Meet the Cast of Gold Coast Ocean Rescue

Experience the challenges and triumphs of Sea World’s Marine Team with Gold Coast Ocean Rescue, the newest family-friendly, observational-documentary-style show filmed right here on the Gold Coast. From the moment they get an emergency call, it’s non-stop action and emotion as these dedicated wildlife experts risk life and limb to save everything from Humpback Whales to Sea Snakes. Throughout the show you meet some super cute and entertaining characters like Cliffy the Bottle-Nose Dolphin, Peg the Penguin and Henry the Polar Bear however one of the stand-outs is the incredible Sea World team who put their own lives on the line to rescue and care for these animals. Get to know the cast below.

Claire Madden - Head Veterinarian

As the Head Vet at Sea World, Dr. Claire Madden is responsible for maintaining the health of the park’s resident animals as well as the treatment and care of rescued marine wildlife. Some of her proudest moments include the rescue of a dolphin stranded in a lagoon on Flat Rock, off North Stradbroke Island and the release of Goldy, an Australian Pelican, which was first rescue case in her veterinary career where she witnessed the animal in the wild surviving post release.

Claire and her partner enjoy spending time with their two rescued dogs, sampling the Gold Coast’s dining scene and working together renovating and flipping houses.

Gold Coast ‘Fast 5’
Fav Spot: Being out on the Gold Coast Broadwater                          
Fav Activity: Watching the Gold Coast Suns - Womens and Mens teams
Fav Restaurant: Social Eating House, Broadbeach
Fav Hidden Gem: Overflow estate and its two French chefs restaurant
Fav Event: SWELL Sculpture Festival along Currumbin Beach

Wayne Phillips - Head of Marine Sciences

Wayne Phillips has over 30 years of experience working with marine mammals in facilities all over the world and is currently Head of Marine Sciences for Sea World Australia. One of the proudest parts of Wayne’s position is coordinating all aspects of Sea World’s research and rescue efforts from logistics, liaising with relevant agencies and implementing rescue operations and helping animals in need. While he considers himself a workaholic, outside of work Wayne enjoys spending time with his wife, playing tennis with his son, watching his daughter compete in equestrian events and cheering on his beloved Collingwood Magpies in the AFL. 

Gold Coast ‘Fast 5’
Fav Spot: Burleigh Heads
Fav Activity: Beach Day
Fav Restaurant: Hatsuhana Japanese, Sea World Resort
Fav Hidden Gem: The Spit
Fav Event: Sanctuary Cove Boat Show

Andy Mulville - The Skipper

Andy Mulville is a highly skilled waterman with a wealth of knowledge of the marine environment and is a veteran member of the Sea World team, with over 20 years’ experience. Andy has transitioned to boat skipper and with his marine background took to the job like a fish to water. Andy is now the head skipper for Sea World’s vessels and has been involved in countless rescue operations. 

Outside of Sea World, Andy is a skipper for a luxury yacht broker and has sailed boats all over the world. In his downtime, Andy enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids and making the most of the Gold Coast’s waterways.

Gold Coast ‘Fast 5’
Fave spot: Currumbin Beach
Fave activity: Surfing
Fave restaurant: Tommy’s Italian, Currumbin
Favehidden gem: Burleigh Heads National Park
Fave event: Sanctuary Cove Boat Show

Erin Oakley - Marine Mammal Specialist

Erin Oakley is an incredibly passionate animal conservationist and is one of the most senior members of the Sea World team with almost 20 years of experience working with marine mammals. Over the years at Sea World, Erin has worked with an array of amazing animals and prides herself on creating bonds and trust with individuals to ensure their optimum welfare while enriching their lives.

The love of the ocean is an affinity Erin shares with her family and with her husband, a City of Gold Coast Lifeguard, they spend most of their spare team at the beach with their two young daughters. Erin’s passion for the environment and animals is something she is sharing with her kids. 

