Dr Russel Basset

BvSc Pret MRCVS - Hospital Director & Veterinarian

Russel Graduated from the University of Pretoria in South Africa in 1996. He spent five years working alongside several specialist veterinarians in a large first opinion and referral practice outside London.

In 2001 the UK weather finally got the better of him and he and his partner left to pursue their dream of travelling and rock climbing in the United States. They spent 6 months living the dream in their trusty van, exploring and climbing mountains before eloping and tying the knot in Las Vegas.

in 2001 the allure of the sunny Australian skies could no longer be ignored, and Russel immigrated and settled in the Blue Mountains in NSW. Here he spent the next 15 years growing a one-vet practice into a successful, well-regarded four- vet hospital.

In 2015, merely taking his holidays in beautiful Tasmania was no longer enough, and Russel and his wife moved to Kettering, South of Hobart. Russel Joined the Tasmanian Veterinary Hospitals team in October of 2001 and has been working as the director of our Kingston practice since 2016.

After 23 years as a vet, Russel still loves the challenge and variety of what he does and feels privileged to work in a field that allows him to make a difference to the lives of both his patients and his clients. He has special interests in oncology and feline medicine and is a firm believer in low-stress handling of all of his patients.

When he is not at work you will find him surfing, exploring mountains or tending to the multitude of paddock pets on his hobby farm.

Dr. Hannah Ling

Veterinarian

Originally from Tasmania, Hannah grew up on a hobby farm where she developed a passion for animals and animal health.  She knew from an early age that becoming a vet was the career path she wanted to pursue. Hannah moved to Townsville to study a Bachelor of veterinary Science at James Cook University.  She graduated in 2017 and started in a mixed practice she then joined the team at TVH in 2019.

Hannah’s favourite part of her job is reuniting owners with their beloved pets after a surgical procedure or hospital stay.  She loves being part of a community of people who are so passionate and dedicated their patients’ health.

In Hannah’s spare time she loves being out on the water and enjoying outdoor activities, she also enjoys spending time catch up with family and friends.

Hannah has a dog named Trilby a very clever Border Collie who enjoys fishing, barking at birds and loves attention!

Nicole Green

Practice Manager

Nicole joined the team in 2013, Starting out as a junior veterinary nurse at our Sorell Hospital. Nicole has since completed her certificate 4 in veterinary nursing and is now our head nurse at our Kingston Hospital.

Nicole has always had a love of animals and a passion for medicine, the role of a veterinary nurse allows her to bring both aspects of what she loves and enjoys together.

Making a difference in an animal’s life for the better and working with such an amazing dedicated team who provide an exceptional level of patient care Nicole says makes all the difference and is one of the reasons she loves her position as a veterinary nurse at TAH. Every day throws us new challenges, but Nicole wouldn’t have it any other way.

In Nicole’s spare time she enjoys working with horses and spending time with her partner working on their property. Nicole enjoys the active/hectic life of living on the land and a lot of her spare time is taken up with this between the horses, chickens, sheep and up keep of the farm itself. But of course, she always has her trusty sidekick Mervyn (4-year-old kelpie x koolie) by her side.

Louise Honey

Hospital Supervisor

Louise started at TAH in 2002 as a junior nurse. She has since achieved her Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing and completed her Veterinary Nurse Technician course in 2014.

Louise enjoys a challenge and has had the privilege of assisting with many complex and interesting surgical cases. She also has a keen interest in geriatric patient care.

In her ‘spare time’, Louise enjoys time with her husband, 3 daughters, George the 15yo cat, Po the bouncy 1yo Blue Heeler X, Mish and Little Mish the sheep, 5 chooks and several birds. She also dedicates time each month as a volunteer veterinary nurse to assist the homeless to care for their pets.

Sheridon Oates

Client Services

Sheridon has been a valued member of our team since October 2017, working as a Client Services Officer. She holds a Certificate II in Animal Studies and a Certificate III in Business and takes pride in being the first friendly point of contact for clients and their pets. Known for her approachable nature and ability to handle anything the front desk throws her way, Sheridon ensures that every client and patient feels welcome and well looked after. Building strong connections with both patients and their families is one of the most rewarding aspects of her role, and she is passionate about supporting clients through every stage of their pet’s life.

