Our Team
Australian Wildlife Hospital
Gail - General Manager
Gail has been involved in hand-rearing and rehabilitating sick and injured Australian wildlife for over three decades. Her experience includes common and southern hairy-nosed wombats, koalas, and many other native species of mammal, bird and reptile. As hospital manager, Gail has developed unique expertise in triage and the emergency care of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife and also critical care of very young pouch marsupials. Gail is personally responsible for countless lives saved and is arguably Australia's best "koala mum".
Being the backbone of The Australian Wildlife Hospital would be contribution enough for most wildlife enthusiasts, but not for this amazing woman. Gail also dedicates much of her personal time to this cause. She is President of Wildcare Australia (since 2000) and has conducted literally hundreds of workshops on wildlife hand-rearing in both NSW and Queensland and is a guest lecturer to veterinary students at the University of Queensland.
Gail has received community recognition for her voluntary work including ‘Best Volunteer Award’ for commitment to the environment - Volunteering Australia (2002); ‘Golden Gecko Award’ for commitment to the environment and wildlife conservation - Gold Coast Hinterland Environmental Council (2003); Australian of the Year nominee (2007).
Gail lives at the Australian Wildlife Hospital and, accordingly, provides around-the-clock care to our many animal patients and is a constant and calming presence in our intensive care unit. For Gail however, her remarkable commitment is borne out of a simple desire to make a difference.
The Australian Wildlife Hospital was the first major project for Wildlife Warriors Worldwide. It was largely through Gail’s drive and effort that the Hospital was established and has now grown to be Australia’s busiest wildlife hospital and later this year is expected to become the largest and busiest in the world. The mission of its staff and volunteers is to rescue, provide world-class care, rehabilitate and release patients back into the wild. Without Gail’s dedication, compassion and vision this would not be possible.
Jon – Director of Research and Ecological Services
Jon has 15 years experience in wildlife medicine and surgery and, together with Gail, was responsible for establishing the Australian Wildlife Hospital. He is dedicating his life to raising the benchmark for wildlife medicine, ethics, management and conservation.
Here at the Australian Wildlife Hospital Jon has led refinements of treatments, as well as surgical innovation. The depth of diagnostics that the Hospital now undertakes, and its specialist expertise, has accelerated the knowledge and learning of a broad circle of wildlife professionals, students and volunteers.
Jon has a special interest in urban wildlife management and conservation. This has led him to recently develop a spotter/catcher program which may be the precursor to a formal code of practice that addresses the welfare and management of wild animals affected by land clearing.
Jon founded Wildcare Australia (Australian Koala Hospital Association Inc) in 1993 and remains the principal consulting veterinarian today. Wildcare Australia is a pre-eminent conservation organization managed by volunteers and it has received a number of prestigious community awards.
Aside from his expertise with native wildlife, Jon also provides contracted veterinary services to our major sponsor, Australia Zoo, which enables him to draw on his knowledge of exotic animals. This was honed during his tenure at Dreamworld (1992-2003).
Jon has participated in many wildlife rescue efforts and led a specialist rescue team in the tsunami-devastated region of Banda Aceh in early 2005. They delivered veterinary treatment for elephants working to recover bodies from the disaster area and also provided humanitarian aid to forest guards affected by the disaster.
In addition, Jon plays a proactive role in pioneering research projects. He holds a doctorate in veterinary pathology and virology – awarded in 2000 for a thesis on the association between leukaemia in the koala and infection with the koala retrovirus. Jon is an ongoing collaborator in projects examining the role of koala retrovirus in koala chlamydiosis. Presently, Jon is supervising a ground-breaking research project designed to investigate the migration patterns of rehabilitated koalas returned to the wild and their ability to establish new home ranges. He is also author of numerous workshops, scientific papers and articles on various aspects of wildlife medicine, care and conservation.
For the team at the Australian Wildlife Hospital, Jon is a seemingly inexhaustible source of knowledge and a valued mentor.
