Meet Our Team

curtin veterinary clinic canberra

Dr Michelle Keatley

BVetBiol/BVSc (Hons I) GCert SAECC

Hospital director

Dr Michelle joined theCurtin Vet Team in December 2020 and is a true local, having grown up on her family farm on the shores of Lake George, near Tarago.

To pursue her lifelong dream, she studied Veterinary Medicine at Charles Sturt University, Wagga where she graduated with first class honours in mid 2015. Since graduating Dr Michelle has led the emergency veterinary team at ARH in Fyshwick as a Clinical Director in a very fast paced environment with ever changing case loads which has turned her into a very experienced and highly competent veterinarian.Dr Michelle’s special interests include internal medicine, snake envenomation and sepsis. She has completed a grad certificate in emergency and critical care with Melbourne University.

Outside of the veterinary world, Dr Michelle enjoys horse riding, training and coaching. She also loves spending time with her family and her two canine companions – Snoopy the retired working Kelpie and Charlie the adopted Dachshund.


Dr Jade Ng

BVMS

Dr Jade joined the Curtin Vet Clinic in 2018 and hails from Sydney. Dr Jade graduated with her veterinary degree in 2008 from Sydney University and has enjoyed stints in veterinary practice in Albury/Wodonga for some years and also as a locum vet in various Sydney practices which gave her a very broad range in veterinary medicine and surgery. Dr Jade has undertaken extra studies in internal medicine in the past. 

Dr Jade’s passion are cats! To compliment this, she has furthered her studies by enrolling in the feline medicine course in her spare time in 2021. This is a very intensive course, led by feline specialists.

In her spare time Dr Jade enjoys skiing (when she gets the chance) and loves her three legged cat Milo whom she rescued.


Dr Kirra Wood

BVSc MANZCVS

Kirra graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Sydney in 2013, passed examinations in feline medicine to become a member of the Australian New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in 2018, and is currently completing a Master of Veterinary Sciences online with The University of Edinburgh. 

Over the last seven years in Canberra, she has worked in small animal general practice, completed an internship with the Animal Referral Hospital Canberra and spent some time working in a busy emergency department. 

Kirra loves all cats, and in particular her one-eyed ginger tabby Rory. In her spare time, she can be found baking, tending to her veggie garden with fiancé Scott, or roller skating.


Dr. Karen Smith

MANZCVS

Dr Karen has completed additional study and qualifications in Veterinary Behaviour Medicine. She has a keen interest in behavioural medicine for dogs and cats. She has been working in general practice for over 10 years and enjoys helping pets live happier, less stressful lives. Karen has recently passed post graduate examinations held by the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists and she was admitted as a Member in Veterinary Behaviour (MANZCVS). This is an official recognition of a veterinarian’s knowledge and experience in a designated field of veterinary science.

Behaviour concerns are often complex and always require an individual approach, which Karen is committed to in order to help improve our pets’ quality of life and the bond between pets and their families. Veterinary behaviour consults are extended consults where we can discuss what behavioural changes or concerns you may have about your pet, what factors might be contributing, and how to help and improve the concerns you have. There are many behaviours that can best addressed with a behaviour consultation, including but not limited to: separation distress/anxiety, noise reactions/phobias, fear of places/experiences (such as grooming, vet visits, travel), human directed aggression, dog/cat directed aggression, abnormal toileting behaviour, general fearfulness or anxiety, behavioural changes in senior pets, excessive reactivity to various things, excessive barking/destruction, and repetitive behaviours. Please contact the clinic to arrange an appointment or find out more about this service.


Leesa

Practice Manager

Leesa originally hailed from Melbourne where her veterinary career started and joined us when we first opened in 2014. She’s been a vet nurse for many years and very dedicated to her job. Leesa has always had a love for animals with her kind and caring nature. In 2022 she became Practice Manager and mixes this with vet nursing. She is very passionate about managing the clinic which keeps her very busy and in her spare time loves spending time with her 3 children, her dog Bont – a dogue de Bordeaux and a bearded dragon, Chip.


Beth

Senior Veterinary nurse

Bachelor of Animal Science and Cert IV vet Nursing

Beth grew up in Tasmania with a love of animals from a young age. Having many pets throughout her childhood made the decision to work with animals an easy one. Beth graduated from the University of Adelaide in 2017 with a Bachelor of Animal Science. She made the move to Canberra in 2019 to follow her dream of working with animals and joined the Curtin team in August 2021. Beth is currently studying her Cert IV in veterinary nursing with completion date of November 2022. You will see her around the clinic both at reception and as one of our fantastic nurses.

In her spare time Beth enjoys cuddling up with her two black cats Toothless and Salem and spending time with her family and friends. She enjoys finding new things to try around Canberra and watching Disney movies.


Amy

Senior Veterinary Nurse

Bachelor of Veterinary Technology

Amy graduated from Bachelor of Veterinary Technology in 2020 and moved to Canberra to further her career.

Amy has spent a year working emergency and then moved into a role at Inner South Veterinary Clinic as a leading nurse. Amy has since taken on a split role of senior nurse at the Curtin Veterinary Clinic and The Gables Veterinary Clinic, where her bubbly, kind nature is a great asset to our team. She has a strong passion for clinical thinking, animal medicine and supporting all our furry friends who may be needing veterinary care.

When Amy is not in the clinic, you can find her relaxing with her four-legged fur child, Veda.


Chloe

Veterinary Nurse

Meet Chloe, she is a born and raised Canberran that grew up with a love for animals big and small. Chloe joined the Curtin Vet team in November 2022.

Chloe is a fully qualified Veterinary Nurse, completing her certificate IV in 2023. Chloe has excelled at becoming a brilliant veterinary nurse with the Curtin Vet team and loves caring for all your precious pet family members.

She owns animals of all sizes; starting with her American Staffordshire Terrier (Isla), then there is her ragdoll kitty (Clementine), her Sun Conure (Dominic), 2 axolotls (Zilla and Fin), children’s python (Greg), and lastly a few tanks of unnamed fish. In her spare time, she enjoys, caring for her plants, tiding her aquascapes and making acrylic paintings.


Brooke

Receptionist

Brooke joined the Curtin Vet team in June 2022 as part of our reception team. Brooke has a strong passion for animals and a very strong caring personality towards both Animals and Humans. Brooke is going to work towards a certificate in veterinary nursing. Outside of work, Brooke loves every moment of her busy life. Brooke has 4 beautiful children and some fur babies too. Brooke is a great member of the Curtin Vet team, waiting to answer your calls with a smile.


Curtin Veterinary Clinic Canberra

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