About Candice and the team 

A little bit about 
Candice
Dr. Candice Lafranchi (formally Taylor) moved to Cockatoo in 2014 and has undoubtedly fallen in love with the area. She sees this town as her long term home. Candice is originally from the rural farming town of Winchelsea, Victoria. She moved to Melbourne when she was accepted into university. Candice has now established a second veterinary practise in her home town of Winchelsea, Victoria. She established Winchelsea Veterinary Hospital, a mixed practise in April 2020 and now spends her time in both location
Candice graduated in 2010 from the University of Melbourne after obtaining her veterinary degree. Previous to this she completed her Bachelor Science at Monash University majoring in Pharmacology and Physiology. After serving six years in small animal practise, including two positions in the western suburbs of Melbourne and a lead role in starting a clinic in Pakenham, Candice then went onto several other sole charge and associate roles in small and mixed animal practise in the south eastern suburbs. Candice found a passion for rabbit medicine but then moved onto mixed practise in which she has now been practising for several years. In the last few years Candice had worked on production farms in the Koo Wee Rup area and has also attended many hobby farms as well as a number in the Dandenong Ranges. Candice enjoys the variety that mixed practise brings. Ever since Candice started practising with large animals, she feels she can now adequetly care for all creatures great and small. 

meet the team

Dr Kylie Frank

Dr Kylie Frank has been working as a small animal vet for over twenty years.

She grew up in North Queensland on a suburban block but dogs, cats, horses, guinea pigs, pet birds and chickens have been constant companions in her life since childhood.


She entered a Veterinary Science degree at University of Queensland ( Brisbane) and has worked in private practice since. After graduation she moved to colder southern states. Her first job for three years was on the rural Victoria/ SA border, travelling long distances between beef cattle, horse and sheep callouts.

Ten years in England followed, where she worked as a small animal vet in a variety of locations. Daily practice involved working with rabbits, small pocket pets and the odd terrapin, as well as cats and dogs.


Eventually Australia called her back. For fifteen years she has been living in the hills area, and has worked part-time in Eastern Melbourne suburbs, while raising a family.

In the last five years, Kylie has renovated a 100 year old building and developed a start up practice which she sold recently.

What Kylie loves most about her job is the variety that mixed practice brings; no two days are the same. She loves the conversations with owners about their pets and their stories. She understands her vocation is to be there for a pet from the first weeks and through a pets' life journey.


She has settled well and truly into the hills lifestyle, a local now after living many places.

She loves camping, hiking and outdoor adventures with her family. Her two dogs always go with her everywhere so they certainly have no idea what a kennel looks like!


Meghan

Practice Manager /Head Nurse

Meghan always knew she wanted to work with animals, and started an animal tech/biological science degree straight out of high school, but soon realized that the research/laboratory side of things wasn’t the career path for her.


She landed her first vet nursing job in 2002, and loved every minute of it! Meghan started her certificate in veterinary nursing the following year and became qualified with her certificate 4 at the end of 2004. She has worked in a few clinics over her 15 year career, in a variety of roles and really enjoys the challenges that working in a veterinary clinic brings. Meghan has a keen interest for radiology and surgery, and is looking forward to learning more about the large animal side of a vet clinic. When not working, Meghan is kept busy with her husband and two children.


She enjoys hiking, camping and going on adventures with friends and family. 











Jacinta
Cert 4 Nurse

Jacinta has always wanted to work with animals. As soon as she finished high school, she went straight into vet nursing. Jacinta completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing at the Australian College of Applied Animal Studies at the end of 2020. Through this course, she has had to complete lots of different placements in different parts of the animal industry, one placement she did was at Cockatoo Creek Veterinary Clinic and loved every minute of it. 


Jacinta has a 6-year-old greyhound named Axel. In her spare time, you'll find Jacinta camping, exploring, or hanging with her friends and family. 










Lauren
(Groomer) 

Lauren is a dog groomer with 7 years of experience in the profession. In that time she worked three years along side a very talented dog groomer mentor. Lauren (or Loz), has had a love for animals since a very young age. She currently lives on 10 acres in the area. She has many animals including dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, peacocks and her horses. Apart from her animals Loz is blessed with a beautiful family, a husband and 14 month old daughter. Loz is looking forward to meeting you all and your 4 legged friends!!!