Our Nurses:
Natalie Higgs
Practice Manager
Nat joined the Bilgola team at the beginning of 2015 and completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in November 2016.
Natalie is a foster carer for the RSPCA and a licenced wildlife carer with WIRES.
When she is not working, she is out rescuing and rehabilitating native wildlife.
Nat regularly has all kinds of native animals in her care - she loves treating Australian wildlife and has a plethora of knowledge about their specialised care and medical management.
At home, Nat has a Kelpie X called Dakota and two rescue cats named Indigo and Chewy.
Emily Dimos
Head Nurse
Emily is a certificate IV qualified Veterinary Nurse who has been working as a nurse on the Northern Beaches since 2015 and joined the Bilgola team early in 2019.
She started her career in animal care at Taronga Zoo’s training institute completing her certificate II in animal studies, and shortly after completed her veterinary nursing degree.
Emily enjoys all aspects of veterinary nursing but has a keen interest in anaesthesia, surgery and stress free handling. She is an accredited mental health first aid officer.
Emily has a Poodle X named Polly, a rescue cat named Pedro who she adopted from the clinic and Oscar a retired clinic cat.
Jasmine Bain
Trainee Veterinary Nurse
Jasmine’s love for animals started when completing her Certificate II in Animal Studies back in 2019. Jasmine is currently studying her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.
Before pursuing her dream to become a Vet Nurse, Jasmine travelled around Australia for a year. Coming across never-ending Australian Wildlife on her travels, her passion for flora and fauna grew.
Jasmine hopes to pursue her career in conserving Australian Wildlife.
In her spare time, Jasmine enjoys camping up and down the coast and spending time at the beach with her little dog Lexi, the Portuguese Podengo.
Olivia Ritchie
Trainee Veterinary Nurse
Olivia completed a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Advanced Studies in Animal and Veterinary Bioscience with first class honours in 2021. She has been veterinary nursing in specialist, emergency and GP clinics with a strong passion in surgery and anaesthesia since 2020.
Olivia is currently in her first of four years of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and is on her way to achieve her dream of becoming a veterinarian.
At home, Olivia has a rescue rabbit called Bobby.
Sarah Skelton
Veterinary Nurse
Sarah started at Bilgola Vet Clinic in January 2023 after graduating in 2020 from TAFE NSW in her Cert 4 for Veterinary Nursing.
Sarah has a keen interest in large animal Veterinary Medicine.
Her family own their own farm with cattle which she visits multiple times a year.
You may see Sarah at Curly's where she also works part time. Her favourite thing on the menu is the breaky roll which she will happily make for any client!
Her Border Collie X named Ellie loves assisting in rounding up the cattle on the farm.
She also has a rescue cat at home named George.
Bailee Radford
Trainee Veterinary Nurse
Bailee has always been an avid animal lover and her passion grew when she became an Animal Attendant at Northside Emergency Veterinary Services (NEVS) whilst completing her Bachelor of Science Degree majoring in Animal Health, Disease and Welfare.
Bailee started at Bilgola Vet Clinic in September 2022 and is currently studying her Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing.
Bailee hopes to pursue her career as a Veterinarian with a particular interest in emergency medicine.
At home Bailee has 2 Tonkinese cats named Willow and Jaxx.
Lucy McBarron
Trainee Veterinary Nurse
Lucy has always had a strong passion for animals whilst growing up owning horses, cats, dogs, chickens and rabbits. She began horse riding at a young age and owned an ex-racehorse from 2016-2022. She also has volunteered at horse riding schools and worked as a stable hand across a few local stables.
Lucy is currently studying a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Health Disease/Welfare and Wildlife Conservation at the University of Sydney,
She hopes to specialise in wildlife and saving endangered species.
In her spare time she loves hanging out with her two rescue kittens Eli & Leo or going to the gym.
Leah Fenley
Kennel Hand
coming soon
Polly
Chief of Staff Happiness
Polly was born in 2018 and started working at Bilgola Vet in 2019.
She specialises in face licks and spreading serotonin.
Outside of work Polly enjoys her daily stroll around the park, sleeping on a silk pillow and chasing her feline brothers.