Claude – Veterinary Services Manager
Claude joined the Australian Wildlife Hospital as a veterinarian in March 2008. Originally from Quebec, Canada, she obtained her veterinary degree from the University of Montreal in 2000. Her passion for wildlife and zoo medicine was already obvious in vet school where she completed multiple externships in zoos and rehabilitation centres throughout both Canada and USA.
After graduation, she completed a one-year internship at the Raptor Centre adjoined to the University of Montreal where she obtained her skills in avian medicine. She then moved to Alabama, USA, to complete a one-year internship as a zoo veterinarian. She was finally employed as the associate veterinarian at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, USA, where she worked for 6 years.
Working as a zoo veterinarian has allowed her to become familiar with many animal species, including African, South American, Asian, and Australian species. She remains the veterinary advisor for the Eurasian Black Vulture SSP (Species Survival Plan) in the USA. She has published many articles in veterinary journals, including on polar bears and elephants. Her experience, knowledge, and organization skills have been a great addition to the Hospital team. She has completely fallen in love with all the Australian native species. She is currently the manager of the Veterinary Services here at the Australian wildlife Hospital.
Amber - Veterinarian
Amber has had a passion for wildlife for as long as she can remember and dreamed of being a vet. Growing up, she also experienced Australian wildlife through raising injured fruit bats and the occasional possum and wallaby.
Amber’s real experiences with wildlife began six years ago when she travelled to South Africa for a wildlife symposium and game capture course. She loved it so much over there that she returned in the beginning of 2003 to continue her veterinary degree there for the year. That year, Amber was lucky enough to get a job with the DeWildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre in South Africa. She worked as an assistant handler for one of their ambassador cheetahs and as a tour guide, helped with feeding and also assisted the vet with all sorts of procedures from minor injuries to limb amputations. She also got involved with the African Wild Dogs and Brown Hyena.
After returning to Australia in 2004, Amber completed an externship program with Taronga Zoo for four weeks and in 2005, spent some time with the Australian Wildlife Hospital and met the staff, which Amber says turned out to be the best thing she had done, because this, along with her experiences overseas and in Australia, helped her get to where she is now – an employed vet at the Australian Wildlife Hospital.
Stacey - Veterinarian
Stacey is a casual veterinarian here at the Australian Wildlife Hospital. Stacey’s interest in wildlife began at a very young age, and inspired him to complete his veterinary degree at university.
He has spent the past 14 years in a private practice taking care of stray and orphaned wildlife. He has also worked for private wildlife parks, been involved in captive conservation breeding programs and in assisting government wildlife departments.
Stacey’s area of special interest is avian medicine and he relishes the opportunity to work with and assist the broad range of wildlife species presented at the Australian Wildlife Hospital.
Tania - Veterinarian
Tania's passion for wildlife became evident at a very young age. She developed a keen interest in the environment and caring for injured animals and it was clear that Tania was destined for a career involving wildlife. Once in high school she trained as a volunteer ranger at Brisbane Forest Park where she worked for seven years. During this time she honed her skills as a carer, raising possums, bandicoots, macropods, antechinus, various bird species, flying foxes and microbats, gliders as well as lizards and turtles. Tania felt that she could do more, and in 1994 commenced her studies to become a veterinary surgeon.
Following graduation in 1999, Tania commenced work as an associate veterinarian at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast where she remained on staff until 2003. Having already commenced training for her membership in avian health, Tania commenced working at the Australian Wildlife Hospital in 2004 and later achieved membership in avian health in 2006. Tania particularly enjoys the chance to work with carers so that she may help others to achieve the highest standards of care for wildlife.
Arana - Veterinarian
Arana Joined the Australian Wildlife Hospital as a veterinarian in February 2009. She obtained her veterinary degree from the University of Sydney where she also completed a Bachelor of Science (Veterinary) studying cortisol levels in free ranging Antarctic Weddell Seals. During university, Arana completed internships at Zoological institutes and wildlife research facilities throughout Australia.
Following graduation Arana pursued her dream of working with wildlife by volunteering at Taronga and Amsterdam zoos, treating injured wildlife in association with local rehabilitation groups and undergoing further education. Arana has recently returned from a period working in the United Kingdom and is very much enjoying focusing again on the amazing fauna Australia has to offer.
