Meet Our Staff

Stephen Gibson
(Practice owner/business partner)
Veterinarian

Stephen Gibson has over 12 years of veterinary experience, with a strong interest in emergency medicine. Steve worked as a mixed animal practitioner on the South Coast of NSW and around the United Kingdom for his first 5 years after graduation, before settling in Sydney and working over 3 years at a small animal practice in Randwick.

Steve gained valuable business experience working as an industry veterinarian for 2 years from 2003-05, planning clinical trials, advising on veterinary issues and speaking Australia wide.

Steve is an accredited IVAS practitioner (Veterinary Acupuncturist), his certificate was completed in 2002. This year he is participating in a one-year distance education veterinary emergency course and is planning to prepare for his memberships in 2009.

Steve is very happily settled in Wentworth Falls with his wife Fiona, their two children, a beautiful labrador Moshi and cheeky cat Chilli. He loves calling the Blue Mountains home.

Fiona Gibson
(Practice owner/business partner)
Veterinarian

Fiona Gibson graduated from Sydney University with honours in 1995. Fiona gained valuable veterinary skill while practicing in the UK for over 2 years. After returning to Australia in 2000, Fiona worked in a busy Sydney vet clinic for 4 years.

Fiona is an experienced small animal veterinary surgeon with a strong interest in canine medicine and she is an accredited AQIS veterinarian. Fiona has completed a one year distance education course on internal medicine in 2002 and continued her studies attending a canine medical extravaganza course held in Brisbane in May 2007.

The major advantage of setting up a veterinary hospital in the Blue Mountains is that Fiona and Steve have been able to combine raising a family, enjoy the outdoor lifestyle and sharing the veterinary duties within the practice.

Andrew Laws
(Practice owner/business partner)
Veterinarian

Andrew graduated from Sydney University in 1994 having spent his childhood growing up in Lapstone in the Lower Blue Mountains. After working in mainly small animal practice in the UK for 6 years (where he met his wife Nicky) he returned to the Blue Mountains in 2002, settling in Wentworth Falls. Andrew has an interest in internal medicine, especially endocrine disease, but enjoys all facets of his veterinary work. In February 2007 Andrew attended a week long soft tissue surgery course covering the most up-to-date surgical techniques.

In his spare time he likes to hit the trails of the national park on foot or more commonly on his mountain bike.

Nicky and Andrew share their household with Harry the cat, who followed them back from England, and two crazy young dogs, Perro and Isla.

Giles Helbig
Veterinarian

Giles graduated from Sydney University in 1997 with first class honors. Giles has extensive veterinary clinical experience, working in Australia as well as practicing in the UK. She now lives in the upper mountains and loves to be cycling around the mountains whenever she gets the opportunity. Giles consults at Wentworth Falls Animal Hospital as a regular veterinarian on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Nicky Laws
(Practice owner/business partner)
Veterinary nurse/practice manager

Nicky Laws gained her veterinary nursing experience in the UK where she worked for over 10 years. Nicky is in charge of all matters associated with the nursing care of our patients at Wentworth Falls Animal Hospital. Nicky has always loved and valued working with animals. Nicky and Andrew often get in a tangle trying to keep their crazy dogs Isla and Perro out of mischief.

Nicky and Andrew welcomed their first child, Thomas, in December 2007. Nicky loves cooking and enjoys walking her doggies out in the back lanes of Wentworth Falls

Ursula Siebert
Veterinary nurse

Hi, I am Ursula. I joined the Wentworth Falls Animal Hospital veterinary nursing team in May, 2008. I bring over 10 years of vet nursing experience to the practice and still get a lot of satisfaction from the job. I look forward to meeting you and your furry family when you come in for a visit. Please don't hesitate to ask me a question if you need any advice before seeing the vet.

My family consists of my husband James, Hillary a smoochy grey and white moggie and Simon a very cheeky maltese (Simon occasionally spends sometime at the practice and he likes to introduce himself to everyone coming through the front door).

We moved to the mountains in 2007 for a better relaxed lifestyle and we are very happy here. Simon and I volunteer at an aged care home in Katoomba. Each week Simon and I visit the elderly people where he entertains and brightens the day of some of the residents who no longer have pets.
 

Karen O'Connor
Veterinary receptionist

Karen O'Conner joined the practice in October 2006. Karen has many years experience as a veterinary receptionist in the Blue Mountains and we are happy to have her on board. When Karen is not working, she enjoys renovating her house and looking after her two dogs Dusty and Trixie and her Birman cat Mickey. Karen is seen here with Milky, the practice cat.

Talia Pasche
Trainee veterinary nurse/receptionist

Hi, my name is Talia. I am fresh out of school and eager to learn. I’m new to the mountains, moving here from Byron Bay in the beginning of 2007.

I live in Blackheath and own a naughty bunny called Oolah and have a hyperactive spoodle, Arlie. I have always loved animals and I feel very lucky having the opportunity to work and learn about the veterinary industry at Wentworth Falls Animal Hospital.

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