19-21 Coombabah Plaza

21 Hansford Rd Coombabah Q 4216

Speak To Our Team

(07) 5577 5084

Meet the Team

Gold Coast Veterinary Clinic, Coombabah

Gold Coast's purpose built, full service Veterinary Clinic and Surgery.
Hello from the Happy Paws Vet Clinic team at Coombabah

Vanessa

Dr Vanessa has dreamt of being a vet for as far back as she can remember!

After she realized this dream in 1999 she developed a new dream – to own her own veterinary practice – a dream which became a reality with the opening of Happy Paws in October 2017!

She loves all aspects of general practice, so much so that even after 20 years in small animal practice she still loves talking about fleas! Her special interests include dentistry, soft tissue surgery and fostering the human-animal bond.

She lives in heaven (on the Gold Coast!) with her three non-furry children (Sebastian, Oscar and Darcy) and her furry children (Chicken and Noodle, the cats).

In her free time (ha, what’s that?!) she enjoys reading, watching The Block, pub lunches, and family time. She is looking forward to welcoming you and your fur babies to Happy Paws and getting to know you!

Dr Tiana

Meet Dr Tiana, our highly skilled and bubbly Veterinarian!

Dr Tiana graduated Bachelor of Veterinary Science in 2017 from James Cook University in Townsville.

Originally growing up on a farm in North QLD, she moved down to Victoria and worked as a mixed/dairy vet for 4 years before locuming around various parts of Australia for the last couple of years!

Tiana has gained many different and varied experiences throughout her locuming career but decided it was time to settle down in a permanent location and relocated back to the sunny Gold Coast.

She takes pride in nurturing special relationships with the clients and their fur babies, while creating a positive and fear free environment for all pets (and owners!).

Tiana recently completed an online course in Emergency Medicine which she has a special interest in.

Tiana is very bubbly and loves a good laugh! In her down time you will find her at the gym or soaking up the sunshine. She also loves to hike and go for long beach walks and you can’t forget about the coffee in her hand. She shares her household with two furry rascals named Bean and Floss.

Tiana is a highly valued team member due to caring nature and unwavering professionalism towards achieving positive outcomes as well as her willingness to always support fellow team members, clients and of course, their fur kids.

Ayana

Meet Ayana our amazing Practice Manager!

Ayana joined the Happy Paws team in 2020. With over 10 years’ experience as a Veterinary Nurse, she will also be taking care of your furry loved ones when she is not busy in the office. She is the clinic’s go-to Nurse for tricky blood collections and IV catheter placements!

Ayana was born in Japan and grew up on the Gold Coast from 6 years old. In her spare time, you will mainly find her at the beach soaking up the sun or being a couch potato with her Greyhound, Beanie. She has a new addition to the family, a tiny long coat Chihuahua named Pinto who is only 2kg! As she’s an early bird, you will also find her at the gym from 5am!

She has completed her 3 year Leadership Mastery Course through the Lincoln Institute, to further support her role as the glue behind the scenes keeping our clinic operating smoothly and effectively. She enjoys being able to support and lead the team in reaching their full potential and takes pride in facilitating a healthy and happy working environment.

When you are visiting the clinic, you’ll find Ayana is hard to miss with her loud, cheerful and highly contagious laugh!

Georgie

Meet Georgie, our vibrant, funny and exceptional Head Nurse!

Originally from Canberra, she made the move to the sunny Gold Coast after a stint in Darwin, eager for new experiences. Georgie brings nearly 6 years of industry experience, having completed her Certificate II in Animal Studies and Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing at the Canberra Institute of Technology in 2019.

Specialising in consult nursing, Georgie is passionate about building trust and forging positive and caring relationships with her patients and their hooomans. Her warm, outgoing personality shines through in her exceptional people skills, making her a favourite among clients and team members.

When Georgie isn’t in the clinic, she is likely to have her nose buried in a good book or can be found enjoying the outdoors embracing an active lifestyle, long walks along the beach and any opportunity to have a good catch up with friends.

With her wealth of knowledge, dedication, and infectious enthusiasm, you and your pet’s experience with Georgie is sure to be nothing short of excellent!

Chloe

Meet Chloe, one of our fabulous Veterinary Nurses.

Chloe has been with us since November 2021. Happy Paws was Chloe’s first stop after graduating Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in August 2021.

This brave soul isn’t one to shy away from the gross, dirty or smelly parts of this industry! With a super social personality, she loves chatting away and building strong relationships with our clients.

In her free time, Chloe loves going camping and taking her two Schmoodles, Wookie and Lacey, to the beach or cuddling up with her two furry mittens, Goose and Duck. A true lover of music concerts and going out for dinners and drinks with her friends.

We are always grateful for Chloe’s positive attitude, incredible work ethic, bubbly personality and truly contagious laughter.

Amber

Meet Amber, one of our fantastic Veterinary Nurses.

Amber brings 2.5 years of dedicated veterinary nursing experience to the Happy Paws team. Originally from New Zealand, she is currently completing her New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing, expanding her skills and knowledge every day.

Amber has a special interest in consult nursing, where she enjoys working closely with the owners to care for their beloved fur babies. She is also passionate about ultrasonography! Known for her excellent people skills and compassionate nature, Amber helps both pets and their families feel comfortable and supported during every visit.

When she’s not at the clinic, you’ll likely find Amber soaking up the sun by the pool, heading out for long walks, or hitting the tennis court. Although she doesn’t have pets here in Australia, her heart is still with her two fur babies back home in New Zealand — Raven, a Ridgeback cross, and Harper, a Rottweiler cross. And here’s a fun fact: Amber is fluent in German!

Emily

Meet Em, one of our sweet and caring Veterinary Nurse!

Em is a Gold Coast local born and bred, beginning her nursing career 9 years ago in mixed practice out in the hinterland, before making the move to small animals and joining the Happy Paws team in July of 2021.

She has a keen interest in anaesthesia and all things surgery. Patient care post operatively is also a must so she can often be found snuggling your fur baby in recovery at any chance she gets.

Em is also our resident social butterfly and is more than happy to lend a hand on reception, answering any of your hard hitting questions or bonding with your littlest family members.

Kyla

Meet Kyla, our kind hearted Receptionist.

Kyla is a friendly and familiar face at the Happy Paws front desk, where she combines exceptional people skills with a genuine passion for animals. Since joining the team, Kyla has become an invaluable part of the clinic, offering warmth, compassion, and care to every client and their beloved pets.

With a Certificate III in Animal Studies under her belt, Kyla has grown in confidence and knowledge in her role, supporting both the veterinary team and our clients with professionalism and heart.

Outside of work, Kyla enjoys staying active. You’ll often find her at the gym, taking long walks along the esplanade with her energetic Border Collie x Kelpie, Chopper, or soaking up the sun at the beach. At home, she also shares her life with Oliver, her cheeky Domestic Shorthair cat.

We’re proud to have Kyla as part of the Happy Paws family, where she helps make every visit a positive experience for pets and their people alike.

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