At home, Sheridon is kept busy with her two black Labradors, Philly and Oakie, and a Kelpie cross, Olive. They keep her on her toes and are a constant reminder of why she is so passionate about the veterinary industry. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Reuben, playing basketball, enjoying coffee, and never passes up the chance to watch an episode of The Golden Girls or indulge in a packet of Maltesers.

Heidi Sowter

Nurse

Heidi’s passion for animals began at a young age, making a career in the veterinary industry a natural path. She joined the team at TVH in 2021 and has loved every moment since.

In 2024, Heidi completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. She has a keen interest in anaesthesia and is dedicated to ensuring her patients stay safe and comfortable throughout their procedures. For Heidi, the most rewarding part of her job is seeing pets reunited with their owners after a hospital stay.

At home, Heidi is kept busy by her one-year-old Golden Retriever, Maisie, and her black cat, Mit. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, running, taking Pilates classes, and heading to the beach with Maisie for some sun, sand, and zoomies.

Olivia Pickersgill

Nurse

Olivia is a Senior Veterinary Nurse at Tasmanian Veterinary Hospitals with over five years of experience in the veterinary field. She began her journey with TVH in 2020 as a trainee nurse and has since completed her Certificate II in Animal Studies and Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.

Olivia has since progressed into the Clinical Nursing role, where she plays a vital role in hospital operations/management and provides support to both patients and the veterinary team. She has a strong foundation in patient care and is committed to ensuring every animal receives the highest standard of treatment.

Her professional interests include complex anaesthesia and internal medicine. Olivia finds it incredibly rewarding to be entrusted with a family pet’s care and to nurse them back to health. She is dedicated to achieving the best possible outcomes for her patients and their families.

Outside of work, Olivia enjoys spending time at the beach, out on a walk or at home with her husband, Aaron, and their beloved ginger cat, Jimmy.

Kassia Michajlow

Nurse

Kassia has been at Tasmanian Veterinary Hospitals for nearly 3 years, and is currently studying her Cert IV in veterinary nursing. She started in customer services at our Kingston practice, and quickly found her passion for vet nursing, moving to our Bellerive clinic to pursue her dream career. Caring for our patients and loving them as if they were her own, is Kassia’s number one attribute. Her interests lie in animal behavior and rehabilitation. She has two beloved miniature dachshunds, Douglas and Daphne, who are her world.

Keeley Rolph

Cert IV - Nurse

Keeley joined Tasmanian Veterinary Hospitals back in 2011, starting out as a Nurse Assistant. Keeley has since completed her Certificate 4 in Veterinary Nursing and is now one of our Senior Nurses. After being based at the Bellerive clinic full time, Keeley has recently made the decision to work between our Bellerive and Kingston clinics. She also has the responsibility of the Theatre Nurse role within our Bellerive clinic which she has been undertaking for approximately 4 years.

Keeley has always had an interest in animal welfare. She loves what she does because every day is different, exciting and challenging and she wouldn’t want it any other way. She loves the fact that Veterinary Nursing is always going to be a forever learning career. Keeley is particularly interested and enjoys patient care, anesthesia and surgery. She loves being in a career where she can help animals and their humans and sharing with owners the wonderful human, animal bond. She also enjoys training and assisting nurses who are new to the veterinary industry. Keeley enjoys working between both Bellerive and Kingston clinics, being involved in greats teams in both practices.

In her spare time Keeley enjoys live music, travel and spending time with her friends and family.

Imogen Howell

Nurse

Growing up Imogen was very lucky to be surrounded by animals and animal lovers which drove her passion to work towards a career in animal care. Before working at TVH, Imogen had a history in customer service, she has completed her Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing.

Imogen loves coming into work each day and being surprised by the cases that are presented, learning new skills, expanding her knowledge and experiencing the incredible bond between pets and their owners. She appreciates being surrounded by a team who are passionate, supportive, and dedicated to not only animals but each other.

each other.