Perth Branch

Cassandra Pitcher

Avian Behaviour and Training Consultant

Cassie started with Parrot Life® as our 2017 Intern, after engaging us to help with her parrot Ozzie who had feather destructive behaviour. After 18 months in our intern programme we decided she was too amazing not to hire! She has a natural training ability and beautiful body language with parrots and picked up behaviour modification very quickly. Even better, Cassie is a qualified vet nurse with avian experience, and even though day-to-day she still focuses on small animal veterinary practice, she is now our primary consultant in the state and is experienced in a large range of training techniques and behaviour modification protocols. When she comes out for a consultation, you will often see her passing on her knowledge while training our intern Ebony! Cassie has a menagerie of her own parrots, a pig and many other rescue animals that she adores.

Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing awarded by Applied Vocational Training, Western Australia.

3 years working with parrots in a behavioural and clinical capacity

including both wild and captive birds and endangered Australian native species.

Avian Behaviour and Training Consultant - Parrot Life Behaviour and Training. Started her 18 month Internship in 2017, and has been running her own consultations as staff since 2018.

Avian Management at Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre, Clinic Volunteer

Active Member of I.A.A.T.E (International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators) since 2019.

Ebony Holman, CPDT-KA
Avian Behaviour and Training Consultant

Ebony started with Parrot Life as our 2019 Perth Intern before joining the team as a Consultant in 2020! Ebony is passionate about all aspects of animal care. As an animal lover, she is the proud owner of two cats, two guinea pigs and two Indian Ringnecks, Ollie and Zeke.

Ebony first attended our ‘Parrot Parenting’ back in 2015, to assist her family’s Rainbow Lorikeet, Jacky, in working through her hormonal behaviours. Inspired by what she had learned, in 2016, she completed Certificate III in Companion Animal Services.

Ebony is knowledgeable across many species, and works within the industry. She is employed in a leading chain store, providing dog training services and educates customers in nutrition, enrichment, training, health, and much more. Ebony is devoted to improving the quality of life of animals through the education of pet owners, on all aspects of animal care. Her passion for animals has lead for her to continue her studies, and she has recently completed a Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services (Training) alongside work and her internship.

Certificate III in Companion Animal Services (2016) awarded by South Metropolitan TAFE

Dog Class Instructor since 2018.

Certificate IV Companion Animal Services (2020) awarded by Pet Professionals Australia

Certified Profesiomal Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) with the Certification Council of Dog Trainers - 2021

Internship - Parrot Life Behaviour and Training (2019 - 2020)

Supporting Member of the IAABC

Clinic volunteer at Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre

Nicole Cowper
Avian Behaviour and Training Consultant

Nicole has always been passionate about animals and the natural world, and her interest in birds started in preschool when she was the only one able to fit (comfortably) through the door of the family’s aviary. She shared her dad’s love of birds (especially budgies) and was devastated when the family moved and had to re-home their flock. Now she has a flock of her own that includes 2 cockatiels, 7 budgies, and one very sassy black-headed Caique named Evie who rules the roost!

Despite her love of animals, Nicole ended up working with humans instead and is a psychologist with 10 years of experience. Alongside training in Applied Behaviour Analysis, Nicole has a deep understanding of behaviour, communication, learning, and cognition, and spends most of her days assessing, formulating, and providing interventions for neurodiverse children and adults.

Her desire to create a home for Evie that meets her needs, and foster positive connections with her family lead her to seek out the help of Parrot Life. She learned a lot through consultations and by attending the PTA series of workshops, but she also realised that the skills she has developed through her work, and the passion she has for birds could had a great synergy. So, when the opportunity to complete an internship with Parrot Life came up, she jumped on board.

ABA Behaviour Therapist 2009 - 2011

Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) - 2012

Master of Psychology (Couns) - 2015

PTA101, 201, and 301 - Parrot Life Behaviour and Training 2022

Avian Behaviour Intern – Parrot Life Behaviour and Training - 2022 - 2023

Georgia Kerr MSc, ABAP-1

Special Projects Consultant and Presenter

Georgia started with Parrot Life® as our very first intern in 2016, and quickly demonstrated her affinity for parrot training and behaviour identification. She has come onboard in 2017 as staff, and is getting amazing results from her consultations. Georgia has completed a BSc Conservation and Wildlife Biology at Murdoch University, and in 2020 graduated with her Masters in Wildlife Health! She has found her passion in animal training, and has set up her own behaviour consultancy working with dogs and small animals through Learning Planet Dogs. Part of her role with us was to fulfil our contract with Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre from 2017 - 2020 as the Avian Management Officer - where she excelled. She is obsessed with cockatiels, and has her own trained flock of cockatiels at home. Georgia is now mostly focusing on dog training, but still contracts to Parrot Life® for our special projects work including running the Parrot Training Academy Perth courses each year, and managing our special contract work and avian management roles.

MSc Wildlife Health and Conservation, BSc Conservation and Wildlife Biology awarded by Murdoch University.

5+ years working with parrots in a behavioural and clinical capacity

Avian Behaviour and Training Consultant - Parrot Life Behaviour and Training - completed 1 year Internship in 2016, and has been running her own consultations as staff since 2017.

Avian Management Officer at Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre - 2017 - 2020

Active Member of I.A.A.T.E (International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators) since 2016.

Affiliate Member of IAABC (International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants)

Certified Fear Free® Professional - since 2019

Certification Level 2
Fear Free Veterinary Certification Program - Avian
Fear Free Animal Trainer (2020)

Full Member APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers)

Applied Behaviour Analysis Practicioner (ABAP-1)

Certified Professional Dog Trainer (IMDT)