After graduating from the University of Queensland in 1995, Deborah started her journey in avian and exotic animal medicine. In the following years, she worked in a variety of practices (general, emergency, avian, and small animal practice), before moving to the United Kingdom to start an avian residency. While there, she obtained her Certificate of Zoological Medicine (CertZooMed). This qualification encompasses zoo animals, birds and exotic pets and wildlife. There are only 3 people in Australia with this qualification.

DipECZM (Avian) signifies that Deborah is a Diplomate (Specialist) of the European College of Zoological Medicine and Surgery, in the Avian Section, which is the European organisation responsible for training and assessing veterinarians who wish to become avian specialists. Deborah was given Diplomate status in 2006 and is the only Australian veterinarian with this qualification having undertaken the necessary training and study required between 2003 and 2006.

In addition to her Zoological Medicine Certificate and European Diplomate qualification Deborah achieved Membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Avian Health in 1999 (MACVSc [Avian Health]) and improved on this initial qualification by achieving her Fellowship (Specialist) status in July 2006 (FANCVS [Avian Medicine]). Deborah was the only the fifth person to have attained this qualification.

Emma has a very keen interest in reptiles but also loves all of the feathered and furred animals we see. At home she has a 24-year-old galah called Toby, a cinnamon green cheek conure, Rica and many chickens – all of which are regular blood donors for the clinic! She also has a Darwin Carpet Python called Eve, a Ridge tailed monitor called Patch and (she had to have some furred creatures!) two dogs – Lola and Tia. Over the years she has had snakes, various lizards, frogs, guinea pigs and mice. Emma achieved her Avian Memberships with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in 2018, and her Unusual Pet Medicine and Surgery Memberships in 2019. Outside of work Emma spends most of her time with her kids and husband caring for their menagerie!

Kimberley loves seeing the huge variety of creatures at BBEVS, but she has a particular interest in guinea pig medicine. She’s currently working on a contribution to a textbook, and regularly presents at conferences.

Outside of work, Kimberley enjoys gardening, watercolour painting, Irish dancing, and spending time with her extended family which includes a variety of furred, scaled and feathered friends!

Her love of animals only grew when she was given her first pet, Aussie the talking budgie at age 9, and since that time Rebecca has kept numerous parrots, and even bred a few species of native frogs.

Rebecca joined the veterinary industry in 2006, working as a Veterinary Nurse in small animal practice in Brisbane, and in 2008, she moved to Perth, Western Australia, where she completed her Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS) at Murdoch University.

After returning to Queensland in 2013, Rebecca worked as a Veterinarian in a mixed animal practice in a rural town, where she gained experience in many companion and hobby farm animals from dogs and cats, to goats, sheep, alpacas, pigs, horses and cows. Rebecca trained at Brisbane Bird and Exotics Veterinary Service through a 12 month internship program in 2014, and there her love for strange and unusual pets grew and grew.

Since then, Rebecca spent 4 years working with birds, exotics, dogs and cats in Brighton Queensland, before her return to BBEVS in 2019.
Rebecca studied to attain Memberships from the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Science in the Avian Health chapter for caged and aviary birds in 2018.

Rebecca loves practicing yoga, mindfulness, gardening, weekend markets, antiquing and travelling. She spends her spare time with her friends and family, and her favourite companions – Mick the human, and during the week shares her nest with Rosebud the naughty galah.

Prior to Veterinary Science, Ashley completed a degree in Biomedical Science in 2017, where she majored in Neuroscience. After working as a researcher in this field, she undertook an Honours degree with research at The University of Oxford, investigating the basis of Neurodegenerative disease.

Because of her ongoing passion for wildlife conservation, Ashley worked as a wildlife rescue volunteer and has completed several veterinary placements at wildlife facilities across Queensland, including Australia Zoo and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Whilst completing her Veterinary Science degree, she was involved in a number of research projects at The University of Queensland, where she investigated parasitic infections in animals. She’s currently working on a journal article about resistance and treatment of these parasites in pets.

Ashley loves all things scaled, feathered, and furred, but has a particular soft spot for rats. Outside of work she enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with her pets.

Divya is a veterinary professional, having worked in animal health care and wildlife conservation for 12 years and travelled extensively to aid in conservation initiatives in countries all over the world.

She obtained her certification in veterinary nursing in 2010 and she completed her Bachelors of Science with majors in Biotechnology, Chemistry and Zoology and minors in Social Work and Developmental Disorders in 2017. She graduated as a veterinarian from The University of Queensland in 2022.

