We are blessed to have 7 wonderful vets who work tirelessly together to ensure the best outcome for each and every animal that enters our hospital.
Meet Our Vets
Dr Tonje graduated from the University of Veterinary Science in Oslo, Norway in 2018, after first starting her career as a veterinary nurse. She is the reason that one of our other wonderful vets, Dr JJ, speaks Norwegian, and together they started their family in the Far North.
Dr Tonje is one of the most compassionate and empathetic vets we have ever met, and is loved by all the clients who meet her. She is one of the few veterinarians who thrive as much on connecting and helping people as they do from connecting and helping animals. Make sure you remember her name, because she will probably remember yours!
Dr Tonje is a self-declared cat-lover and never hesitates to spend the time to gain their trust in hospital, something which is invaluable when trying to nurse them back to better health. Tonje and JJ have two rescue cats; Jack and Lucia Button, who are characters to say the least.
Loving her live here in Ballina, Tonje spends here weekends at the beach, preferably with a margarita in hand.
Dr Willa is one of the founders and original owners of Racecourse Road Veterinary Hospital, and has been looking after animals of the region for over 20 years.
Dr Willa’s special interests are soft tissue surgery and medicine although she belongs to a generation of vets who truely can 'do it all'. With an uncanny memory of patients and the details of their medical history (seriously it is scary how much she remembers sometimes), Dr Willa puts her heart into each and every case, living up to our mission to put pets first. Her experience, brainpower and huge heart combine to give her an invaluable intuition when it comes to solving complex medical cases, and she is the one the other vets turn to for help in these situations.
When not working, Willa is a music lover, regularly attending local music festivals, an avid reader, bushwalker, gardener, as well as being a dangerous pool-shark. Willa lives in Pearces Creek with her husband Andy, their 2 teenagers, and a small population of pets.
Dr Linn graduated from Copenhagen Vet School in 2013, and it didn't take her long before the allure of the Northern Rivers brought her to us and we have not let her go since. Dr Linn is a wealth of knowledge about pretty much all aspects of medicine and can often been seen in the hospital late into the evening writing her notes and researching the latest literature for her cases. Dr Linn's other super-power is ultrasound, and with this she is able to non-invasively find things like hidden foreign bodies or fluid around the heart, making her a huge asset to both the surgical and medical teams.
Born in Sweden, Linn lives with her partner Aaron, their twin boys and Stella, their beautiful energetic staffy. As at home on a surfboard as on her yoga mat, Linn is a loved and valued member of our team. At the moment Linn is currently doing a sabbatical for a year in Sweden and wont be back with us until January 2025.
Dr JJ graduated from Sydney University in 2011 with first class honours, immediately travelling to Congo in Africa to live and work with chimpanzees (read more about his experience in our blog). He then headed north to Norway where he met his beautiful wife Dr Tonje, also a vet at our clinic. In Norway, Dr JJ worked at the Norwegian University of Veterinary Science, completing an internship in small animal medicine and surgery, a masters in zoo and exotic animal medicine and then doing his doctoral thesis in wildlife parasites. Dr JJ still holds an Associate Professor position at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences where he teachers rabbit and exotic animal medicine and is an active researcher in these fields.
JJ is a passionate father and you will often see him with his two daughters, Lilly and Indie, in the clinic teaching them about animals or perhaps training them how to surf under Missingham bridge.
Did someone say behaviour, because if so then Dr Kirsty will come running. She has a passion and wealth of knowledge for helping animals better adapt to their environment or modify their behaviours so they can do all the things they love to do.
Dr Kirsty loves a challenge and has developed skills in a wide range of veterinary medicine from dentistry to surgery to dermatology.
Dr Kirsty loves a challenge and has developed skills in a wide range of veterinary medicine from dentistry to surgery to dermatology.
After growing up in Alice Springs, Kirsty loves her coastal lifestyle and spends her weekends with her two cheeky dogs Charlie and Huey.
Lucy graduated in 2011 from Melbourne University. For the past 10 years she has worked first in the Central Coast NSW, then in inner city Melbourne and now life has brought her to the sunny Northern Rivers. Lucy enjoys all aspects of small animal medicine, although she has a soft spot for cats, and she is passionate about helping with behaviour as well.
While not at work, you can find Lucy at the beach with her family, at a gym class or going for walks with her energetic Brittany spaniel Morty.
