Dr Katrina Williams
Director + Principal
Katrina’s has 35 years of experience and training. This has established her as one of Australia’s foremost Neurological and Vestibular Physiotherapists. She combines her extensive knowledge with her passion for problem solving to help people with complex and chronic conditions who have had difficulty finding solutions for or improving their movement and dizziness.
"For me, I am passionate about delivering quality neurological and vestibular physiotherapy services to those who have difficulty moving are dizzy, imbalance and just want to get back to their highest abilities of function and quality of life."
Education
Katrina graduated from The University of Queensland in 1993 with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy. Katrina then later completed a Post-graduate Masters of Applied Science in Neurological Physiotherapy at the University of Sydney in 1996 and has completed her PhD investigating the influence of sensory symptoms on movement and function in people with Multiple Sclerosis.
Katrina was recognised by the Australian College of Physiotherapy in 2008 as a specialist neurological physiotherapist and remains the only specialist with combined expertise in rehabilitation and vestibular pathologies in Australia.
Teaching
As one of Australia’s leading neurological and vestibular Physiotherapy experts Katrina also tirelessly works to give back to the physiotherapy profession by delivering training and sharing her knowledge with clinicians through Neurological Aging and Balance Education – NaVe, and Vestibular Education Australia – VEA to delivery of courses and seminars to improve the assessment and management of how physiotherapists work with neurological and dizzy patients. She is also regularly asked to present to the Australian Physiotherapy Association.
As well, Katrina provides specialist content delivery and clinical skills development within the Physiotherapy Specialities Neurological and Vestibular Physiotherapy and post-graduate musculoskeletal and sports masters programs at The University of Queensland. She also delivers advanced knowledge content and clinical translation research within the neurology and vestibular content for the Physiotherapy courses at UQ. Currently she is working at the UQ Health Clinics with students to translate their knowledge to clinical practice.
Katrina is a frequently invited speaker in the fields of vestibular and neurological rehabilitation around Australia and Asia recently presenting in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth.
Experience & skill
Katrina’s extensive career has taken her around the world working in eminent fields of rehabilitation. Since 1997 Katrina has specialised with varied neurological and vestibular pathologies through her work at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, The Multiple Sclerosis Society ACT/VIC/NSW and the Neurological Ageing and Balance Clinic (UQ) all as the lead neurological physiotherapist.
Katrina has furthered her knowledge in Vestibular Rehabilitation by attending several exam-based courses in Vestibular Rehabilitation conducted by the renowned Professor Susan Herdman USA (2010), as well as advanced vestibular training course in Melbourne, Gold Coast and Sydney.
Katrina has supplemented her strong neurological and vestibular education and training with experiences in the broader physiotherapy field with elite dance companies; Riverdance and Lord of the Dance in Ireland as well as cervical spine research, partnering with Dr Julia Trelevan to greater understand the role of the neck in dizziness and with Dr Anna Hatton and Dr Yvonne Learmonth exploring impacts and benefits of Physiotherapy for people with Multiple Sclerosis.
Research & Community Engagement
Katrina is passionate about delivering quality vestibular and neurological services to those who are dizzy, imbalanced and have difficulty moving about. She is an active researcher at the University of Queensland as part of the Neurological, aging and balance research centre team with several publications in the area. She is a member of the Australian Physiotherapy
Association and APA Neurology and Gerontology Special Interest Group and is the expert advisor to the National Neurology group on all things Vestibular. She is also a member of the Queensland Vestibular Network, Australian Vestibular Disorders and Vestibular Disorders Association USA.
Service Excellence
Upright Physiotherapy is the only private practice in QLD to use state of the art vestibular and balance testing including infra-red video technology goggles, video head impulse testing (VHit), balance platforms and virtual reality to provide a thorough vestibular and neurological assessment to determine the likely cause of dizziness/vertigo, imbalance and fatigue and delivers an individualised treatment program to minimise these symptoms.
Research
Katrina heads up the Vestibular Research lab at the University of Queensland where she explores pathologies that cause dizziness and balance looking to better understand how assessment and treatments can be targeted to improve patient recovery.
"I love getting people back to what they love to do and believe in a personalised approach with the management of dizziness and neurological physiotherapy"
Ethan Marrinan
Physiotherapist
Ethan graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and Honors in 2014. Over his years of practice, Ethan has developed a keen interest and clinical expertise in both vestibular and neurological conditions. Ethan has experience working in the acute hospital setting through to outpatients and rehabilitation with vestibular and neurological conditions, publicly and privately. Currently Ethan is completing his Masters of Neurological Physiotherapy to consolidate his expertise in the management of patients with dizziness and neurological disorders.
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Ethan has completed multiple levels of vestibular training, including advanced courses and the Vestibular Education Australia six day competency course. He also now assist with the education and training as a tutor at advanced courses throughout Australia. Ethan compliments his private practice work with a position at the Logan Hospital as a Vestibular Physiotherapist in the Integrated ENT service.
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Ethan has a particular interest in the neurological rehabilitation of concussion. Having played rugby league in the Brisbane competition, Ethan has personal insight into concussion management and return to play concerns for youth and professional athletes. His skill at taking the patient with a neurological movement difficulty back to function and beyond is exceptional.
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Ethan is passionate about getting people back to what they love to do and believes in a personalised touch with the management of dizziness and neurological physiotherapy.
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Ethan has recently returned to University to pursue a medical degree. After all the years in this field he wishes to become a Neuro-otologist. A Neurologist who specialises in dizziness. We are so excited to have Ethan pursuing this dream.
"Working with a diverse team of experts in one place allows you to optimise your recovery when complexity of your symptoms has hindered your progress"
Dr Lucy Thomas
Physiotherapist
Dr Lucy is our go to Physiotherapist for all things with a focus on the neck, shoulder, arm, back... ​Management of neck pain and headache, neck related dizziness/imbalance, persistent-concussion headache, neck and shoulder/arm pain all fall within the expertise of Dr Lucy.
Lucy is a musculoskeletal titled physiotherapist with a particular interest in the assessment and management of neck pain and headache. She has strong focus on comprehensive assessment to develop an individualised management plan for each patient incorporating hands-on physiotherapy, exercise and self-management strategies. She can also assess your dizziness to ensure suitable management and alignment with optimal therapy.
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Lucy trained in the UK, post-graduate study in Sydney and Newcastle.
Over 30 years of clinical experience working in hospital and private practice settings in Australia and the UK.
Lucy also works as a senior lecturer and researcher at the University of Queensland, teaching musculoskeletal management of the neck, back and upper limbs. She completed her PhD in the area of safety in management of the neck and continues to research in aspects of safe practice and effective management approaches in the neck and is part of the team undertaking research at the Neck and Head head research unit at the University of Queensland exploring dizziness related to migraine, neck pain, concussion.
Lucy is passionate about getting people back to what they love to do and believes in a personalised touch with the management of neck related dysfunction is the key to regaining your well deserved quality of life.
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