Big News!
A position for an additional fabulous vet is available. Please follow this link to find out more: Associate Vet Position
Meet Our Head Vet, Dr Bronwen Bollaert BVSc MSc MANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour)
My husband and I, originally from South Africa, moved to beautiful relaxed Brisbane in 2008. We’ve lived on Brisbane’s Northside since then and are very happy to call this lovely part of the world home.
I graduated from Onderstepoort, University of Pretoria, in 2002 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science Degree. I went on to work in small animal practice and welfare at the Johannesburg SPCA (equivalent of the RSPCA).
In 2004 I moved on to an internship at the Johannesburg Zoological Gardens. Apart from enjoying all the excitement of working with zoo animals, I also undertook a research project and completed my Master of Veterinary Science Degree by dissertation. During that time I gained fantastic experience working with all sorts of interesting (and some fearsome) creatures and built a good foundation for working with a variety of exotic pets and birds. I was also lucky enough to spend some time in the hospital at the London Zoological Gardens, United Kingdom, and in private practice in Eddesse, Germany.
Since moving to Australia, I have worked in private vet practice in Brisbane’s Northern suburbs and as a locum vet in a number of small animal practices around Brisbane and on the Gold Coast working with a variety of pets, clients and their very different circumstances. This has given me insight into how important it is to tailor care to individual patient and client needs. If a pet is particularly nervous about visiting a clinic or has other behaviour issues, a vet house call is often far less stressful and allows the attending vet a glimpse into what he/she does at home. If owners work long hours, have small children, transport challenges or simply have several pets that need attending to, arranging a vet home visit at a suitable time makes the process far more pleasant and much less of an ordeal.
I have a very keen interest in Veterinary Behaviour Medicine and have attained Membership of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Surgeons in Veterinary Behaviour (MANZCVS). Keeping up-to-date with the latest knowledge and developments in Veterinary Science is very important. Some of the ongoing professional development I’ve undertaken is the Veterinary Behaviour Medicine Post-Graduate Course through the University of Sydney, The intensive NAVC Applied Behavioral Medicine Course in the United States, attend and present at multiple conferences with a special focus on Veterinary Behaviour Medicine. Behaviour issues are a great concern for many owners and certainly impact on how owners, families and pets interact. By gaining additional skills and expertise in this field, I offer my clients and their pets scientifically-based solutions that improve their interactions, their quality of life and the human-animal bond. Why is this approach important? Because it is based in scientific research, ongoing collaboration with other experts and specialists in this field and provides a way to work on long term and lasting solutions to pet’s behaviour challenges. Since I offer this as part of a veterinary house call service, I am able to understand your family’s circumstances, your pet’s perspective and your interactions at home, rather than in the clinic environment where pets are more likely to be anxious and often behave differently than in their usual environment. I look forward to providing well-rounded quality vet care to your furry, scaly or feathered friend!
Apart from my professional interest in fascinating animals, I enjoy spending time with my husband, two little children, and furry cat-child, Penny. I enjoy being out in nature, painting murals and other artwork (MyMural.com.au), travelling and learning foreign languages – some of my accents still need a little work though…
Looking forward to meeting you and your pet soon!
