Your pet, our passion
Meet the Team at Canungra Vet
Our Veterinarians
Dr Wendy Balmain
Veterinarian BVSc
Dr Wendy Balmain graduated from University of Queensland almost 30 years ago. During the course of her career, she has worked across most states of Australia and also in the UK.
Wendy’s passion is the variety that mixed practice brings. She enjoys nothing more than treating your pets in the clinic and then hopping in the car to visit horses, sheep or alpacas in the local area. At home, Wendy is kept busy with a huge menagerie of dogs, cats, horses, goats and even guinea fowl.
Dr Alyssa Woodland
Veterinarian BVSc
Alyssa has joined us as a recent graduate from the University of Queensland. Alyssa was born and bred in Sydney, where she completed a Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience at the University of Sydney.
However her love for the ocean and large animal medicine has led her to the Gold Coast where she can pursue both. Alyssa has had previous roles within the industry in livestock research and spent a year in rural NSW improving her knowledge of cattle medicine. She is equally as keen to meet your fur babies in clinic and enjoys small animal medicine as well. Alyssa loves that every day in mixed practice is different and is excited to continue her veterinary journey with Tamborine Mountain Veterinary Group.
Outside of work, you’ll find Alyssa outdoors, whether it’s hiking, snorkelling, rock-climbing or attempting to surf. She’s always seeking out her next adventure, especially if there is water involved.
Dr Maddy Lansdown
Veterinarian BVSc
Maddy joined the team as a new graduate in 2023 after graduating from University of Queensland. After growing up in Brisbane and then studying out at Gatton, Maddy pursued her dream of living near the ocean and moved to the Gold Coast.
Maddy enjoys the variety of work in general practice, with an equal interest in both surgery and medicine. She predominantly works with small animals, however she won’t turn down an opportunity to work with goats, alpacas, sheep or cattle!
Maddy also has an interest in shelter medicine and animal rescues, being an avid foster parent and having a rescue dog, cat and chickens of her own.
Before working with us, Maddy spent a month in the Cooks Islands volunteering as a vet, and she plans to do many more trips like it in the future.
Outside of her veterinary life, you will find Maddy at the beach, camping or growing veggies in her backyard. To mix it up, Maddy loves all things photography and also owns a videography business with her partner.
Our Support Staff
Shivaun
Head Veterinary Nurse
Shivaun completed her Cert IV in Veterinary nursing in 2016 and started working in small animal practice in Sydney. She relocated to Queensland in 2019, continuing in small animal practice on the Gold Coast before joining the team as Head Veterinary Nurse at Canungra in late 2024.
She has a keen interest in feline medicine and all things diagnostic, as well as a special interest in small animal nutrition. Hospital care for patients is her focus, and she will always advocate for her patients to have the best possible equipment and care while they are here at Canungra.
She is very much enjoying getting to know all the locals and is learning all about goats and alpacas too! In her spare time, she looks after her very needy Border Collie Luna, her rescue cat Morticia, human teenage daughter and obliging husband.
Rosie
Veterinary Nurse
Rosie started working at Canungra Veterinary Surgery in April 2022 after taking 5 years off work to start a family.
Before that Rosie worked as an equine nurse for several years. Rosie’s favourite part about working at the Canungra clinic is the daily variety ranging from horses, cows and goats to puppies and kittens. She is passionate about providing a high standard of care, always learning and giving the animals lots of cuddles.
When not at work you will find Rosie spending time with her family, out competing her horse or looking after her menagerie of animals.
Kayla
Veterinary Nurse
Kayla is a compassionate and skilled Veterinary Nurse with experience across both small animals and equine care. She assists in all areas of veterinary nursing, including surgical support, patient monitoring, and client education.
With a background in equine health, Kayla brings valuable knowledge and a calm, confident approach to handling larger animals, while continuing to provide gentle, supportive care for pets of all sizes.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her own animals, Show Jumping, camping and snorkelling.
Isabel
Receptionist
Izzy started with the team at Tamborine Mountain in 2022, after leaving a long career in hospitality management to pursue a new career in vet nursing and animal care.
She works on the front desk at Canungra a couple of days a week beside Julia, and is passionate about delivering high quality service to both clients and their fur babies!
She is also passionate about animal rescue and wildlife, and spends her spare time with her two rescue dogs, working in her garden, or doing home renovations.
