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Ellen has worked at Southside Veterinary Surgery since 2009, after graduating from the University of Queensland in 2008. In 2022, Ellen and Lee-Anne took over ownership of the clinic from Helen and Wade to forge a new future for Southside Vets. Ellen is an exceptional and experienced Veterinarian and has a particular interest in feline medicine and soft tissue surgery. She has a strong passion for innovative and modern medicine and implementing these recommendations and practices into our clinic protocols. She is always looking for ways to ensure we are offering gold standard practice.
Outside of work, Ellen enjoys horticulture/propagation, gardening in her amazing yard, cycling, hiking and other outdoor activities. Much of her love for the outdoors comes from growing up on the Atherton Tablelands. When she does have a quiet moment, she spends it with her partner Dylan, her three cats Pickles, Banksy and Tabitha, and her dogs Saf and Sully. We think she sets the best example for our other vets.
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.
Mikayla, a proud 2016 graduate of JCU, began her veterinary career in Northern NSW before returning to the sunny climate of Far North Queensland. She became part of our team in October 2018 and has a strong passion for ultrasonography and internal medicine. Mikayla has also gained some extra qualifications—after completing a two-year intensive course, three exams, and a case report, she earned her certificate in General Practice – Small Animal Medicine.
Mikayla became our Head Veterinarian in 2022, leading the veterinary team with passion and enthusiasm. She ensures we continue to uphold gold-standard medicine and introduce new advancements in the field.
When Mikayla isn’t at work, you’ll likely find her hiking, water-skiing, visiting her family, or just enjoying the great outdoors. She and her partner Adam also found time build their first home together, which is an exciting new chapter for them!
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 became part of the Southside family in September 2021. After graduating from JCU, Brooke initially worked at a small clinic in Bowen before moving north to Cairns. Brooke has a special interest in orthopaedic surgery, ultrasound and radiology, and is accredited to perform the PennHIP procedure here in clinic. Brooke not only has a special interest in orthopaedic surgery, but is one of our vets who can provide a variety of orthopaedic procedures.
Gracie and Poppy are Brooke’s ‘spolit’ rescue dogs, spending the weekends camping, fishing and hiking.
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.
Tamasyn has been a qualified Veterinary Nurse since 2007, and her passion for animals is still as strong as ever. She has two cats named Pom Pom and and Lucy, two border collies called Ivy and Hugo, a chihuahua called Pretzel and a cheeky parrots Kibbles and Shark. Tamasyn takes care of the clinic stock and all your special orders. She recently finished a Nutritional Nurse course and runs a complimentary weight watchers’ clinic. She also provides dental checks and physiotherapy instruction for our orthopaedic surgery patients. She is also one of our puppy preschool teachers.
Outside of work, Tam loves spinning fairy floss, baking, reading, camping and spending time with her daughter Willow and partner, Matt. Tam brings a lot of experience and value to our team.
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 has been a Veterinary Nurse for 7 years now and is one of our Registered Nurses here at Southside. Originally from Holland, Helle had a break from nursing when she spent time travelling, before eventually settling in Australia. Before joining the Southside team, Helle had worked in multiple clinics across Holland and Australia, gaining new skills and experience at each place. Helle loves working with animals and had wanted to follow this career path since she was young. She finds the most joy in sending patients home to their families after they have been unwell in hospital. She enjoys seeing new furry faces each day and loves that in this industry, you never stop learning! Helle particularly likes surgical nursing, but also enjoys an in depth hospital case from time to time.
Outside of work, she enjoys exploring and travelling whenever the opportunity arises.
Ange joined the clinic in December 2020 after completing a few work placements with us. She is currently completing her certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. Ange lives on the Tablelands, so has a long drive to work every day. If that isn’t dedication, we aren’t sure what is. She has a pet poodle called Jedi and a very protective parrot called Arno.
Outside of work, Ange enjoys art, motorbike riding and camping. We are pleased to have Ange on our 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 completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2018 and worked in a small country town clinic near Bathurst in NSW. She joined the Southside team in January of 2023. Maddy is passionate about caring for all animals and especially loves a puppy cuddle! Maddy is currently studying at a university level, enrolled in a Bachelor of Veterinary Technology. Through this, she has developed a keen interest in genetics, including breeding and reproduction.
Moving to Cairns with Maddy came her partner Sean, Leo (Dobermann) & Piper (Cocker Spaniel). On her days off Maddy enjoys spearfishing, snorkelling and exploring the reef!
Georgia, one of our fabulous Trainee Veterinary Nurses – and let’s just say, this career is made for her! Currently working on her Certificate IV, she’s on track to be fully qualified in no time. Before joining the Southside team, Georgia was living the Brisbane life, working in a local clinic. What she loves most about the vet world? The fact that no two days are ever the same. Each day is a new adventure and knowing she’s making a real difference in the lives of our patients keeps her fueled with passion. She’s particularly interested in surgical nursing, in particular anaesthetics.
When she’s off the clock, Georgia’s all about dancing, musical theatre, and quality time with her Cocker Spaniel, Peaches, and her kitty, Lexi. Oh, and let’s not forget her partner Lachy, who’s always game for joining in on the fun!
Jordan embarked on her veterinary journey in 2020, achieving her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. Before joining the team at Southside, she gained valuable experience working at another local clinic.
Jordan is passionate about helping clients and their pets stay healthy, happy, and together for as long as possible. Her special interests lie in surgery, anaesthesia, and emergency care, where she excels in providing compassionate, skilled care when it matters most.
At home, Jordan is kept busy by her two beloved pets: Milo, a charming Ragdoll, and Cali, her playful Tortie. When she’s not caring for animals, you’ll find Jordan studying Japanese or working on her latest sewing project.
Jordan brings both skill and heart to everything she does – from the operating room to greeting you on reception, she’s dedicated to providing exceptional care for your pets.
Meet Steph! She began her traineeship with us in March 2024, bringing with her a wealth of experience from her 4 years as a hairdresser at a local Cairns salon. Since transitioning into the world of veterinary care, Steph has found her true calling. What she loves most about being a nurse is the love and care she provides to each and every animal—it’s a role that she finds incredibly rewarding.
Steph has a special interest in genetics, particularly in understanding the traits that define different breeds of cats and dogs. She is fascinated by the genetic makeup that makes each breed unique.
At home, Steph has a playful Jack Russell named Ollie, who loves going on adventures with her boyfriend Tyler’s dog, Spike. When she’s not working, you’ll find her outdoors, enjoying quality time with friends and family.
We’re so lucky to have Steph as part of our team!
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