About
Us
At Coogee Animal Hospital, we are a privately owned practice dedicated to providing compassionate, comprehensive care. With extensive surgical expertise within our team, we are able to manage complex cases in-house. Our commitment to continuing education, paired with our years of experience, allows us to combine genuine kindness with a high level of clinical skill.
We pride ourselves on caring for both our patients and their owners. We understand that pets are cherished members of the family, and we aim to guide you through every diagnosis and treatment option with clarity—ensuring you feel confident and supported in your pet’s care plan.
Meet the Team
Dr. Hannah Mitchell is a Partner at Coogee Animal Hospital. Originally from Perth, Hannah graduated from Murdoch University before relocating to Sydney to practice at a busy small animal hospital in the inner city. She is passionate about providing an empathetic and holistic veterinary experience, believing that the best medical outcomes are achieved by treating the animal as a whole and collaborating closely with their family.
With a strong clinical interest in surgery and behavioral medicine, Hannah completed the University of Sydney’s postgraduate surgery course and has mentored alongside specialist surgeons and behaviorist veterinarians. She is passionate about continuing education, staying current with the latest evidence-based treatments and surgical techniques to ensure the highest standard of care.
Hannah has completed her fear-free certification in animal handling. She is known for her calm, gentle handling, ensuring even the most anxious patients feel safe.
Outside of the clinic, Hannah lives in the Eastern Suburbs with her fiancé and her mischievous dog, Betty. She makes the most of the Sydney coastline, spending her spare moments running, ocean swimming, or attempting to surf at the local beaches.
Dr. Hannah Mitchell
Dr Peter MacKenzie-Wood
Dr Peter MacKenzie-Wood BVSc is a Partner at Coogee Animal Hospital and an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Sydney, bringing more than three decades of clinical experience to the care of family pets.
He established Willoughby Veterinary Hospital, which he owned and operated for 28 years before joining the Coogee Animal Hospital team as a senior clinician and surgeon.
Peter enjoys all aspects of veterinary practice but has a particular passion for orthopaedic surgery. He regularly performs advanced knee procedures, including TPLO, MPL and TTA surgeries, and offers a comprehensive surgical skill set that helps reduce the need for referral to specialist centres for many patients. His calm, methodical approach and strong focus on communication mean that pet owners are guided clearly through diagnosis, treatment options and postoperative care.
Outside of work, Peter is a keen ocean swimmer and cyclist, making the most of Sydney’s coastline and outdoor lifestyle. He shares his home with an elderly but still spirited dog, who keeps him closely connected to the realities of life with a much‑loved family pet. This combination of professional experience, surgical expertise and genuine empathy underpins Peter’s commitment to providing the highest standard of care to every animal he sees.
Dr. Gwilym Hunt
Dr Gwilym Hunt has over 30 years of experience in small animal veterinary practice. As well as working in multiple practices around Australia and in the UK, he has owned and been a partner in three practices across Sydney . The main location at which he worked was Annandale Animal Hospital which he owned and operated for 25 years. Gwilym is now a veterinarian and practice owner at Coogee Animal Hospital.
Gwilym's main area of interest is surgery and in 2011 he passed the exams to attain membership to the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists (surgery). His passion continues to be surgery and he brings expertise and in experience in managing complex surgical cases including orthopeadics (eg.TPLO, MPL and fracture repair) and soft tissue (eg, perineal urethrostomy, perineal hernia repair and abdominal surgery).
Gwilym has a friendly and welcoming demeanour which puts clients at ease and his experience and detailed approach ensure the best outcome for your pet.
Outside of work Gwilym enjoys swimming and watersports, including kiteboarding and scuba diving . He lives in Sydney with his wife, three children, a hyperexcitable dog named Rufus and an affectionate cat named Nushi.
As our practice manager, Tayla brings over 12 years of experience and a deep passion for gold-standard veterinary care to our team. Since beginning her career as a veterinary nurse in 2014 at Sydney University Veterinary Hospital, she has worked in busy general practice as well as gained more than seven years experience working in specialist surgery and emergency & critical care departments across leading referral centres in Sydney.
Her professional interests include complex anaesthesia cases — particularly cardiac patients, diabetics and geriatric patients — as well as advanced wound management. Tayla is dedicated to guiding and supporting the team while creating a clinic environment where pets receive genuinely compassionate, gold-standard care.
Recognised for her energetic personality and welcoming nature, Tayla enjoys connecting with people and building lasting relationships with clients and their pets. Outside of work, she loves hiking, exploring creative spaces and art, and supporting the live music industry. At home, she shares life with her fiancé Brandon, her rescue dachshund Slinky, and her rescue cat Hugo, and often has a foster pet alongside her little family of four. Tayla is excited to help establish Coogee Vet Hospital as a trusted part of the local community and looks forward to welcoming their pets to the hospital.
Tayla Bussey