Your Team

Danielle is an all-rounder with Woofers, but mostly you’ll find her looking after accounts and business-ey stuff, on reception, and running our social media. As a sister to Jonathan, she is involved with Woofers since its inception but officially joined the team in 2012.

After helping out during a growth phase, she decided she loved hanging out with the pooches more than her life in commercial property and fund management. So much so that she stuck around and brought a wealth of commercial experience with her.

Danielle has had many roles within Woofers, including full-time Animal Handler, so she loves it when one of the Handlers is off-duty, and she gets to get out of the office and play with the dogs. While she doesn’t have any pets of her own, there are not many days she doesn’t have a four-legged friend staying with her as she is one of our most sought after Sleepover minders.

At the end of high school, Rachel had a choice between a career in childcare or a career in pet care. Well, Rachel chose to work with pets and ended up with Honours in Animal Science and Management from Melbourne University. She then refined her devotion for pets and completed a course in dog training and behaviour.

Rachel became part of the Woofers family in 2010 when she began working as an Animal Handler. She transitioned into Dog Trainer, then Operations Manager and now leads a team of dog minders as the Sleepover Coordinator where she gets to use her exceptional organisational skills and continues to make pets happy.

Rachel and her husband Adam have a lovely Border Collie cross called Bamboo, who often helps greet customers at Woofers HQ – when she’s not asleep under Rachels desk.

Jaymi is the team’s administrative guru, and she’s an excellent support for the Handlers and Groomers. As Administrative Coordinator, Receptionist, Office Manager, Social Coordinator, Purveyor, Retail Manager and often responsible for the jokes on the shop sandwichboard she’s likely the first person that people speak with when calling or visiting Woofers HQ.

After studying a Diploma in Live Audio Engineering, Jaymi had a range of customer service roles that have helped her thrive in the busy Woofers World office. She trained under Crown for customer service and said she feels at her best when she’s busy. Maybe that’s part of why she has a great rapport with the dogs and an uncanny ability to make everyone smile at Woofers – because there’s never a dull moment!

Jaymi grew up in Melbourne’s bayside suburbs and now lives with her partner Cam in Patterson Lakes. They are proud parents of two domestic rats called Boss and Smed, and an adorable but naughty Dingo cross called Eddie. When not brightening up the day at Woofers, she loves watching local bands, building guitars from scratch, renovating their house, and of course, hanging with Eddie… and Cam.

Fran knew from a very young age that she wanted to work with animals. During her study of Animal Management in the U.K., she hoped to specialise in working with dogs, and after receiving her diploma, she went on to become a canine security officer. Her love for dogs grew even more.

Born in the U.K., Fran and her partner Tom moved to Australia in 2012 after their global travels led them to fantastic places around the world. In August 2016 they celebrated their wedding with friends and family and are now proud to call Australia home.

Fran joined the Woofers team in 2015 and has continued her study of canines. Recently she completed a Certificate III in Dog Training and Behaviour, and she is often an instructor at Woofers’ puppy school and group training classes.

Her bubbly personality warms everyone who meets Fran and the dogs adore her. And that’s what makes Fran the natural choice as the team leader for the Woofers Animal Handling Team.

Ciara
Ciara has always been an animal lover. A graduate of Zoology and then a Masters of Science in Conservation Biology lead her work at an animal shelter and as a zookeeper for over five years in Ireland.

After a successful career in Zoos and Wildlife parks as a presenter and primate keeper, Ciara furthered her profession and started protected contact training chimpanzees and orangutans.

“It was learning what motivates a chimpanzee to willingly present its body for vet inspections that sparked my interest in animal behaviour and training.”

Ciara and her partner Darren moved to Australia in April 2017, and she completed the NDTF Certificate III in Dog Training and Behaviour in May 2018. Ciara started with Woofers Dog Training not long after and continues to fosters and rehabilitates dogs through Project Underdog Rescue Group.

Not only a familiar and friendly face at the front of the puppy and obedience classes, but she’s also often seen attending many of the local and interstate dog training seminars and workshops.

Federica, also known as “Feddy,” is a certified dog trainer and spends most of her day as Animal Handler with Woofers World. Her love and enthusiasm for her dogs, pets, and life, in general, is contagious, and she’s a joy to be around.

Federica’s background was initially in the Arts. She studied art in Italy and always used animals as the subjects in her sculptures and pieces. This interest and adoration for animals soon surpassed her love of art, and she began working with horses and then shelter dogs.

During her university studies, she supported a small kennel in her hometown. She took great pride in helping the less fortunate pets. “I wanted to give them happiness!” she says. So she did!

After moving to Australia 2013 with her partner Marco, she attended dog training school at NDTF while working at a dog daycare and kennel. As she says, “I followed the good vibes of this magic country, and I found my new family at Woofers World. It’s a great adventure!”

Luke is the go-to all-rounder within the Woofers animal handling team. His dog training experience and vast exposure to dogs from all walks of life make him invaluable to his colleagues and clients alike.

Having worked and volunteered at numerous dog rescue organisations, Luke has met and worked with more dogs than many of the world’s best dog trainers and his passion for animal welfare doesn’t just stop with dog training qualifications nor his day job.

In addition to his role as Animal Hander with Woofers Luke is also a Lead Assessor with The Lort Smith pet therapy program and a kennel caretaker. So it’s true to say he lives and breathes dogs and dog behaviour.

Luke and his partner live and grew up in Bayside and aside from a young son and another baby on the way they also have several “problem-children” that Luke dedicates a lot of effort to rehabilitate for re-adoption.

Not only does Luke immerse himself in dog training and handling during work hours, but he also spends a lot of his free time as a CFA volunteer and is often attending dog training seminars and short courses.

Piper

Piper spent her early childhood years growing up in the beautiful island of Taiwan and in 2017 was given a chance to leave her menagerie of pets at home and immigrate to “the lucky country”.

Piper has a gentle and professional animal handling style that began at an early age when she cared for a vast range of family pets including, chickens, rabbits, dogs, birds, fish and even a hedgehog.

After completing an undergraduate degree in Animal Husbandry in 2009, Piper worked as a Groomer’s Assistant, then Groomer and later completed her training and then worked as a Grooming Supervisor.

Although Piper was unable to bring her three dogs with her to Australia, she takes great joy and comfort in spending time with client’s dogs. Her calm animal handling skills and artistic ability help make her a fantastic groomer and great member of the Woofers Groom Room team.