Say hello to our friendly team

It saddens us to announce the retirement of Dr Bill Harkin in 2021. He has managed Blackburn Animal Hospital for over 30 years, and he has been an integral part of our community during that period. His contributions will always be remembered and valued; his commitment and dedication will be greatly missed. Our team will continue to provide the best service to our clients and patients. Our team wish Dr Bill Harkin the best of luck and health.

Bill has had a passion for working with animals all of his life. He grew up on a Gippsland dairy farm and graduated from Melbourne University in 1975 to be a cattle vet. After working in various roles with cattle, horses, sheep and dogs and cats, he found his greatest interest was in surgery.

Post-graduate study led to his attaining Membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists by examination in Small Animal Surgery in 1984. Bill was on the verge of going to America to become a specialist surgeon, but his love for general practice, particularly the chance to build lifelong relationships with pets and their 'parents', kept him in this country.

Bill is an Honorary Senior Fellow of the University of Melbourne. He has been an examiner for veterinary students and is involved in their training. He has been a member of the Australian Veterinary Association since his student days and has been honoured to be President of the Victorian Division of the AVA in 2009, 2010 and 2011. He is also involved in the training of veterinary nurses as a member of Box Hill TAFE's Industry Reference Group and Chairman of the Diploma Accreditation Committee. Bill has been a media spokesman, on behalf of the veterinary profession, in both print and electronic media.

Bill took over Blackburn Animal Hospital in 1988 and has driven the continual improvement process that has led to it being one of the state's best veterinary hospitals today. He is particularly proud of having assembled such a talented team of vets and nurses, all of whom are dedicated to looking after your pet's welfare in every way.

In his spare time, Bill enjoys woodworking and spending time with his family: his wife Jan, children Julie, Mary, Catherine & Tim, and grandchildren Sienna, Lachlan and Amelia. The four-legged members of Bill's family are Nala, a Labrador x Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and her companion Angus the ginger Domestic Short Hair cat.

Seung has had extensive experience in all aspects of internal medicine, advanced surgeries, reproduction and emergency medicine since his graduation from Massey University in New Zealand. Seung, with all of his postgraduate studies, enjoys dealing with surgical and medical cases plus chemotherapies; he has completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Small Animal Medicine at Massey University.

Seung is a skilled surgeon with a large amount of advanced surgery experience. He worked as the main surgeon for the last 6 years with many surgical caseloads; he successfully completed a Postgraduate Surgery Course at Sydney University in 2017. Seung particularly enjoys orthopaedic and advanced soft tissue surgeries including cancer resections and surgeries in brachycephalic breeds.

Seung was born in South Korea and experienced the efficacy of 'Alternative Medicine' such as Acupuncture, Herbs and Traditional Chinese Medicine. He wanted to apply this to our furry friends and proudly achieved a Certificate of Veterinary Acupuncture in 2013. Seung has treated many dogs, cats (and even a ferret!) suffering from musculoskeletal conditions, behavioural disorders, epilepsy, autoimmune and skin disorders.

Seung joined the partnership at Blackburn Animal Hospital in 2019; he enjoys working with the supportive team, meeting the wonderful clients, and helping their loved pets.

Seung spends his time out of work looking after his two young children, Lina and Noah, with his wife Hannah. He has three dogs: two Pug X (Boonam and Booja (pictured) and a Beagle (Boodong). Boonam was their first pet together (even before their children). Both Booja and Boodong were rescued from a pet shop and a puppy farm. Seung and Hannah also have a half adopted the neighbour's gorgeous cat, Lucky!

Alyssa has been working in vet clinics since she was in high school. She graduated from the University of Georgia in the USA with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (2008) and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (2012). After graduation, she moved to Melbourne and practised in and around the Eastern suburbs ever since.

Alyssa enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine, but especially ultrasonography. She loves working with a great team to provide owners and their beloved pets with the best possible care.

Alyssa has two young children, Brooke and Garrett, with her husband, Aaron. She has a tabby cat, Bandit, and a Mastiff-cross named Burke, who were adult rescues. In her spare time, she enjoys working in her vegetable garden and travelling.

Gabriel has been in Melbourne since 2013, and graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Science in 2015 and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2018. He joined the team in 2026 after working in clinics in the Western and North-Western suburbs of Melbourne, and has finally made the wise decision to move to the Eastern suburbs. Gabriel believes in a cooperative effort to determine the best possible outcome for our beloved pets and clients, and will treat every animal as if it were his own. Gabriel’s best language is English, followed by Chinese, and also speaks some Japanese on a rudimentary level. 

Gabriel’s fun fact is that he is allergic to dogs and cats, and has been surviving on anti-histamines since his unfortunate self-diagnosis in his final year of vet school. He currently belongs to the most adorable Netherland Dwarf rabbit named Bluey, who may have also been his matchmaker with his partner, Stephanie. Outside of work, you can find him playing badminton, relaxing on the couch with a good Netflix series, or cooking up a storm in the kitchen. 

Simone joined the team at Blackburn Animal Hospital in 2019 and came to us as the Senior Veterinary Nurse and Practice Manager with more than 20 years of experience and lots of passion.

