Hello
Hello, I’m Dr. Tijana Simic, the founder of Kindred Species Consulting. As a veterinarian with over 10 years of experience in animal welfare and a strong background in education, I am passionate about creating environments where both humans and animals thrive together. Throughout my career, I’ve also had the privilege of working in aged care, where I developed a unique model of care that focuses on the inclusion of animals as an essential part of wellbeing.
At Kindred Species Consulting, my mission is to share my knowledge and expertise with organisations like residential aged care facilities, schools, and kindergartens. Our goal is to help you design compassionate, animal-friendly spaces that promote the therapeutic benefits of human-animal interactions. By fostering meaningful connections between humans and animals, we can create nurturing environments where everyone – both two-legged and four-legged – can flourish.
Our Story
Founded and led by Dr. Tijana Simic, a highly experienced veterinarian with a passion for integrating animals into care and educational settings, Kindred Species Consulting is driven by the belief that animals play a vital role in enhancing human well-being. Dr. Simic holds a veterinary science degree and brings a wealth of expertise to her work, which spans across aged care, animal welfare, and education.
Dr. Simic’s experience includes leading a large-scale project to develop an animal-inclusive environment in aged care. In this role, she worked on creating the necessary infrastructure, business plans, care plans, and policies to ensure spaces where both residents and animals can thrive together. She has also developed an innovative model of care for aged care that integrates resident animals, in alignment with the new aged care standards. This model of care was recently published in the Human and Animal Interactions (HAI) Journal in 2024 (co-authored by Dr Janette Young), marking a significant contribution to the field. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.1079/hai.2024.0017
As an advocate for safe and sustainable animal inclusion, Dr. Simic has presented at the prestigious Australasian College of Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) Conference 2024. During this presentation, she delivered a workshop on creating SAFE animal-friendly spaces in aged care, introducing the SAFE tool—a framework she helped develop with other experts and stakeholders. Generously funded by the Society for Companion Animal Studies, the SAFE tool provides essential guidance for safely integrating animals into care environments.
Dr. Simic’s career also includes working as a clinician and shelter veterinarian at the RSPCA, where she contributed to animal welfare education and outreach programs across schools in Victoria. This experience has shaped her understanding of the welfare considerations involved in using animals in educational settings, and these principles are at the heart of Kindred Species Consulting’s approach.
Through Kindred Species Consulting, Dr. Simic provides tailored solutions to help organizations create environments where both humans and animals can form meaningful, therapeutic bonds. Whether enhancing the lives of older adults through pet companionship in aged care, or fostering nurturing relationships between children and animals in educational settings, Dr. Simic is dedicated to helping you bring animals into your space safely, sustainably, and ethically.
Our Philosophy
Our Philosophy
At Kindred Species Consulting, we believe that when humans and animals come together in a safe and supportive environment, everyone benefits. Our approach is grounded in the understanding that animals can have a profound impact on mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Whether through the comfort of a pet in aged care or the joy of interacting with animals in education settings, we are committed to helping organizations create spaces where animals and humans can thrive together.