While not at work, you can find Lucy at the beach with her family, at a gym class or going for walks with her energetic Brittany spaniel Morty.
Dr Annabella is the most recent veterinarian to join our growing team. After gradudating from the University of Queensland in 2021, Dr Annabella went on to spend a year in mixed practice before relocating to the beautiful shores of the Northern Rivers. With an appetite for challenges great and small, there seems to be no area of practice that Dr Annabella isn't able to master to keep for patients happy and healthy.
On the weekends, Dr Annabella may be found at North Coast Emergency Vets in Bangalow, otherwise she will spend her time in the outdoors exploring nature; running, hiking or relaxing on the beach, or spending time with her beautiful horse Jaffa.
Meet Our Nurses
These are the friendly voices you will hear on the phone when you call us. Our skilled and passionate veterinary nurses ensure all the complexities of our hospital keep running smoothly each and every day. Whilst their brains are highly training in advanced medicine and surgery, the biggest asset of this team is their love and compassion, ensuring every individual animals feels safe and loved whilst in our care.
Sharon has been our amazing receptionist since 2006! Her warm smile is often the first thing you will see when you walk through the doors, and her thorough nature to ensuring every pet gets the right treatment will make sure that you get exactly the service you need.
She is a proud mum to her daughter Charlie and her stepson Chris. At the moment she has 5 cats and 1 pug at home but there’s always room for more!
Sharon thoroughly enjoys her job as Ballina Coast Vets' receptionist. She enjoys spending time with our clients and their pets. She even considers most of them extended family members. When she has spare time Sharon enjoys spending time with her loved ones
Originally from Lismore, Molly brings over a decade of experience and dedication to the veterinary field. Her passion for animal care began at a young age and has grown into a rewarding career that spans more than 10 years. During this time, Molly has worked across a variety of clinical settings, developing a strong skill set in patient care, surgical nursing, and client communication.
Molly is known for her calm and compassionate nature, making her a favourite among both patients and their owners. She is especially passionate about supporting pet owners through every stage of their animal’s health journey, offering both practical advice and heartfelt reassurance.
Outside of work, Molly is a proud mum to her young son, William, who keeps her on her toes and shares her love for animals. Balancing family life with her professional role, Molly brings warmth, empathy, and genuine care to everything she does.
Whether helping with routine check-ups or assisting in complex procedures, Molly plays a vital role in our team and is deeply committed to the wellbeing of every pet she meets
Tait is a passionate, highly skilled nurse who has a phenomenal ability to remain calm under high-pressure. This couples with a seemingly endless supply of energy to make him a wonderful well-rounded member of the team who's versatility helps make the entire hospital function better.
Tait has a charismatic smile and clearly loves his interactions with clients, and we are often receiving compliments about his personable service. He is clearly proud to be caring for the community in which he was raised.
His care for animals, support for his colleagues and drive to ensure the highest quality of care is part of what keeps Ballina Coast Vets at the forefront of veterinary medicine.
As comfortable playing rough and tumble with a boisterous young staffy as he is gently nurturing a sick rabbit, Tait is often the first through the door and the last to leave.
Hannah has been nursing at various veterinary clinics around the Northern Rivers for over a decade, and we were thrilled to have her join the team at the start of 2023. A multi-talent, Hannah loves everything from emergency medicine to anaesthesia and her bubbly personality is a pleasure to work with. She has a love for all animals, but there is no question that dachshunds hold a special place in her heart.
Georgia is the one of the newest members of the team, brimming with enthusiasm and passion towards her daily work.
A born-and-bred local, Georgia grew up on a farm together with cows, horses, chickens, cats and dogs. Georgia completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2023 and loves being a veterinary nurse. She gets great gratification from being able to help in the rehabilitation and care of sick or injured animals.
When Georgia is not at the hospital, then she is likely either cuddling her Dalmatian, Moo, bonding with one of her four horses, or helping her Dad with the cows.
Rachel grew up on a farm, where her love for animals began early and naturally evolved into a career in veterinary nursing. With over five years of experience, Rachel started her journey in a busy mixed animal practice, gaining hands-on experience with everything from small pets to large livestock. This rural background has given her a strong foundation in practical animal care and a deep understanding of the human–animal bond.