Peter - Veterinarian
Dr Peter joined the team at the Australian Wildlife Hospital in April 2007 and brings with him a wealth of experience, particularly with regard to ungulates and raptors, which hold a special interest for him.
Peter previously worked with the International Zoo Veterinary Group in the United Kingdom, and the Wildlife Protection Office in Dubai and we are delighted to be able to utilise his skills and diverse experience at the Australian Wildlife Hospital.
Vicky - Senior Veterinary Nurse
Nurse Vicky joined our Australian Wildlife Hospital after 10 years as a veterinary nurse in private veterinary practice. Nurse Vicki loves wildlife and, like Gail, has spent many years helping sick and injured wildlife as a volunteer wildlife carer.
She was thrilled to come and work at the Australian Wildlife Hospital, where she can dedicate all of her time to caring exclusively for wildlife and helping our beautiful wild patients on their road to recovery. Vicki looks after the day-to-day care and medication of our patients, and helps Dr Jon with veterinary treatments and procedures.
Pauline - Veterinary Nurse
Pauline is a veterinary nurse who joined the Australian Wildlife Hospital team on a casual basis just after Christmas 2004. She started vet nursing in 1995 and had worked extensively with both domestic and wild animals, and birds in particular.
After working as a volunteer for three months at the Australian Wildlife Hospital the opportunity to join the staff came up.
After living in an area that is known as koala habitat and observing their movements and behaviour, Pauline appreciates how precious koalas are. The opportunity to work with them hands-on is like a dream come true for her.
When Pauline is not hand-raising orphaned wildlife, she is kept very busy raising her own two little humans, and maintaining her own menagerie of animals! She also has a passion for sailing, windsurfing, horseriding and squash.
Jo - Veterinary Nurse/Assistant to the Director of Research and Ecological Services
Jo made the move from South Australia in February 2007 to become a part of the Wildlife Warriors team. Previously she had been working as a veterinary nurse in a small animal practice, in addition to an animal emergency centre. During this time she also completed a Bachelor of Science degree pursuing her interests in zoology and ecology.
One of Jo's greatest achievements was to volunteer at the Hoedspruit Cheetah and Endangered Species Research and Breeding Centre in South Africa. Most of her days were focused on cheetah health checks and feeding, but she was also involved in animal rescues and radio tracking of leopard and jackals.
Jo has also assisted in projects conducting research on the southern hairy-nosed wombat and the Tammar wallaby. She has a huge interest in the conservation of Australian wildlife and is proud to be working in a hospital that is completely devoted to the rescue and rehabilitation of these animals.
Peta - Veterinary Nurse
Peta joined us in June 2007. At university she studied Wildlife Biology and later took up the opportunity to travel to South Africa to visit several wildlife rehabilitation facilities. In Africa she was also able to fulfil her long-time dream of seeing elephants in the wild. She then studied Veterinary Nursing and worked in a domestic practice for four years. Peta’s passion for wildlife rehabilitation grew stronger when she gained a position within the RSCPA’s Wildlife Department, helping to run the Fauna Ward and treating sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife.
Peta has been passionate about wildlife conservation for as long as she can remember and is proud to now be part of such a dedicated and worthy cause.
Caroline - Veterinary Nurse
Caroline completed a Bachelor of Animal Science Degree in the UK before fulfilling an ambition to travel the world. She spent a year in Australia and fell in love with our "native wee beasties".
Four years later she married and immigrated to Australia and began working for the RSPCA in Sydney as a Vet Nurse. Caroline recently moved to Queensland and feels privileged to be part of the Australian Wildlife Hospital team and “making a daily contribution into the preservation and conservation of Australia’s wildlife.”
Erica - Veterinary Nurse
Erica worked as a Veterinary Nurse in general practice for six years before joining us in November 2007.
