Stronger together: How one vet built a powerful network 

Dr Alison Taylor's Capital Paws Group is proving that collaboration can be a powerful growth strategy, connecting like-minded colleagues to create new opportunities for vet practices and their people.

Putting a vision into practice

NAB Health, together with its specialist healthcare arm Medfin Finance, were there at the beginning. A loan from Medfin Finance enabled Dr Alison to buy into a suburban Canberra practice alongside two partners. It was a conventional pathway to ownership but her subsequent business journey has been anything but.

In the intervening 15 years, she acquired equity in 10 more practices and facilities in the Canberra and Queanbeyan districts, including the Kippax Veterinary Hospital, a purpose-built clinic in Holt offering emergency and routine care.

As her network grew, Dr Alison brought the practices together under the Capital Paws Group, creating a thriving cooperative of professionals whose expertise spans every aspect of veterinary science, from diagnostic imaging and dermatology to exotic animal medicine and surgery. Collectively, they employ 150 staff, including 60 vets, who conduct around 3,500 consults a month.  

The practices share a common database and communications platform, provide sick and holiday cover for one another and refer patients internally when specialist care is required. There are training and mentoring programs for staff and a strong emphasis on wellbeing and work-life balance – foreign concepts for many standalone vet practice owners, historically.  

“We’ve set up a model that allows us to operate sustainably and efficiently and take advantage of economies of scale, while maintaining private ownership,” Dr Alison says.

Taking a solution focused approach

While there have been challenges along the journey, experience has taught Dr Alison that there’s a solution for every problem.

“If you look after the people you work with, and yourself, things tend to work out,” she says. “Be smart and clever but also be kind – that’s the approach I take.”

Finding and retaining good people, whether they’re partners, employees or advisers, is also key. “You get out of people what you put in so it’s important to foster the relationships that make it work,” she says. 

Looking ahead to a strong, independent future 

While Capital Paws has reached critical mass, Dr Alison will continue to explore opportunities to expand its reach. 

A new animal hospital is currently under construction to replace the existing one in the Canberra suburb of Holder. Slated to open in early 2027, it will include a second hospital for their referral service. 

“Sustainable success is the long-term goal – to have enough people, good systems and good support staff so the businesses can keep running well,” she says. 

Giving back to communities

Supporting animal health programs in Indigenous communities, a passion project since 2010, will also remain a focus for Dr Alison. 

Twice a year, she travels to the Northern Territory with a delegation of volunteer vets and vet nurses to provide free desexing and parasite control treatment for pets whose owners have limited access to vet services.

One of the big misconceptions is that the dogs in these communities are strays. In reality, they are owned pets that are deeply valued within Indigenous communities, where they provide companionship, security and, for some families, assist with hunting.  

“There’s a great sense of satisfaction from being able to make a positive contribution to Indigenous affairs,” Dr Alison says. 

“It’s a service [these communities] want and it enables us to learn about their culture and connect with them. That’s a great opportunity and a privilege for our staff, and it helps us keep things in perspective too.”

Partnering with a bank that helps healthcare businesses innovate and grow 

Dr Alison has been a NAB customer for over 15 years with NAB Health and its specialist healthcare arm, Medfin Finance, enabling her to grow the Capital Paws footprint.

She’s used business finance to buy into practices and has appreciated the responsive service provided by NAB.

“NAB has helped me grow my business by working in partnership with us to identify what our needs are and then help support us to get there,” Dr Alison says. “Sometimes we’ve had to come up with some creative solutions together, but they’ve certainly been willing to do that and been available to support us in our growth.” 

It’s a relationship NAB values too. “Building a successful healthcare business isn’t straightforward and maintaining a cooperative network of professionals is an extraordinary achievement”, says Executive, NAB Health and CEO, Medfin John Avent.

“NAB prides itself on backing businesses that find smart ways to ‘change the game’ and we’ll continue to support Dr Alison as she reshapes the veterinary services market in the ACT and builds a sustainable service delivery model for others to emulate.”