Meet the team

It goes without saying that we love animals, but we really do take pride in giving the best possible care and attention to you and your pet!

We’ve trained hard to be the best in our fields, and we continue to maintain and expand our knowledge and skills at every opportunity. We also strongly believe in mentoring those new to their field, via traineeships and work experience.

Dr Jason Rapke – Veterinarian (B.V.Sc)

My particular interests are in ultrasonography, neurology, cardiology and surgery – particular minimally invasive (‘keyhole’) surgery. I am passionate about animal welfare issues and have volunteered at a number of welfare organisations overseas

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Dr Meaghan O’Brien – Veterinarian
I have been part of the Glen Iris and Glen Iris Veterinary Hospitals for 10 years, and I love getting to know our wonderful clients and pets. I have been working as a small animal veterinarian since graduating with Honours from the University of Melbourne in 2010.
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Dr Francesca Black – Veterinarian

My name is Francesca (Chess for short). I love the variety that GP medicine provides and I cherish following the journey through a pet’s life.

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Dr Kate Earle – Veterinarian

I enjoy all aspects of veterinary medicine but I have a particular interest in surgery and plan to undertake my memberships in the years to come. I love meeting new clients and their fur babies and forming long lasting relationships that enable us to work together to provide the best ongoing care for all pets.

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Dr. Melanie James – Veterinarian

Hi! My name’s Mel and I’m one of the vets at Glen Iris Veterinary Hospital. I graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). Prior to graduating, I worked as a stable hand at Flemington racecourse for three years. I enjoy a variety of different disciplines within veterinary medicine including surgery, diagnostic imaging and emergency and critical care.

Elaine Taylor – Group Manager

Hi I’m Elaine and I’m Group Manager at the Glen Iris Vet Hospital.

Sammie Lomas -Practice Manager

Hi I’m Sammie and I’m Practice Manager at Glen Iris Vet. I was lucky enough to join this amazing team late November 2020. I live with my baby girl Midnight a domestic short haired kitty, my boy Nelson a Jack Russell, my little Axolotl Franklin and my beautiful Stimpsons python May. The team at Glen Iris Vet are absolutely amazing and I’m so honoured to be apart of the Glen Iris family and spending my time with our beautiful patients and clients.

Nicole Simpson – Veterinary Nurse
I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to join the team at Glen IrisVeterinary Hospital as a student in 2017 while I completed my Certificate 4 inVeterinary Nursing and have never looked back. Ever since I can remember I have had a passion to help and take care of sick and injured animals. I got into the veterinary industry by doing a volunteer program and instantly fell in love with it.
Brittany Heenan – Trainee Veterinary Nurse

My love for animals and for working alongside like-minded people has grown so much in such a short period of time. My job is both exciting and rewarding. Every day I get to work with intelligent and supportive individuals.

Lara Carman – Trainee Veterinary Nurse

I have always loved animals and knew I wanted to be a vet when I was 5. To me, pets are not just animals – they are members of our family.

Aneira Phillips – Veterinary Nurse

Hi my name is Aneira, but you can call me Nye! I come from a lovely little farming village in the North of England where my love for animals began. I grew up milking cows and tending to thousands of chickens with my friends. I moved to Melbourne with my family in 2016 and since then felt like I’ve had nothing but room to grow.

Domenique Jo Suriano – Trainee Veterinary Nurse

Hi, I’m Domenique (but feel free to call me Dom)! The amazing team at GIVH have recently taken me under their wing as a trainee veterinary nurse. After being in the journalism and marketing industry for almost 10 years, I realised that I didn’t feel like I was doing enough to help people and their pets despite working for a pet-focused charity. It was clear that vet nursing was my calling when I preferred to flea and worm the spicy cats coming into the office rather than write a story about them! I’m incredibly excited to begin this rewarding career and assist people and pets in a whole new way.

Stephanie Curavic – Veterinary Nurse
Hello, I’m Steph! I’m a young, enthusiastic vet nurse who loves to be busy and kept on my feet at work! I absolutely love the clinic, not only for the cute patients we get to see, but also because of the lovely and supportive team that I work with! I live at home with my partner and our 3 young boys who are full of energy! We also have two dogs who absolutely love eachother and keep us entertained, as well as a turtle! My biggest passion has always been to work with & help animals, and I am so proud to be achieving my goals.
Narissa Drane – Trainee Veterinary Nurse
Hi! My name is Narissa. I am so grateful to have joined the Glen Iris team in 2023 as a trainee, starting my studying off with my Cert III in Animal studies to then go into my Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing.  My Career leading to this job first started at the age of 15 when I was employed at a pet shop, feeding and cleaning cages after school. I knew I wanted to pursue a career with animals and since moving to Melbourne I’m finally fulfilling that path again thanks to the Glen Iris team.
Kirrily Tyson-Varocoe – Remote Receptionist

I live in Tasmania in an awesomely named Eggs and Bacon Bay, I absolutely love animals and have quite a few at home, 3 dogs, 4 cats, 7 chickens and 6 ducks.  I enjoy working for this clinic so much that when I moved to Tassie, I refused to leave my job. This is why I am now the remote receptionist –  you will hear my chirpy, over excited voice on the phone but not see my face. I love the people I work with and the clients I get to talk to ; I love helping people and their animals and finding out all about them and their funny personalities and I think I have the best job there is!

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