing with her over six years of hands-on experience to the Southside team. Originally from Brisbane, she completed her training through ACVN and AIRC and is driven by a genuine desire to help animals who can’t speak for themselves.
Bronte’s favourite parts of the job are educating clients and, of course, cuddling puppies (and cats – always cats!). She has a strong interest in anaesthesia and surgical nursing, where her calm, capable approach helps ensure pets are safe and comfortable during procedures.
At home, Bronte’s household includes herself, her son, and Lionel – her 10-year-old orange cat who is, by all accounts, absolutely purrfect! Lionel is considered her “other son,” and clearly runs the house.
If Bronte were an animal, she’d be a cat without hesitation – well-fed, well-rested, and living the dream. Outside of work, she loves unwinding with a glass of wine in the garden, growing her own veggies, and powering through busy shifts with a bag of chips and a caramel latte (hot or cold, depending on the day).
Bronte also has a soft spot for Australia’s wonderfully unique wildlife, with cassowaries and platypus topping her favourites list.
© Southside Veterinary Surgery 2026