Gold Coast ‘Fast 5’
Fav Spot: Tallebudgera Creek
Fav Activity: Sunset Picnic on the waterways in Broadbeach
Fav Restaurant: Paddock Bakery
Fav Hidden Gem: Evandale Lake (behind HOTA)
Fav Event: Gold Coast Suns Family Day at Heritage Stadium

Richelle Reading - Marine Mammal Specialist

Richelle Reading is an experienced wildlife carer with an extensive career working in the zoo and aquarium industry and is one of the most bubbly and enthusiastic members of the Sea World team. She is an animal specialist caring for the dolphins at Dolphin Beach and Bay and the King and Gentoo Penguins in Penguin Encounter. Richelle spends most of her spare time by the beach and enjoys exploring new cafes, reading books, and attending dance classes. 

Gold Coast ‘Fast 5’
Fav Spot: Burleigh Hill
Fav Activity: HOTA Farmers & Artisan markets on a Sunday morning
Fav Restaurant: Hideaway
Fav Hidden Gem: Bon Appetea Teahouse
Fav Event: Crafted Festival 

Siobhan Houlihan - Aquarist & Diver

Siobhan Houlihan is a leading aquarist and diver with extensive experience working with and caring for sharks, marine turtles and sea snakes. Siobhan manages Sea World’s operation of rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing sea turtles and sea snakes who come into care for a range of reasons. Over the course of her career at Sea World, Siobhan has worked her way to become supervisor for the Shark Bay where she manages the day-to-day operations of the exhibit.
In her spare time, Siobhan enjoy spending quality time with her husband and their rescued dog, usually somewhere along the beach. She is also an avid aerialist and volunteers her time with the Volunteer Marine Rescue.  

Gold Coast ‘Fast 5’
Fav Spot: North Burleigh Hill
Fav Activity: Anything in the ocean or a beach walk with her doggo
Fav Restaurant: Gemellini
Fav Hidden Gem: Cougal Cascades, Currumbin Valley
Fav Event: Swell Sculpture Festival 

Clint Karger - Aquarist

Clint Karger is a senior aquarist and diver at Sea World with his primary role working across the Shark Bay and Sea Jellies exhibits. He’s an experienced member of the rescue team and has participated in many rescue operations of turtles, sea snakes, whales and dugongs. Some of Clint’s proudest moments include participating in the annual Dugong Health Assessment in Moreton Bay, leading the Leopard Shark training program at Shark Bay and rescue operations on entangled humpback whales. Diving is a family affair for Clint and outside of Sea World, he enjoys exploring the Gold Coast waterways with his wife and two boys. Clint is a keen footy fan and is a West Coast Eagles supporter. 

Gold Coast ‘Fast 5’
Fav Spot: The Spit (underwater)
Fav Activity: Diving/Snorkelling
Fav Restaurant: Rabbath, Burleigh
Fav Hidden Gem: Coombabah Wetlands
Fav Event: Crafted Festival

Ben Markham - Skipper & Marine Mammal Specialist

Ben Markham is one of the most experienced members of the Sea World team and has worked with marine mammals and in the marine environment for over 15 years. Throughout his time at Sea World, Ben has been involved in countless rescue operations of dolphins, whales and dugongs. One of the proudest moments of Ben’s career at Sea World was the successful rescue operation of a stranded humpback whale on Palm Beach in 2014. Away from the water, Ben and his family love snowboarding and have taken several family trips to Japan and Canada.

Gold Coast ‘Fast 5’
Fav Spot: Currumbin Beachfront
Fav Activity: Beach day with the family - surfing, swimming and sandcastles.
Fav Restaurant: Currumbin Surf Club
Fav Hidden Gem: Currumbin Rock Pools
Fav Event: Sanctuary Cove Boat Show

Learn more about Gold Coast Ocean Rescue, the team and the incredible work that they do here. Catch all the action every Saturday evening at 6pm on 7Two or catch-up on previous episodes of Gold Coast Ocean Rescue on 7Plus.