She has worked as a nurse in general practice, emergency and specialist centres. Simone enjoys all aspects of veterinary nursing, particularly monitoring anaesthesia, medical nursing and customer service. She has a particular interest in pain management and ophthalmology and team leadership

Simone prides herself on providing the highest standard of patient care and the training of junior nurses.

Simone shares her home with a Ragdoll called Florence, who is very affectionate. She also shares a three-legged cat called Patrick with her husband.

In 2024 she completed a Diploma in Leadership and Management of Veterinary teams and is passionate about mental health and wellbeing of high performance teams in the industry.

Prue grew up in Blackburn with her parents, older brother, two younger sisters and an array of dogs, cats, rabbits and mice.

In 1998, Prue obtained a Degree in Environmental Science at Deakin University. Prue has also undertaken voluntary work, a highlight being working in Queensland with the critically endangered Loggerhead Turtles and Green Turtles.

Prue has been part of the Blackburn Animal Hospital team since 2004 and loves her job as no two days are the same. She values the 'family' environment of the hospital.

Prue is a real asset to Blackburn Animal Hospital. You are likely to run into Prue in the consulting room assisting the veterinarians and caring for the outpatients.

Prue has welcomed her first child Eve Elizabeth.

Amie joined the team at Blackburn Animal Hospital in December 2020 as a Trainee Nurse with just over 1 year of cattery and nursing experience. She has a background and worked in both Agriculture and Conservation and Land Management and has completed Diplomas in both industries. She successfully completed her Certificate III in Animal Studies (Specialising in Veterinary Nursing), and she has completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary nursing.

Amie has an enthusiasm for the welfare, health, and conservation of all types of animals, both exotic and native and has volunteered with a Wildlife Shelter for 2 years, as well as being a presenter for a Native Animal Zoo.

Outside of the Clinic, Amie enjoys snow skiing, water skiing and hiking. She is best friends with her German Shepard, Charlie!

Sarah joined the Blackburn Animal Hospital team in June 2026.

​She has been veterinary nursing for over 20 years with much of her career spent in emergency and referral practice. Working in these environments has given her the opportunity to care for a wide variety of patients and develop a strong passion for providing high-quality patient care.

​Sarah's love of animals extends well beyond the clinic. At home, she shares her life with two Chihuahuas, a rescued Staffy, two Cornish Rex cats, a tropical aquarium, and seven birds. Her feathered family includes a Long-billed Corella, two Eclectus parrots, two Green-cheek Conures, and two Eastern Rosellas. They certainly keep life interesting with their unique personalities, playful antics, and endless chatter!

​Outside of work, Sarah can usually be found camping or exploring the outdoors with her pets. Her dogs and cats are seasoned adventurers and love joining her on camping trips, beach walks, and country getaways. There is nothing she enjoys more than spending time in nature with her furry companions by her side.

​She looks forward to meeting you and your pets and helping them live happy, healthy lives as part of the Blackburn Animal Hospital family.

Oliver was the youngest member of our clinic when he joined us in 2022. He was born in Shanghai. Oliver started playing with animals in his aunt's pet shop when he was two years old. During a trip to Melbourne in 2012，Oliver saw a koala rescue operation and  decided to study to get into the animal industry. His family immigrated to Melbourne in 2014.

Oliver has completed Cert II in Animal Studies and Cert III in Companion Animal Service.  He has also completed Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing in 202.

Oliver is super kind and patient, always treating people and animals with respect and love. In his work in the clinic, he is very modest and hardworking.

Outside of work, Oliver has two cats with his partner, one overweight cat named Miu Miu and another fluffy little cat called Ash. Both cats were abandoned by an overseas student, but gained a second life with Oliver. 

Oliver started breeding geckos, frogs and scorpions when he was in China and now he has a baby blue-tongue lizard  named Isaac. Outside of work he likes tattoos, cars and surfing. Zoos and aquariums are Oliver's favorite places to waste time.

Shanae joined the team in 2026 and brings with her a lifelong love for animals and a genuine passion for their wellbeing. After completing her Certificate II in Animal Care, she is excited to begin her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2026 as she continues growing her knowledge and skills within the industry.

Before stepping into veterinary nursing, Shanae spent two years working as a professional dog groomer, where she developed a strong understanding of animal behaviour and the importance of gentle, patient handling. Her background has given her a calm and compassionate approach to caring for pets of all shapes and sizes.

Shanae has always had a special place in her heart for animals great and small and is a strong advocate for animal welfare. She loves taking the time to educate and support pet owners, helping them feel confident in caring for their furry family members.

Outside of work, she enjoys keeping active, spending time with friends and family, and will happily talk to anyone about her not-so-secret obsession with dachshunds.

Elody completed her Certificate II in Animal Studies in 2023 before continuing her studies with a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2024. She has always loved working with animals and enjoys learning new skills while building her career as a veterinary nurse.

Having lived in Australia since 2010, Elody is fluent in both English and Mandarin and enjoys helping clients from a wide range of backgrounds feel comfortable and supported during their visits.

Outside of work, she loves spending time at home with her cats, heading out on fishing trips, and exploring on road trips whenever she gets the chance.