Our Team

Dr Brendan Carmel

BVSc MVS MANZCVSC (Unusual Pets) GDipComp

  • Brendan is the owner of Warranwood Veterinary Centre and Senior Veterinarian. Brendan has extensive experience as a veterinarian, graduating from the University of Melbourne.

    • Zoo Veterinarian for several years at Healesville Sanctuary, Victoria where he completed a Masters of Veterinary Studies in Australian Native Wildlife

    • Honorary Senior Fellow, University of Melbourne

    • Consultant and lecturer (ongoing) in Wildlife and Exotic Pet Medicine at Melbourne Polytechnic for the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing degree

    • Executive Committee member and 3 time past president of the Unusual Pet and Avian Veterinarians (UPAV) special interest group of the Australian Veterinary Association. Brendan was one of the co-founders of the UPAV group.

    • Founding member of the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV) www.aemv.org

    • Founding member of the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians www.arav.org

    • Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Unusual Pet Medicine and Surgery. Founding President of the Unusual Pet Chapter

    • Associate Editor, Australian Veterinary Journal for over 25 years

    • Frequent speaker at National and International Veterinary Conferences

    • Winner of the 2015 Oxbow Exotic Mammal Health Award for excellence in exotic mammal health and care. Brendan is the first person from the Southern Hemisphere to win this award

    • Awarded Meritorious Service Award from the Australian Veterinary Association. This award recognises special or long term service.

Dr Peter Cameron

BVSc

  • Peter is the newest member of our vet team, though he is far from green! He has an extensive background in reptile medicine, surgery and breeding, and is also very experienced in other unusual and exotic pet care. Peter has also spent many years treating dogs and cats. We are fortunate to have Peter as part of WVC.

  • Peter lives in the Dandenongs with his family and two cats, Plum and Ping. Outside work, Peter likes collecting and restoring pressure lanterns, tinkering in his shed, fishing, and exploring the Aussie bush.

Nurses

    • Timea has come from Aotearoa (New Zealand) to join our team. After completing her Diploma of Animal Technology she has now moved on to continue her studies into Veterinary Nursing.

    • She has a passion for Native Wildlife and exotic pet species which started when she was 5 and met her first pet snake.

    • It’s lucky the Winterwood craft shop is next to the clinic because in her downtime she enjoys crochet. Her other hobbies include gardening, reading, and hanging out with whichever one of her three cats will let her.

    • Casey began working at WVC in 2024 whilst finishing his Certificate 4 in Veterinary Nursing at Kangan Institute/TAFE

    • He has a keen interest in all amphibians, especially Axolotls, currently owning one big boy named Pesto 

    • Outside of the clinic Casey works as a member of a reference group for headspace National, helping improving community mental health services.

    • Casey loves spending time doing art and craft projects, gaming, researching or reading up on the funky critters that we work with day to day. He puts a smile on everyone’s face at our clinic!

    • Emma-Jane - ‘EJ’ - is a very experienced nurse, having worked at several practices in both the UK and Australia before joining our team several years ago

    • Most of you will see Emma-Jane on Saturdays - her preferred shift, though she also covers during the week when other staff are on holiday or off sick

    • Emma-Jane also works part time at Melbourne Polytechnic, providing teaching for the upcoming generation of veterinary nurses

    • In her ‘free time’ she also provides care for injured and orphaned wildlife, enjoys various craft/art hobbies

    • Raveena completed her Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing at La Trobe university in 2021.

    • She has a passion for working with exotics and wildlife; which shows through her love for all the patients that come to Warranwood. Raveena’s bubbly attitude and helpful manner brightens the day of all patients and clients she encounters at our clinic

    • When Raveena is not working you can catch her reading by the beach or spending time with her adorable American Staffy dog.

For exotic and unusual pets, including the common but often not vet-treated guinea pigs, this clinic is hands-down the most qualified and experienced.

— Chuffnut Cavies Rescue

“Fantastic Vet who genuinely cares about animals and gives sound advice”

— Ben