Our Nurses.
At BVECCS, our experienced vet nurses are available for you 24 hours a day. Our Vet nurses are the first friendly faces you will see when you arrive at BVECCS. They will greet you and make a preliminary assessment of your pet’s condition.
Our team of emergency vet nurses seamlessly support our veterinarians to make sure your pet is well looked after during this challenging time.
Our nurses ensure that pets are closely monitored, kept clean and comfortable. We are proud of our experienced vet nurses – we know they make a huge impact on the quality of care and on the recovery of injured or unwell pets.
BVECCS, experienced vet nurses 24 hours a day
Our vets and nurses are our biggest assets and you can trust them to care for your pets with both skill and empathy.
Maryanne Searchfield (Nurse Manager) VN Cert IV
Maryanne started out as a junior nurse at a small animal specialist centre before starting at BVECCS full time in 2008. Maryanne continued working in a small yet busy animal general practice as well and successfully completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2011. With a special interest in management and team building Maryanne became the Nurse Coordinator in 2012. She has also maintained her emergency nursing shifts.
Alinya CrossAlinya commenced her career in Veterinary nursing in 2004 and has never looked back. Her dedication and interest in all things nursing saw her become Head Nurse at her general practice within 2 years. She was awarded the AIRC QLD Student VN of the year in 2010. She has over 10 years of experience and has completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. Alinya joined the team at BVECCS and is planning to undertake her Diploma of Emergency and Critical care.
Alison Gibson
Following a background in specialist surgical nursing, Ali moved into emergency and critical care nursing and began working part-time for BVECCS in 2006.
As one of the original nursing staff members Ali continues to work full time at BVECCS and has developed into an excellent emergency vet nurse.
Ali enjoys all aspects of veterinary nursing with a keen interest in diagnostic imaging, including radiology and ultrasound.
Bryll Gibson VN CertIV
Bryll’s career began with the humble yet noble role of an animal attendant at a cat welfare shelter in Melbourne in 2006. She became a Cert IV qualified veterinary nurse in 2011 and continued to build her skills working in both a greyhound general practice and an emergency centre in Melbourne. She relocated to Brisbane in 2013 working as the Primary Radiation Therapy Nurse and Dental Nurse in a busy specialist centre.
She joined the BVECCS team in 2015 to pursue emergency medicine which is one of her passions. Her other passion is wildlife conservation which led her to volunteer in South Africa in 2012 raising cheetah cubs.
Callum Taylor (BAppSc VN)
The seeds of Callum’s veterinary journey were sown back in 2012 at the Brisbane North Institute of TAFE Grovely campus, where he achieved a Certificate II in Animal Studies. This was followed by a Bachelor of Applied Science from UQ Gatton in 2018 with electives in the wildlife sciences and Exotic husbandry, underscoring a commitment to animal welfare and the environment.
He has aspired to work in emergency veterinary medicine since encountering his first challenging case at UQ and joined our team in 2018.
Carole Harvey-Stevenson VN. Dip ECC. VTS (ECC)
Carole qualified as a veterinary nurse in the U.K, before coming to Australia to pursue her passion – Emergency nursing. She has her Australian Diploma in Emergency and Critical Care and achieved her specialist qualification in Emergency and Critical care from the United States (the first person in Australia) in 2000.
Carole has been with BVECCS since our doors opened in 2006.
Eilis Booth DVN
Eilis started her career in emergency in New Zealand, graduating from Otago Polytechnic with a Diploma of Veterinary Nursing in 2019, working between emergency and GP. She decided to make the moved to Australia in 2022, bringing her cat and dog over as well. She worked in general practice then moved to specialty, but her passion remained for emergency and she joined the BVECCS team in April 2023.
Hannah Cassell VN Cert IV
Hannah started her nursing journey in 2017 as a volunteer surgical nurse with the RSPCA, then transitioned into a trainee nurse position with a small family-owned vet practice, slowly working towards her Cert IV in vet nursing. She quickly realised her interest in emergency nursing once commencing her studies, and joined the BVECCS nursing team in 2021. She still maintains a keen interest in surgical nursing and anaesthesia, as well as learning the complex ins and outs of critical care.
Jade Davies CVN, AVN, RVN
Jade began her career as a veterinary nurse in 2008. She has worked in a variety of clinics including small animal and mixed practice, in both urban and rural settings. She has been working in Emergency and Critical Care since 2012, where she has been able to employ her passion in medicine and develop high standards of patient care. Jade joined the BVECCS team in February 2022.
Jade gained her Accreditation in Veterinary Nursing in 2013 and became a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2019.
Jade has been a volunteer with the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia since 2012 and is the current Chairperson for the Queensland Division. She is a devoted mother to a Cavalier named Brianna, and in her spare time she gets down and dirty as a co-driver in Rally cars.
