Professor Bob Doneley

BVSc FANZCVS (Avian Medicine) CMAVA

Avian and Exotic Animal Specialist

Bob has nearly 30 years experience as a veterinarian with dogs and cats, and is one of only two specialists in bird medicine in Queensland. His other great interest is the medicine and surgery of reptiles and small mammals.

Bob has always been a Queensland boy – growing up in Warwick, graduating from The University of Queensland (UQ) in 1982 and working, except for a brief stint in the UK, in Bundaberg and Brisbane before opening his own private practice in West Toowomba. He sold his practice in 2010 to take up the position of Head of Service at the UQ Gatton Small Animal Hospital.

Bob’s interest in bird medicine developed shortly after graduation when he was asked to give a talk to the Bundaberg Budgerigar Association and realised that he had been taught virtually nothing on this subject while a student. He pursued this interest through private study, visiting colleagues, and attending conferences. He was awarded his Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (FANZCVS) in 2003, becoming Queensland’s first specialist in bird medicine, the third in Australia. In the same year he was awarded the College Prize by the Australian College for outstanding contributions to veterinary science in Australia

Bob is an Associate Professor and Head of the Avian and Exotic Pet Service, a specialist bird practice, as well as treating reptiles, small mammals and wildlife. In 2015 he was awarded the Meritorious Service Award by the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists.

He lectures to both University of Queensland and James Cook University veterinary students on bird and exotic animal medicine, has published two textbooks on bird medicine (one of which has been translated into German and is about to be re-published as a second edition), written chapters for five other textbooks and has published numerous papers in veterinary journals.

Bob’s interests incorporate writing and he wants to write a Backyard Poultry Book as a resource on backyard chicken medicine – poultry being the 3rd most common avian patient. He recognises that many of the old poultry and bird varieties are re-emerging with a number of “breeder farms” and because Australia is not an avian migratory path, knowledge needs dissemination. 

Bob is married with two children, both university students. He and his wife share their home with a cat, two dogs and a small collection of birds.