About Candice and the team
Our Team
Dr Wendy Parish
Wendy grew up on a dairy farm in Winchelsea, Victoria. She moved to Melbourne to complete her Bachelor of Agriculture degree and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, before moving back to her family farm with her husband in 2020.
Wendy is passionate about developing relationships with pet owners and farmers in the local area, with her focus on small animal preventative medicine and production animal health. Wendy enjoys being on-farm with livestock and in the clinic treating small animals.
Wendy owns an energetic kelpie called Ivy, a pet goat Siddle and a lamb called Gilbert. Wendy likes exploring the local beaches, lakes and walking tracks with her husband and kelpie. She also enjoys reading trashy novels in her spare time and travelling to new destinations.
Dr Wendy is a lovely, passionate and professional veterinarian and knows the area well!
Dr Kate Richards
Dr Kate grew up on a sheep and cropping farm on the outskirts of Winchelsea, where her love for animals and the outdoors began. Initially completing a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at LaTrobe University in Melbourne, Kate then worked briefly in the dairy industry as a consulting nutritionist. Looking for more diversity and "hands on" work, she applied and was accepted into the veterinary degree at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, NSW.
Graduating mid-way through 2020 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Science(hons), Kate has since worked in mixed and small animal practice, while starting her own business in equine dentistry, which is where she now spends the majority of her time.
Kate has always enjoyed the variety mixed practice brings, and so working alongside Dr Candice and the team at Winchelsea Veterinary Hospital seemed the perfect fit! Her focus is preventative health, both small and large animal patients. Kate now resides in Modewarre with her husband Mark, and their animals (Nina - Boxer x Ridgeback, Millie - Whippet X Staffie, Smokey - domestic long hair cat, Whale - Stockhorse, Ace - QH x TB, Hutch - Stockhorse, Sophie - Stockhorse, and a few more in the back paddock!).
Out of work Kate loves to ride horses, and has played polocrosse for many years. She enjoys all things outdoors, gardening, spending time with her family and pets, and cooking (when she has the time!)
Dr Katherine Daley
Dr Kat Daley graduated from the University of Queensland in 2013 and began her veterinary career in a busy small animal practice in Sydney, where she worked for over five years. She later relocated to Torquay to raise her family and has continued practising there for the past 6 years.
Kat enjoys all aspects of small animal medicine but has a particular interest in internal medicine, especially endocrinology and geriatric care. She finds great fulfilment in building strong relationships with her clients and their pets, and has a special place in her heart for elderly animals. Kat is passionate about managing the complex needs of senior pets, with a strong focus on dentistry, multi-modal pain relief, and up-to-date arthritis treatment protocols to ensure comfort and quality of life in their golden years.
Known for her compassionate nature, Kat is a great listener who takes the time to understand both pets and their owners. She is currently preparing to sit her Membership exams in Small Animal Medicine in 2026— which keeps her busy while also raising two young children and caring for two beloved fur babies: Sparrow, a one-eyed Cavoodle, and Bernie, a Russian Blue cross.
Outside of the clinic, Kat enjoys baking elaborate cakes, exploring the local beaches, and hiking with her family. Kat is a highly experienced small animal practitioner and looks forward to meeting your beloved pets!
Maddison (Cert 4 nurse)
Maddie has known since she was about 5 years of age that she wanted to be a part of the animal industry- starting from saving little fledglings, kittens and critters in her backyard, to studying straight out of highschool and qualifying in Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in late 2020.
She has dipped her feet in a few local Geelong clinics since then, but now has found her passion lies in the mixed practice of Winchelsea Veterinary Hospital. She absolutely loves the challenges vet nursing brings, but loves a variety of roles such as reception, management duties and most importantly meeting all the beautiful fur-babies, young and old and their amazing parents.
Maddie has had a keen interest in cytology, radiology and surgery and is always studying to improve her knowledge in the wildlife, nursing and large animal industry. When she is not working, she cares for her rescues Blu (a pigeon), Pepper (Bull Arab x), Jack (Blue Tongue), Barry (Turtle) and many fish. Maddi also spends time with her family, friends and partner, as well as enjoying the outdoors, travelling, camping and painting.
She looks forward to meeting you all when you come into the hospital!
