Caroline grew up in Perth, and graduated as a veterinarian from Murdoch University. She then worked in mixed animal practice before travelling to the UK to work as a locum in small animal practice. Whilst there, she got bitten by a love for small animal medicine, and was lucky enough to complete a residency training program at University College, Dublin in that discipline. She gained her specialist qualifications (Diplomate, European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine) in 2001, and returned to Murdoch University to work as an academic teacher and clinician. She continued her interest in gastroenterology both in clinics and in research, obtaining her PhD in the field of canine pancreatitis.