Faculty
The VEA Faculty has over 100 years of combined experience! They teach across multiple domains of physiotherapy with a centred interest in vestibular physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Each faculty member has advanced skills and education in the management of persons with vestibular dysfunction and considered leaders in teaching and research.
All faculty members started their training in world renowned courses run by Susan Herdman and are now regular presenters at National and International meets.
Dr Katrina Williams
Katrina is a specialist Neurological Physiotherapist FACP 2008 (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapy). She has worked extensively in the fields of neurological and vestibular rehabilitation for over 20 years, with a focus on central vestibular pathologies. She works full-time at the University of Queensland as a Senior Lecturer Clinical Academic, translating 4th year physiotherapy students into clinical neurological practice and research. Clinical she also heads up Upright Physiotherapy a private practice seeing patients with neurological and dizziness.
She holds multiple degrees a PhD, Master of Clinical Neurological Rehabilitation and a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education. Her PhD focused on Dizziness in people with Multiple Sclerosis - exploring impacts on function. She is actively engaged in ongoing research exploring the signs and symptoms of people complaining of dizziness across the spectrum of musculoskeletal to neurological pathologies. She is the lead Physiotherapy researcher in Queensland's only fully equipped vestibular and balance testing laboratory at UQ. This unit is leading the way for integrative exploration of causes of dizziness, imbalance and benefits of novel treatment strategies for the dizzy person.
Natalie Rando
Natalie has focused her physiotherapy skills and teaching for over 20 years to the fields of Neurological Rehabilitation and Vestibular physiotherapy. She holds a Masters in Neurological Physiotherapy, has completed advanced training in the area of vestibular rehabilitation and regularly attends both national and international conferences related to vestibular dysfunction. Natalie previously held the position of Assistant Director of Physiotherapy (Rehabilitation) at the Gold Coast Hospital (2004‐ 2012), where she instigated and managed the physiotherapy service for Vestibular Clients and now manages a private vestibular caseload via Back in Balance Vestibular Physiotherapy.
For the last 18 years Natalie has delivered curriculum related to vestibular dysfunction at various universities including undergraduate level at Bond University, Griffith University and University of Queensland, as well as conducting post‐graduate training throughout Australia. Natalie currently holds the position of Assistant Professor of Physiotherapy (Neurology) at Bond University and is an APA Titled Neurological Physiotherapist.
Leia Barnes
Leia has over 18 years experience working with individuals with neurological and vestibular disorders in both the public and private sectors. She currently works as a Consultant Vestibular Physiotherapist in the ENT Service at Logan Hospital, where she functions as a primary contact vestibular physiotherapist. Leia also manages a private vestibular caseload at Back in Balance Vestibular Physiotherapy. Previous roles have included the Assistant Director of Physiotherapy (Rehabilitation) at the Gold Coast Hospital (2013-2016) and Senior Physiotherapist at the Falls and Balance Clinic. With her extensive clinical background, Leia has been invited to speak at multiple conferences, including The Neuro-Otology Society of Australia Annual Meeting, Audiology Australia National Conference and Queensland Acoustic Neuroma Conference. Leia has completed a Graduate Diploma of Neurological Rehabilitation and is an APA Titled Neurological Physiotherapist.
Dr Ann Rahmann
Dr Ann Rahmann currently works as the clinical lead physiotherapist in the Brighton Rehabilitation Unit and has a teaching and research position at the Australian Catholic University. Ann has continued to work clinically since graduating and has extensive experience in the sub-acute and community sectors across public and private contexts. Ann was awarded her PhD in 2012 from the University of Queensland. Her current research interests include optimising rehabilitation outcomes and the transition back to home, and the assessment and management of people with vestibular dysfunction. Ann is an APA Titled Gerontological Physiotherapist and currently a registrar in the Australian College of Physiotherapy training program.