Erica grew up in a wildlife enriched area and was exposed to a variety of animals during her childhood. She has rescued countless animals from road sides, drain pipes and other interesting situations. During her years in general practice her love for wildlife developed and she knew that wildlife was her true passion.
She travelled to Africa recently and had a wonderful time seeing the continent's native wildlife first-hand in the Okavango Delta, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Erica is passionate about elephants and currently fosters two orphaned baby elephants in Kenya. This trip has underlined her desire to further her education in Australian and African wildlife conservation.
She has wanted to work at the Australian Wildlife Hospital for as long as she can remember and is loving the experience. To work with and be able to help wildlife is a dream come true for Erica who says it is "truly amazing" for her to work up close with such an array of species and help to make a difference. She hopes to become a carer and start rehabilitating sick and injured wildlife in the near future.
Jennifer - Veterinary Nurse
Jennifer is an accredited veterinary nurse and joined our team in January 2008. She had previously worked for five years in both general practice and emergency critical care of domestic animals, and also volunteered and worked as a casual keeper in Taronga Zoo’s bird show for over two years.
Jennifer moved to the Sunshine Coast from Sydney to take up a nursing position at our Hospital and is loving the variety of wild animals that come into our care, as well as exploring the biodiversity that South East Queensland has to offer. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biodiversity and Conservation through Macquarie University, and would like to do further study in Ornithology. It is a dream come true for Jennifer to work full time in wildlife conservation and she is particularly interested in raptor and parrot conservation.
Cheryl - Veterinary Nurse/ Animal Assistant
Cheryl was a dedicated volunteer who worked four days a week at the Australian Wildlife Hospital and is now a full-time vet nurse/animal assistant.
Cheryl is responsible for organising the volunteers on a daily basis and making sure all the outside enclosures and areas are kept clean and tidy.
Like everyone else in the Australian Wildlife Hospital, Cheryl assists in veterinary procedures, medicating and making sure the welfare of our patients comes first.
Annii - Veterinary Nurse
Annii began her career working with wildlife as a volunteer at the wildlife hospital at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. She then worked as a wildlife ranger and activities/bush- walking guide on South Molle Island where she stayed for five years. Annii has spent the last four years working in the veterinary clinic and quarantine facilities at Taronga Zoo, and in the African section - working mainly with the larger ungulates. To increase her skills as a vet nurse and to gain more surgical experience, Annii took on a second full time position at a 24 hour emergency specialist veterinary centre that catered for wildlife as well as domestic animals. She has now fulfilled her ultimate dream to be part of the veterinary team at the Australian Wildlife Hospital.
Annii has represented Australia in outrigger canoe paddling where she competed in Hawaii and Tahiti. The team she was in came second in the World Championships. On many early-morning training sessions her crew would be forced to paddle into big surf or dangerous rocks to help Annii rescue an exhausted seabird or penguin! In her free time she devotes her energies to hand-raising orphaned animals and spending time with family and friends.
Natasha - Veterinary Nurse
Natasha started her career in wildlife conservation in 2004 whilst studying a Bachelor of Biological Science degree. She decided she needed to be hands-on with wildlife so began working as a volunteer at Australia Zoo, and was soon employed as a Native Mammal Keeper.
After an amazing three year journey as a Keeper, and then as Head Keeper of the Koala Department, Natasha realised she wanted to pursue veterinary nursing. She is excited to be facing the different challenges offered by her new working environment at the Australian Wildlife Hospital and is loving working with wild koalas every day. They amaze her, even after four years, as they have such resilience and character. She has learnt so much from this one species and says she "can't begin to imagine what lies ahead!"
Lee - Veterinary Nurse
Lee joined us at the Australian Wildlife Hospital as a volunteer in September 2006 and then took on a position as a trainee veterinary nurse in November 2007. She is devoted to all wildlife and is passionate about our sea turtles. Every spare minute that she has she dedicates to learning about the care and rehabilitation of these unique animals.
Lee has spent her life surrounded by animals and began rescuing them from a young age, so being a part of our great team at the Australian Wildlife Hospital is the ultimate for her. As Lee says “Where else can you live the dream?”