Jessica (Cert 4 nurse)
Jessica is a qualified Cert IV nurse graduating in 2022. Jess tried out a few different career paths along the way before realising that working with animals was her ultimate dream. She has always had a love for animals, growing up on her family farm surrounded mainly by horses, sheep and dogs and more recently her two beloved pet goats. Jess currently works as a nurse at two different veterinary clinics and loves the camaraderie and different opportunities to learn afforded from both.
Outside of work Jess enjoys spending time at home with her best pal Maltese x Poodle Dolcè, riding her Connemara pony Fletch, and trying to keep her favourite shetland pony Foxy and her two goats Julia and Kevin from causing too much trouble.
Justyna (Cert 4 Nurse)
Justyna is a qualified Veterinary Nurse with over 10 years experience. She originally grew up in Melbourne working in small practices. In 2013 she moved to Lara and got a job in a mixed animal practice. Justyna lives with her husband and two young children.
She also has 2 Border Collies, a cat with a neurological problem, a turtle and chicken. Outside of work Justyna enjoys spending time with her family and going on various walks exploring the Fauna and Flora with her kids and teaches them why its important to protect it.
Braedyn (Cert 4 Nurse)
Braedyn is a qualified Cert IV nurse and graduated in 2023.
After trying out a few different paths and career options, animal care and nursing appeared at the forefront. He grew up with a deep love of animals, and has been surrounded by them since he can remember! Braedyn also has a keen interest in animals, not just domestics (having owned lizards, rats, and numerous bird species). Outside of nursing, Braedyn also works in animal welfare and has a deep passion for providing the best care he can to any and all patients.
Outside of work, Braedyn is usually spending time with his babies; his two cats "Bellatrix" and "Narcissa", and his German Shepard cross Retriever "Mika". Braedyn strives to ensure that your furry family members are loved at the clinic as they are at your own home!
Kathy HR/ Admin and
Rod property maintenance
Kathy Taylor is our Admin / HR / WHS Manager. Kathy and her family moved into Winchelsea in 1985. Kathy graduated with a Bachelor of Business from Monash University specialising in strategic management and human resources management, as well she earned a Grad Dip in Occupational Hazard Management from University of Ballarat. She is currently studying Animal Studies at the Gordon TAFE. Her work career has been spent mainly in high risk manufacturing and the mining industry working in various States of Australia and in New Zealand. Since moving to Winchelsea Kathy has been, and still is, an active community member. Kathy’s family has owned and looked after many species of animals as pets and herd animals. Everything from merino sheep to dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, peacocks, chickens and ducks. Kathy loves seeing the different personalities of every dog she meets. Her ‘bestie’ is Asha, a Kelpie Cross who she took on as a rescue dog from Newcastle NSW. Kathy loves animals especially Australia’s native animals including ‘snakes’, and hopes to visit Antarctica to see the native birds, penguins, whales and seals in their natural habitat.
Rod is a very important part of the hospital maintenance and team. He looks after building as well as the hospital grounds and keeps the hospital looking the best it can be!
Jesse (Cert 4 nurse)
Jesse is a newly qualified Cert IV nurse graduating in 2024. Her inspiration for getting into the animal industry was her border collie Bear. She has always had a love for animals, growing up in the country surrounded by chickens, rabbits, cats, dogs and guinea pigs and also has a soft spot for Wildlife.
Jesse tried out a few different career paths along the way before realising that working with animals was her ultimate dream. Outside of work Jesse enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys, camping, fishing, reading and watching the local footy.
Susie (Groomer)
Meet our new groomer Susie!!!
Originally from Atlanta Georgia USA graduating with BBA in Marketing and Further Studies International Marketing. Travelling and lining in London and Israel. Moved to Australia in the early 1990s working in Perth, Gold Coast and settling in Melbourne.
Career shifted from Pet Care Industry after working in Animal Welfare League QLD. Graduated the distinction Companion Animal Grooming Certificate Cranbourne in 2001 working in a variety of local dog grooming establishments in Melbourne.
Created Naturally Stylin’ Dog Grooming in Bayside which started as a mobile service and bloomed into a shop front for 23 years in Highett
Recently moved to Birregurra with companions Rocket (4 year old Cavalier) and Juji (17 year old Bengal X)
Love the grooming aspect of the pet industry working with owners and pets. Specialty is creating breed standard grooming styles to suit lifestyles of both the owner and pet. Looking forward to discussing pet grooming needs soon!