Nicole Starbuck-Connelly

Nicole is quite a powerhouse – she’s our director, practice manager and a Registered Nurse. From the beginning, Nicole has driven the development of Moonee Valley Specialist Centre, earning it a reputation for exceptional service.

After seeing too many patients with end-stage liver failure, Nicole and Nathan invested in an expensive high-tech liver scanner only usually found in public hospitals. The Fibroscan has now enabled countless patients to benefit from early identification of liver disease when there is a chance to change the course of their health.

Nicole values spending time with her patients, helping people to understand their health needs. She’s very practical in her approach and likes providing useful, real-world advice on lifestyle change so that patients feel supported rather than judged.

Nicole strongly believes that healthcare is a vocation, something you shouldn’t do unless your heart is in it. She’s conscious of how hard it is for patients to live with (and talk about) gut conditions so ensures everyone feels welcomed and supported. At Moonee Valley Specialist Centre, your concerns are taken seriously by doctors and nurses who are on your side.

Under Nicole’s direction, Moonee Valley Specialist Centre is a family-oriented practice with a strong team ethos. Her older children work in the business during uni holidays and the youngest was often passed around the waiting room as a baby.

When she’s not working or studying, Nicole loves being active. She plays tennis and goes to the gym with her children and loves surfing or swimming at the beach – even in the middle of Melbourne’s winter!