Jaimee - Veterinary Nurse
Joining the team at the Australian Wildlife Hospital has been a dream come true for Jaimee. Jaimee had been a regular visitor to Australia Zoo since 2000 and knew her goal was to work for Wildlife Warriors.
Jaimee completed her veterinary nursing training in 2006 in Tamworth, NSW, however her love of native animals grew from her upbringing in the Northern Territory. Jaimee lived in Arnhem Land for six years and discovered the Territory's unique wildlife. She developed close ties with the Aboriginal people (her aboriginal adopted name is Rosie Queen) and learned the value of wildlife in their culture, such as crocodiles and snakes, as well as the environment.
Having worked voluntarily in local veterinary clinics throughout her secondary years in NSW, Jaimee's passion for wildlife grew with her ever-increasing knowledge of animals - Jaimee attributes this to the support and mentoring of the local vets. She has hand-reared and cared for many sick and abandoned animals, the most notable being "Rosie" the Eastern Rosella who was released and has recently become a mother. She was a registered wildlife carer with WIRES NSW and has completed general animal care, reptile care and rescue, including venomous snakes, raptor care and rescue.
In 2007 she headed back to her beloved Northern Territory to work as a vet nurse and continue expanding her knowledge.
Jaimee has always been keen to learn about and treat new animals and is particularly enjoying the personalities of the koala patients at the Hospital. Whilst she has focused her career on native animals, Jaimee says if there was one animal she would love to work with it would be the orangutan ... "it must be the hair!"
Nicole - Veterinary Nurse
Nicole has always loved animals and believes that wildlife and its protection are such important issues. This led to her studying a Bachelor in Applied Science in Animal Studies, specialising in Wildlife Biology. She was employed for a number of years as a zookeeper working mainly with endangered Australian animals. Concerned for their health and welfare, she began studying Vet Nursing and while doing this she worked as an emergency and critical care nurse at an after-hours emergency veterinary clinic.
Nicole travelled to New Zealand in 2008 to do some volunteer work with Barbary lions, Bengal tigers and white African lions. She has also had the opportunity to travel to South Africa twice where she visited locations that added to her passion for protection of all wildlife. She spent time at the Elephant Sanctuary – Hartbeespoort Dam and at De Wildt Cheetah Sanctuary, as well as going on safari in Kruger National Park. The African people and animals have gained a place in Nicole’s heart and she plans to go back and volunteer in a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre. Nicole inherited a passion for photography which extends mainly to animals and trying to capture the essence of their existence in particular.
Nicole commenced work at the Australian Wildlife Hospital in November 2008. She looks forward to culminating her skills to help wildlife and give them a voice.
Kathy - Hospital Administrator
Kathy joined the Australian Wildlife Hospital as part of our administration team in August 2007. She had worked for over 17 years for another not-for-profit organisation and feels privileged to now be part of an “awesome and passionate team that all work so well together” caring for injured wildlife and promoting conservation.
Kathy loves animals – pets have always been part of her family - and is looking forward to learning more about wildlife. She enjoys the outdoors and bush walking and often can be found on top of Mt NgunNgun. Her number one life experience so far has been scuba driving and snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef.
Sarah - Assistant to the General Manager
Sarah has had a love of all animals since she was a young girl. She volunteered at the hospital for nine months whilst studying wildlife management/marine science and running her own business in the determination to change her career. Sarah was offered a full-time position at the Australian Wildlife Hospital in 2004, so she sold her business and hasn't looked back since. Sarah has also been involved in various wildlife rehabilitation groups.
Over the years, Sarah has travelled extensively overseas, always trying to get to every national park in each new area; she spent four months travelling through Africa with her fiancée, which Sarah says was an experience she will never forget! In her spare time, Sarah enjoys scuba diving, bushwalking, beach-going and socialising.
Julie - Administration Assistant
Julie was born and grew up in Zimbabwe. She has always loved animals and had incredible experiences camping in the bush with elephants rubbing themselves against her tent, and hyenas attacking the eskies!