She is passionate about the preservation of all things wild, including habitats, animals and tribal cultures. Her passion circumvents working in trauma rehabilitation and working with animals and people who have endured the trials and tribulations of life, and giving them a space to heal without hurry and delve into the experiences they’ve had so it can aid in their evolution and transformation, rather than destroy them.

To deepen her experience in this field, Divya obtained her certifications as a meditation trainer and peer counsellor. Divya also explores life through the vehicles of dance, music and poetry, and uses her professional platforms in these fields to engage her audiences in discussions that are better had without words. Divya hopes to someday create conscious communities where wildlife and people that have experienced trauma can come together to heal and hone themselves while taking care of the gift of the land they live on.

Alana joined Brisbane Bird and Exotics Veterinary Service in January 2013 because she wanted a challenge, and she thoroughly enjoys the wide variety of species and interesting cases that come with working in an avian and exotics only clinic. In 2019 and 2020 Alana undertook four Advanced Programmes in Veterinary Nursing of Zoo/Exotic Species (Avian, Reptiles and Amphibians, Small Mammals and Zoo Animals) through Girling and Fraser Ltd Training and Consultancy in the United Kingdom, and on successful completion of these four programmes she was awarded a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing of Zoological Species in March 2020.

Continued professional development is very important to Alana. She is a member of the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia, joined the voluntary Australian Veterinary Nurse and Technician registration scheme when it began in 2019, is Veterinary Radiation Use Licence Holder, an Accredited Mental Health First Aid Officer and a Fear Free Certified Professional (Veterinary – Avian). Alana also values sharing her knowledge and skills, and has delivered client seminars at BBEVS as well as educating peers by running an Avian and Exotics Nursing Care Seminar in 2019 and presenting at the Nurses Stream of the Unusual Pets and Avian Vets/Association of Avian Veterinarians Australasian Committee Combined Conference in 2016. She also takes pride in training and mentoring junior staff members at BBEVS.

In her spare time Alana enjoys reading (she has a personal library of almost 1000 books at last count… although that was several years ago), crafting, board games (especially Wingspan!), road trips around Australia and travelling to new overseas destinations. Alana and her husband are owned by a Rainbow Lorikeet named Charlie (who Alana has had since 2005), a Green Cheek Conure named Squeaky, a Centralian Carpet Python named Adoni, two ‘foster’ dogs (Indy the Greyhound x Mastiff and Cherry the Greyhound) and a ‘foster’ cat named Mush-Mush… three ‘foster’ animals that arrived for short-term care and never left! Alana is pictured here with her parents’ male King Parrot, Akala.

Maddie loves all things animal related, particularly eggs! She first started incubating eggs at the age of fourteen using a cardboard box and a desk lamp. Her love of eggs was so great that she actively started researching eggs and incubation at a young age. Since then Maddie has obtained formal qualifications including a Certificate 3 in Captive Animals, a Certificate 4 in Veterinary Nursing and is part way through a Bachelor of Wildlife Science. She has attended a workshop with Operation Nest Egg (ONE) in Kiwi egg candling and incubation as well as a workshop in Avian Artificial Incubation with the Durrell Conservation Academy.

Maddie has incubated eggs from both domestic and wild species, many of which were a mystery until they hatched. This has included tiny pardalotes, finches, swans, brush turkeys, sea birds, raptors and everything in between! After hatching, Maddie also hand raises most of these birds on her own. Conservation of endangered and threatened Australia species is something that Maddie would love to be involved with in the future.

Maddie also actively participates in rescuing and caring for native wildlife, and also dog, cat and battery hen rescue work. At home Maddie has a cockatiel, lots of chickens, 3 dogs (Toy Bulldog, Boston Terrier and a Great Dane) and 3 cats to keep her busy!

She is always very excited about new toys and products for birds and guinea pigs! In her spare time Meri likes road trips, scouring the markets for vintage treasures, decorating her new house and catching up with friends and family. Meri lives with her boyfriend Jamie, her blind cat Cricket, three-legged cat Molly, a little mouse family and a cheeky sulphur crested cockatoo Alan.

Amanda has always been captivated by wild and exotic creatures. From a young age she was curious about wildlife which lead her to study a Bachelor of Applied Science majoring in Wildlife Science. While studying her bachelor’s degree, she volunteered for the RSPCA as a Wildlife Ward Assistant fuelling her love for Veterinary Nursing. Amanda then studied her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, whilst working as a wildlife vet nurse. She jumped at the opportunity to work for BBEVS in 2020. She is a member of the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia and the AVNAT registration Scheme.

