At present, the South Tamworth Animal Hospital team is comprised of a practice manager, four full time veterinarians, three part-time veterinarians, an office manager, 3 receptionists, six full time and four part-time veterinary nurses and two animal attendants.
The practice provides a wide range of animal care services.
Since 1987, Tamworth College of TAFE has conducted TAFE Veterinary Nursing, Veterinary Receptionist and Animal Attending Courses at the South Tamworth Animal Hospital premises, using the practice as a teaching hospital. This arrangement, which is unique among Australian TAFE courses, provides the students with a far greater component of practical experience than would be otherwise possible. All of the full-time nursing and one of the reception staff at South Tamworth Animal Hospital have successfully completed the Veterinary Nursing Certificate course. Several other staff members are undergoing their formal Vet nurse training at this time.
Our qualified nurses include Sandy Tyers, Michelle Lee, Lorelle Latter, Angela Jones, Kim Gerritsen, Hansje de Waard and Karen Sheridan. Our animal attendants include Cassandra Cleal, Teena Gibson and Karen Sheridan. Reception is staffed by Cindy Davis, Susan Woodward and Stephanie Woods who is also a Delta qualified dog trainer and provides an exceptional grooming service for your pets. Puppy preschool is conducted by Michelle Lee.
Peter is a registered specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Intensive Care. He has presented talks and papers at the annual Australian Veterinary Association Conference as well as many other presentations to medical and veterinary groups in Australia and overseas. Also, Peter is a PennHip certified Veterinarian registered to evaluate hip dysplasia in dogs.
Liz and Kathleen have completed their masters degree in Veterinary Science by examination through Murdoch University, and Liz has passed her membership exams in Internal Medicine with the Australian college of Veterinary Scientists in June 2011, Andrew intends to sit his membership examination in small animal surgery and Kathleen in Emergency Medicine in 2012. Jo in addition to being a Veterinarian has a degree in Forensic Osteology. We have an active policy encouraging participation in continuing education courses and training for all our members of staff, both in house and attending external conferences.
All the Australian universities with faculties of Veterinary Science place their final year students in veterinary practices as part of their teaching programme. South Tamworth Animal Hospital takes many final year students in each year on a one month rotation (10 students have attended in the last 12 months).
Outside consultants are regularly engaged to assist in the diagnosis and management of our patients. Dr Mike Bernays is a specialist veterinary ophthalmologist who attends South Tamworth Animal Hospital twice each year and provides much appreciated ophthalmic care for the eyes and vision of our pets. We frequently use the expertise of the veterinary radiology specialists at “Veterinary Imaging Associate” to assist us with the interpretation of radiographs, ultrasound and CT scanner images as needed.