Julie immigrated to Australia in January 2006 and began teaching, then started volunteering at the Australian Wildlife Hospital in April working at the Reception Desk. In October she was delighted to be offered a part-time position as an Administration Assistant. Julie loves every day that she works here and is constantly amazed at the variety of animals that come in. She uses her experiences when supply-teaching on other days, to educate children about Australian wildlife and their preservation.
Jacquie - Tours and Conference Bookings Co-ordinator
All her life Jacquie has had a consuming passion for all things animal, so she loves working so closely with Australian wildlife. Jacquie is proud to be a part of an organisation that really makes a difference. Every day brings new patients and new experiences, and even though many situations are extremely challenging, Jacquie says there is no place she'd rather be.
Rhonda - Assistant Tours Co-ordinator
Rhonda was born into an animal loving family and has had a passion for all types of animal species for as long as she can remember! Rhonda's involvement with native animals, and koalas in particular, really kicked in when she and her partner moved to Noosa (a previous stronghold for koalas) in 1999. Local development, on such a large scale, was taking its toll on koalas and through her local vet, Rhonda became involved in koala rescue with the Noosa Koala Squad. When she was asked to be the “ambulance” for bringing yet another displaced Noosa koala to the Australian Wildlife Hospital, Rhonda was also given a tour of the hospital. That was the realisation that she would love to be a volunteer and help rehabilitate our wonderful wildlife. Rhonda started volunteering the next day, in March 2006, and continued to volunteer weekly.
When the new hospital opened and a position became available for Assistant Tours Co-ordinator, Rhonda applied and was absolutely delighted to be chosen. For Rhonda it is a dream position, being able to showcase our state of the art facility and the care given to our wildlife by such a dedicated team of professionals. Through an informative tour of the hospital and outside enclosures, Rhonda hopes her tours and passion for wildlife will aim to provide education on how to best prevent our precious native animals ending up as patients.
Leisa - Volunteer Co-ordinator
Growing up on a property in western Queensland, Leisa has had a connection with wildlife from a very young age. The family raised orphaned kangaroo joeys and emus on the property, apart from the usual cattle and sheep.
Leisa spent most of her early working life travelling Australia and the world employed in the area of legal administration and finance. She also studied photography and became a photography teacher and eventually ran a small photography business in an attempt to get out of the office and pursue a desire to work outdoors.
Leisa started volunteering at the hospital in 2004 in order to get back in touch with our native wildlife. Her goal is to become a wildlife carer in the near future. Leisa started work for us in September 2008 as a Volunteer Co-ordinator.
Shirl - Volunteer Co-ordinator/Cleaner
Shirl's involvement with the Hospital began as a volunteer carer of sick, injured and orphaned koalas when the facility first opened in 2004. Prior to that she had been undertaking the rescue of sick, injured and orphaned koalas in the Pine Rivers District, as well as caring for koalas from all over SEQ for Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service from 1993 till 2004.
Shirl was a founding member of the Pine Rivers Koala Care Association Inc., which began its work in 1995 and helped to form the Pine Rivers Koala Rescue Unit in 1999. She worked with this group for over five years and resigned at the end of 2004.
Shirl is a founding member of Koala Action Pine Rivers Incorporated (KAPR) and regularly conducted wildlife rescues on behalf of Wildcare and the Australian Wildlife Hospital at Beerwah. According to Shirl, KAPR is an action-based group keen on “doing” rather than “talking about doing”. A key component of the group’s work is educating the community about the koala and the perils it faces. Its members concentrate their endeavours on retaining and rehabilitating wildlife habitat, replanting areas denuded of native vegetation with koala food trees and other native trees, shrubs or grasses. The group is committed to supporting the community’s koala orphan carers by developing koala food tree plantations and subsidising carer’s food costs. Shirl has been President of KAPR for two years.
Whilst volunteering at the Hospital Shirl came to admire and respect the level of commitment shown by Gail Gipp and Jon Hanger and was inspired by the work they are doing. She wanted to be part that energy “that is so focused on providing each and every native animal that comes into care with the best possible outcome.”