Amanda and her partner are kept very busy with their little army including, Esky the blue tongue skink, Ray the crimson rosella, Bonnie the green cheek conure, Stout the Kelpie X Staffy and Dora the Husky X Weimaraner. Away from work, Amanda enjoys hiking and exploring new places.

At home she has a little menagerie of furred and feathered babies, Mari the green-cheeked conure, and two cocker spaniels named Evie and Arthur. Outside of work, Tayla loves getting outdoors and will never turn down an opportunity to go out for brunch. She and her partner also love to travel and have so far been to 10 countries. Tayla could also just be found sitting at home with a good book or playing board games with her friends and family.

Meet Cushla, one our lovely Nursing Assistants.

Cush has a passion for avian wellness and avian behaviour. Having been a part of the animal care industry for over 13yrs, Cush has a wealth of knowledge spanning from avian reproduction to general avian husbandry and previously worked for RSPCA taking cruelty & rescue calls and volunteer wildlife rescue. Her favourite birds are Australian Parrots, and since joining us in 2022, we simply couldn’t imagine the clinic without her.

Cush has completed her Certificate III in Animal Studies and has plans to undertake her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing (specializing in avians and exotics of course). When not at work, Cush is usually outside enjoying the sunshine. Beach days and cute cafe dates are her preference. When at home, Cush is owned by a Senior Cat named Mima.

Since the age of 7, Jess knew that animal care was her calling. Her love for all animals is evident in her day-to-day work, but her particular passion for reptiles is highlighted in her excitement to learn as much as she can about them. Jess’s bucket list items involve hatching a clutch of reptile eggs and seeing a King Cobra in the wild.

Jess has called this job ‘A dream come true’. When we asked her what to put in her staff biography, her response was ‘I learn more here every day than I did at school, and I love every minute of it!’.

Heidi has completed her Animals Studies certification and is currently undertaking her Veterinary Nursing qualification. When asked about her time at our clinic, Heidi said “I love working at Brisbane Bird and Exotics Veterinary Services. Such an amazing team to learn from. Our patients are so unique.”

Quilla graduated with a Bachelor of International Studies in 2017, spending a semester of this studying in South Korea.

Post-graduation, she ventured into the world of animal welfare through volunteer work at the RSPCA, which soon led to a paid role. Since then, she continued to champion the cause, working with both AWL and RSPCA to advocate for all animals big or small.

Beyond her rescue work, Quilla leads a multifaceted life, driven by diverse interests. She finds solace in art, channelling her energy into various creative outlets.  When not creating or advocating for animals, Quilla enjoys staying active through rock climbing, hiking and bike riding. She possesses a deep-seated connection to nature, with a keen interest in the world of insects and arachnids.

She’s beyond excited to continue her work with animals through BBEVS and is keen to help make a positive difference in the lives of pets and their owners for years to come.

While she is particularly fascinated by birds and reptiles, Zara has been passionate about all animals for as long as she can remember – and has wanted to be involved in the veterinary industry since primary school. She has had the pleasure of caring for a wide variety of species at home, including birds, reptiles, dogs, cats, rodents, horses, arachnids and insects!

After graduating high school, she gathered experience by volunteering at many different practices, namely the RSPCA, AWLQ and the Ipswich City Council Zoo (secretly, this one was her favourite, allowing her to work with quolls, dingoes, bilbies, and even a wedge-tailed eagle). She has also volunteered with a wildlife rescue, rehabilitating orphaned juvenile possums at home.

Zara then went on to study a Certificate III in Animal Studies, specialising in veterinary nursing skills, and achieved the qualification at the end of 2020. Additionally, she has recently completed her venomous snake handling certificate. These opportunities sparked her interest in the incredible world of exotic animal care. From there, Zara began studying Wildlife Science at the University of Queensland, and proudly joined the BBEVS team in mid-2022!

She currently shares her home with cockatiels, snakes, dogs, and a stray kitten who was just a bit too cute to rehome.

As a previous member of the travel industry, Jess travelled the world for 6yrs. She has lived in Dubai, but her favourite travel destinations are Cuba, Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka. In addition to her abroad adventures, Jess is also a qualified anaesthesiology and recovery nurse for the human medical field. Her current passion is Surface Pattern Design, which she has been perfecting since 2016, with a particular interest in quirky animal designs.

We feel so lucky to have Jess (and her 9yr old cockatiel Winnie) as part of our team.

Matisse has spent time volunteering in animal rescue programs, along with caring for her menagerie of pets. Sweet Pea her Alexandrine parrot, Lewis her horse, Pepe her dog and her array of fish tanks have solidified Matisse’s passion for animal care. She hopes to study Veterinary Nursing in the future, and we are confident that Matisse will excel in this, if she chooses this path.