Karina Rowe VN Cert IV
Karina decided to settle down after travelling around contract mustering and has been working as a vet nurse since 2006, obtaining her Cert IV in 2008. She started her career in a rural referral hospital and enjoyed the variety of surgery and anaesthesia performed on both small and large animals. After moving up to Brisbane and spending some time with a holistic practice, Karina moved into Ophthalmology nursing at a Specialist Centre. Shortly afterwards, while Karina continued her career in Ophthalmology nursing she also began her career in ECC with BVECCS and then for a period of time nursed for UQ during the early days of their set up of their emergency clinic in Gatton. Karina has now retired from Ophthalmology nursing and enjoys combining her skills from her previous positions to nurse the patients at BVECCS. Karina has a particular interest in triage but in general enjoys most aspects of emergency nursing.
Kelly Pattison VN Cert IV BAppSc (VT)
Kelly started working as a veterinary nurse in 2006 in a small animal general practice in Brisbane. Kelly graduated Bachelor of Applied Science – Veterinary Technology and Certificate IV Veterinary Nursing in 2013. She joined the BVECCS team in 2013 after completing ECC placement with us for her studies. Kelly really enjoys triage and imaging (radiology and ultrasonography).
Kristie Carter – VN Cert IV
Starting her career as a veterinary nurse in 2003, Kristie worked initially as a kennel hand in general practice before completing her Certificate II in Veterinary Nursing in 2004. Kristie began working as part of our team of veterinary nurses at BVECCS in 2010. Based in North Brisbane, she successfully completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2012 and has an interest in intensive care medicine.
Marty Saldais VN CERT IV
Martin first started working in general practice in 2017 after completing his Certificate IV in vet nursing. He first started at BVECCS in 2018 to pursue his passion of emergency & critical care nursing. In addition to this, he has a keen interest in surgery and all aspects of anaesthesia.
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Melissa Singleton – VN Cert IV
Mel’s wealth of veterinary nursing experience started 20 years ago when she began her career in the picturesque Tweed Valley in Murwillumbah working in a mixed large and small animal practice. After moving from Brisbane to Sydney she started doing weekend work in an emergency centre. Mel then moved on from general practice to work as a senior surgery nurse at The Animal Referral Hospital in Sydney and Veterinary Specialist Services, while continuing with emergency work on the weekends.
Mel then moved back to Brisbane and worked in Emergency Centres before beginning work at the Australian Wildlife Hospital. Now in her 20th year in the Vet Nursing industry, Mel has used her skills and experience in all departments. She has been a Surgery nurse, Medicine nurse, Oncology nurse, Radiation Therapy nurse, Ophthalmology nurse and ICU nurse, while still doing emergency nursing.
Miriam Boksem BVT
Miriam grew up in Brisbane and has always been drawn to the world of animal care and rehabilitation. Her journey began with hands-on volunteering at the RSPCA and various wildlife rescue organisations, cultivating a deep-rooted passion for animal welfare from a young age.
In early 2022, after graduating from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor Degree in Veterinary Technology, Miriam joined the BVECCS team.
With a newfound passion for ECC, she now looks forward to expanding her knowledge and experience with the goal of one day taking her skills overseas to assist with conservation and wildlife rehabilitation. For now, she spends her time exploring Brisbane and doting on her pets, with Border Collies holding an extra special place in her heart.
Novelle Tan BVT
Novelle graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Technology in 2021. During her final year clinical placement, she grew a passion for emergency nursing after her time at an emergency clinic. She started her career in the industry at a 24Hr Veterinary Hospital before joining the team at BVECCS in 2022 to pursue her interest in Emergency & Critical Care. During her free time, Novelle enjoys reading and spending time with her two cats, Zeus and Seraphim.
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Sharon (Shaz) Moore – Cert IV
Shaz has been nursing for 20 years in both small and mixed animal practice and gained her CVN in 1994. Over the last 11 years she has worked solely in emergency, including taking on the role of nurse manager in a busy specialist emergency hospital in New Zealand. Combining a love of travel Shaz has gained valuable nursing experience both here in Australia as well as the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
Shaz joined BVECCS in 2012 and her special interests include triage, medical nursing and toxicities.
Nurses Assistants.
Aimee Taylor
As a Nurse Assistant at the Brisbane Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Services, I’m dedicated to the well-being of our animal patients. My daily tasks include maintaining a clean, safe environment, assisting with infection control, handling patients with care, setting up equipment, managing patient data, and aiding our nursing staff with their daily tasks. I play a vital role in ensuring our hospital runs smoothly, preparing for each day’s critical care needs.
Outside of work, I find joy in rock climbing and spending quality time with my two dogs, Elliot and Oliver. These activities help me recharge and stay connected with my love for animals and the outdoors. I’m committed to merging my passion for animals with my professional acumen, providing peace of mind to pet owners while pursuing my own passions.
Kya Low
Kya embarked on her animal care journey in 2021, starting as a volunteer with the RSPCA, an experience that sparked her passion for veterinary work while she completed her certificate II in Animal Studies. She joined the BVECCS team in September 2021 as a Nurse Assistant and finds she loves the excitement of a fast-paced emergency environment. She is currently pursuing her Certificate IV in Veterinary nursing and away from work enjoys spending time with her guinea pigs and dog “Bear”.
When you come into our after hours vet clinic, our experienced vet nurses will be ready for you 24 hours a day.
BVECCS, Emergency Vet Brisbane, 53 Old Northern Road, Albany Creek, phone (07) 3264 9400.
