Our Nurses

Mel

Head Nurse/Practice Manager

Mel has been in the industry for 15 years and has been part of the Struggletown team for the last 10. Mel has been our head nurse for a while and has recently taken on the role of practice manager as well.

Mel is our very own cat whisperer and has a real passion for kitten rescue and will try to attempt to save anything that has a chance. Mel has her own rescue called Paws for love.

Mel has completed courses in small animal anaesthesia, medicine, nursing, and cat behaviour and psychology. She has a real passion for our hospital patients, ensuring they get treatments and care they require and deserve.

Mel has a family of her own, including 2 children and her partner Jamie. They permanently share their home with her 8 cats, 4 dogs and multiple fish tanks. But, there are constant boarders of rescue kittens routinely taking up residents in her home. This doesn’t leave much time for other hobbies, but that’s fine because animals are Mel’s passion in life!

Courtney O

Nurse

Courtney began working at Struggletown in 2010 after working in the fashion industry for many years. Courtney is a qualified nurse after completing a certificate III and IV of Veterinary Nursing and has a special interest in Rabbits and Guinea pigs. Courtney loves coming to work everyday and seeing the patients as well as working with such a compassionate and dedicated team. You will often find Courtney teaching Monkey our clinic cat new tricks.

Courtney shares her home with her Birman cat “Lord Caesar Schnitzel Von Crumb” and a Dogue De Bordeaux Called Augustus who has over 22.5k followers on Instagram. In her free time enjoys spending time with her family, friends and travelling.

Nicky

Customer Services Advocate/Puppy school director

Nicky began running puppy school four years ago but after years in the boating industry decided to follow her passion. Nicky completed her certificate IV in companion animal services through the DELTA society and joined the team in 2011.

Nicky is always easily found by her bright pink top and chirpy personality. Working along Nicky is her baby “Harley” the Beagalier. Nicky also shares her home with 4 budgies. When Nicky is not working she spends her free time paddle boarding, running our good manners class and spending time with her furry and feathered family.

Cindy

Nurse

After 25 years co-ordinating services for people with disabilities, Cindy decided to follow her passion to work with animals. She joined the team at Struggletown in 2015 after completing the cert IV in Veterinary Nursing and also attained a cert IV in Companion Animal Servics and a Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviours. Cindy hopes to continue her studies in order to widen her knowledge in small animal care. Cindy shares her home with her beloved paraplegic Chihuahua cross, Marnie, Lovable Chi, Taco and her five rescue cats (Beastie, Billy, Loki, Munchkin and Swish) as well as various foster kittens and her long-suffering husband, Steve! Her free time is spent with family (both two and four-legged), cooking, making yummy pet treats in her hehydrator and trying to master the art of cross-stitch.

Jess

Nurse

Jess has recently joined the Struggletown team after a few years out of the industry while raising her little girl. She started her vet nursing career in Wagga Wagga while doing a degree in Animal Science. This is where she was lucky enough to experience working with a wide range of animals from cats and dogs to goats, kangaroos and even wedge tailed eagles! These experiences made her fall in love with the job and she hasn’t looked back since.

She has a particular interest in surgical nursing and anaesthesia and takes pride in helping your pets get through their procedures smoothly and safely.

She has often been referred to as a ‘crazy cat lady’, though she will dispute the crazy part. She has a passion for animal rescue and has raised and rehomed over 60 cats and kittens including the handsome fellow in the (above/below) picture.

When not working, Jess can be found going on adventures and getting muddy with her wild toddler.

Martina

Nurse

My name is Martina. I’m from Argentina. I graduated as a veterinarian back in my country at the University of El Salvador. I came to Australia on a holiday in the first place and I liked it so much that I decided to stay and live this adventure. I never imagined working outside my country. I would like to stay in Australia long term and live this experience, and if in the future I am given the opportunity to practice as a vet, it would be a great challenge for me. Until I can work as a vet here, I will be part of the nursing team at Struggletown. I like nursing very much, the work group is incredible and they help me a lot to integrate, especially because working in another language and country can be really hard. Luckily when I struggle with my English I realize I’m working at Struggletown Veterinary Hospital and that at the end of the day I will be fine – however if when you call and speak to a young lady with a South American accent, please be a bit patient with me :).

Get In Touch!

Address:

148 Barker St,
Randwick NSW 2031

Contact:

(02) 9398 8000

Email

reception@struggletownvet.com.au

Hours:

Mon to Fri: 7:30am – 9:00pm
Sat: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Sun: 9:00am – 1:00pm

Providing Quality Vet Care Near:
Randwick, Coogee, Kingsford, Daceyville, Kensington, Bronte, Waverley, Queens Park, East Gardens, Pagewood, Hillsdale, Maroubra.