Springvale

Belinda Wright

Veterinary Nurse

Belinda is one of our newest nurses to join the team at Springvale. She started her veterinary nursing career over a decade in a small rural practice in NSW, completing her Cert 4 in 2012. She then took a 7-year hiatus from the Veterinary industry to pursue a career as a professional Jockey. After a few too many injuries and missing her love of Veterinary nursing, she decided it was time to return to the clinic setting and found her place here at Greencross Springvale. Belinda has a keen interest in both surgery and pathology and enjoys advancing her skills and knowledge in these areas.

In her down time she still loves riding her horses, working out at the gym, and playing with her border collie Oscar.

Dr. Sarah Francis

Veterinary Director

Dr. Sarah qualified from the University of Melbourne in 1994 and worked for 27 years in the UK where she was born. She returned to Australia in June 2022, and joined the Springvale team as our Full time Veterinary Director. Dr. Sarah’s clinical interests are in medicine but she enjoys all aspects of veterinary work, with a particular fondness for our feline patients.
She is a lifelong Arsenal supporter and will miss the English premier league greatly, however plans on filling that void with her other interests, such as collecting musical instruments, and keeping fit by cycling, running and kayaking. She also holds a first dan black belt in Tae kwon do.

Dr. Luana Nieman

Veterinarian

Dr Luana graduated from the University of Pretoria in South Africa in 2019. After moving across to Australia at the beginning of 2022, she joined the Greencross Vets team at our Springvale location.

Dr Luana has a special interest in internal and preventative medicine. She has recently completed a course in ultrasonography and ophthalmology, and is currently busy with a course in dentistry. With a unique African viewpoint, Luana has been blessed to work with a vast range of species across two continents.

In her spare time, Luana enjoys video games and sewing, and is keeping busy cuddling her two dogs Milo and Daphne.

Lisa Bryant

Veterinary Nurse

Lisa has always had a passion for animals and a fascination with natural sciences. She graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Science (Zoology), holds a Certificate IV Animal Technology, and is completing her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. She has worked across the animal industry for 20 years, from animal attendant to dog groomer, animal technician to Animal Sciences educator, and practically everything in between. Lisa joined the Springvale team in 2015 as a Veterinary Nurse, and has a special interest in animal behaviour. She lives with her two cats, Masa and Ottilie, and Freyja the Great Dane.

Renee Newstead

Practice Manager

Renee began her nursing career working in a large mixed animal practice in the Hunter Valley in NSW. It was here that she completed her training and qualified as a certificate IV Veterinary Nurse and a registered Microchip Implanter. Renee moved to Victoria in 2005 and worked for a short period at an Animal Emergency Centre, before joining the team at Springvale Animal Hospital in February 2006. Renee took on the Practice Manager role in 2009 and continues to nurse alongside her management duties. For a short period, Renee left the Springvale team to take on a role as Area Manager to cover for Maternity leave, and she has now returned to her Springvale Family! She lives on the Mornington Peninsula with her husband Adam and their two children, Quentin (Two-legged Human child) and Imogen (Golden Retriever who is often lovingly referred to as the clinic Polar Bear).

Jessica Womersley

Jessica started her nursing career in February 2006 after taking a year off from studies. She holds a keen interest in surgical nursing and will continue developing that throughout her career. She lives on the Mornington Peninsula with her fiancée Kyle and fur child Apollo a Boxer. Away from work Jessica enjoys shopping and socializing with her friends, going to the gym and playing netball.

Charmaine Douglas

Veterinary Nurse

Charmaine is a qualified Cert IV Veterinary Nurse with 15yrs+ experience. She joined the Springvale team in 2024 after returning from maternity leave. Whilst on leave, she completed a qualification in canine remedial massage and has a keen interested in animal rehabilitation and physical therapies. Charmaine has a soft spot for our senior patients and their special care needs.

Outside of work, Charmaine enjoys spending time with friends and family, the outdoors, live music, movies and pilates.