Rachel is a compassionate and skilled nurse who thrives in fast-paced environments and always brings a calm, reassuring presence to both patients and their owners. She has a particular interest in surgical nursing and patient recovery, and she prides herself on providing high-quality care to every animal she works with.
Known for her friendly nature and down-to-earth attitude, Rachel builds strong connections with clients and their pets, ensuring they feel supported and informed every step of the way.
Amy has been a dedicated and highly knowledgeable veterinary nurse since completing her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2010. With over a decade of hands-on experience across numerous clinics along the peninsula, she brings a wealth of expertise in everything from surgical nursing and pharmacology to grooming and practice management. Her broad skill set and deep understanding of veterinary care make her an invaluable resource for both her team and clients.
In addition to her nursing qualifications, Amy also holds a degree in management, which perfectly complements her leadership within the clinic. She plays a key role in the smooth day-to-day running of the practice and is always ready to lend a hand, offer advice, or solve a problem — all while somehow ensuring a steady supply of tea and coffee without ever seeming to leave her desk!
Amy’s calm, approachable nature is a grounding force during the hustle and bustle of a busy hospital environment. Outside of work, she’s a devoted mum to two beautiful children, including little Annie, born in 2021. We were thrilled to welcome Amy back from maternity leave — she was deeply missed and remains a much-loved and essential part of our team.
Erin has been a cornerstone of the Ballina Coast Vets team for over a decade. With more than 10 years of experience in veterinary nursing, she brings a wealth of knowledge, precision, and calm professionalism to her role every day. Erin is our in-house laboratory guru — her keen eye for detail and deep understanding of diagnostic testing make her an essential part of the medical team, often the first to uncover crucial information that guides treatment plans.
Her dedication to patient care is matched by her quiet efficiency and supportive presence in the clinic. Erin is known for her reliability, sharp clinical skills, and willingness to help wherever needed, making her a go-to for both her colleagues and clients alike.
Outside of the clinic, Erin has a deep love for music and can often be found enjoying live gigs. Whether she’s behind the microscope or humming along to her favourite tunes, Erin brings heart and expertise to everything she does. We’re lucky to have her as such a longstanding and valued member of the Ballina Coast Vets team.
A new addition to Ballina Coast Vets, Kelly joins our wonderful reception team where she looks forward to welcoming you and your furry (or scaly) friends to the clinic with a smile. An animal lover since day dot, Kelly will be undertaking a Cert IV in Vet Nursing and is excited to be embarking on this new path after spending the first part of her career as a writer and bookseller.
Originally hailing from New Zealand, Kelly's been lucky to call beautiful Northern NSW home for the past 10 years (but her Kiwi accent remains!). She loves being part of the local community, and is passionate about treating people and pets with deep respect and care.
She lives in Lennox Head with a kelpie called Wally and spends her spare time whale watching, sharing meals with friends, hiking, or with her nose in a good book.
Who are we?
We are a local, family-owned veterinary hospital that strives for excellence in everything that we do. Our mission is to provide the very best health care to pets. Our team is strongly integrated with the regional community and is proud of the role we play in caring for the pets and wildlife of the Northern Rivers.
Whether your little one has fur, feathers or scales, we will provide you with current advice and professional recommendations so that you can make the best ongoing health decisions for them.
We strive to make ‘vet visits’ something that both you and your pet will enjoy. Our hospital is designed to help reduce stress for your pet, such as our separate dog, cat and rabbit wards, and the plentiful supply of treats on offer to fill their tummies during consultations. This also means we take the time to fully understand your situation so that we can give you the most appropriate advice. One thing you can be sure of is that we have your pet’s best-interest at heart.
Working from a purpose-built hospital with exceptional facilities, our team of compassionate vets and nurses will provide you and your pet with the very best care.
Our History
Formerly called Racecourse Road Veterinary Hosptial, Ballina Coast Vets opened in 2000 and was built on a passion for animals and their wellbeing. Its founding vet, Dr Willa Harrison, still looks after many of the original clients today. Over the years the team at Ballina Coast Vets has worked hard to provide clients and patients with an outstanding level of care, keeping the pets of the Northern Rivers happy and healthy.
Since 2000 the team has grown considerably but still manages to keep that close family feeling. In 2022 ownership of the hospital passed on to our husband and wife duo Dr Tonje & Dr JJ, both of whom are excited to continue this legacy.