Meet Our Physiotherapists

Emma Reid (Director)

Emma was raised in Townsville and completed her high school education at Townsville Grammar School before completing a physiotherapy degree at JCU in 2011. Upon completion of her studies, Emma worked for a short time as a casual physiotherapist at Northern Beaches Physiotherapy Clinic before gaining full-time employment at PhysioCare Townsville in June 2012. Emma became a principal of PhysioCare Townsville in 2015.

Since a young age, she has been a keen softball player and has represented Townsville, North Queensland and Queensland. Emma continues to play socially and had the privilege of travelling as the Team Physiotherapist for the Queensland Heat (Queensland Open Women’s Softball Team) from 2015 to 2017. Emma enjoys treating adults of all ages and has completed her Level 1 Sports Physiotherapy and Level 1 Gerontology Physiotherapy courses as well as Dry Needling and Advanced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy courses.

Emma and her husband Kristian welcomed their third child Brookelyn in July 2020. Brookelyn is the much-adored little sister of Mackenzie and Kailan. When not at work, Emma enjoys watching the NRL and WNBL and spending time with her family in the outdoors fishing, camping and exploring the local area.

Ryan Bartholomew (Director)

Ryan was originally from Gladstone in Central Queensland, before moving to Townsville to study a Bachelor of Physiotherapy, which he completed in 2010. Upon completion of his degree, he secured employment in his hometown where he practiced for four years before returning to Townsville in 2014. Ryan has worked in a range of Musculoskeletal practices where he has gained an extensive knowledge of all Musculoskeletal injuries. During this time, Ryan has had the opportunity to work closely with local and state level sporting teams across a wide variety of sports. Ryan has furthered his studies by gaining qualifications as a Level 2 Sports Physiotherapist and a Level 1 Paediatric Physiotherapist. Ryan has also undertaken numerous professional development courses such as Pilates and dry needling.

Although Ryan’s love of sport began at a young age, it still is a large part of his life today. Ryan has represented Central Queensland for touch football and athletics, as well as being the Queensland champion for beach flags and sprint in surf lifesaving. This has also allowed Ryan to gain accreditation as a beach sprint and flag coach. Ryan still continues to play touch football on a regular basis with his wife Ashleigh.

In 2016 Ryan and Ashleigh welcomed their first child Ivy into the world and in 2018 welcomed Ayla into his family. When Ryan isn’t working or playing sport, he enjoys relaxing with his family, fishing and camping.

Claire Struber (Physiotherapist)

Claire was born and raised in North Queensland. She completed her schooling in Proserpine, before moving to Townsville to commence her physiotherapy university degree. Claire graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy at James Cook University in 2013. Claire has been working at PhysioCare Townsville since 2014.

Claire has always had a keen interest in biomechanics and exercise and enjoys working one-on-one with clients to help them achieve their goals and enhance their quality of life. Claire uses a broad range of manual therapy techniques including dry needling to assist in the rehabilitation of her clients. Claire enjoys working with clients of all ages and capabilities, tailoring treatment plans to suit each individual’s abilities and goals. Claire has completed a Level 1 Paediatric Physiotherapist course.

Claire and husband, Adam, have two children: Lily who made her grand entrance in 2017 and Isla, hers in 2019. Outside the practice, Claire enjoys spending quality time relaxing with family and friends when she is not busy chasing after her two girls.

Matthew Toumazou (Physiotherapist)

Matt was raised in North Queensland and graduated from James Cook University in 2016. He was drawn to physiotherapy initially by his love for sport and his desire to help people. He began working at PhysioCare in 2017, moved to Brisbane for a year in 2018 and then returned to Townsville. Matt is qualified in dry needling and has completed research into amateur cricketers, the results of which he presented at the ASICS Sports Medicine Australia Conference in 2017 in Malaysia. Matt has also completed a Kinetic Link Training Level 2 and Pilates Matwork Level 1 course.

As a physiotherapist, Matt enjoys treating all sorts of complaints, especially lower limb and sporting injuries. He is also passionate about facilitating peoples return to exercise and educating them on the dos and don’ts for a healthy return. It is highly important for Matt that patients leave their session knowing more about their condition and understanding the reasons behind the management plans produced. Additionally, Matt aims to provide every patient with self-management strategies to give people the tools to take ownership of their own rehab and management.

Outside of work, Matt enjoys playing and watching sport and spending time with family, friends and his two dogs. While he loves any sport, Matt is particularly keen on cricket, rugby league and AFL.

Sam Weimar (Physiotherapist)

Sam grew up and completed his schooling in the small town of Mossman before relocating to Townsville to start his physiotherapy degree at JCU. Whilst studying at university, Sam engaged in a variety of placements, including private musculoskeletal clinics, orthopaedic and general surgical wards, neurological rehabilitation units and special needs education schools. Each of these placements provided Sam with invaluable experiences and skills.

Sam’s keen interest in physical activity combined with his willingness to listen to people and help them achieve their goals is what attracted him to the profession of physiotherapy. Sam enjoys providing education, tailored exercises and hands-on treatment techniques to his clients to meet their individual needs. He has also completed a personal development course in Pilates and looks forward to doing further courses in the coming years. Outside of the clinic,  Sam enjoys spending time with friends and family as well running, going to the gym, exploring the outdoors and fishing.

Emily Lea (Physiotherapist)

Emily grew up in Hobart, Tasmania before moving to Bendigo in Victoria to complete her Bachelor of Applied Sciences/Master of Physiotherapy Practice at La Trobe University. She moved back to Tassie on completion of her studies for the first couple of years of her career before moving to Townsville at the start of 2022. Emily has always enjoyed helping people and this is where her interest in Physiotherapy stemmed from. She enjoys supporting people to recover from injuries, maintain their function and keep doing the things they enjoy.

Emily’s interest areas include hydrotherapy, paediactrics, women’s health, neurological conditions, and sports-related injuries. She is qualified in dry needling and has also completed further courses in paediatric physiotherapy. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her partner and Weimaraner pup, Otto.

Anna Wood (Physiotherapist)

Anna is originally from South East Queensland, but was raised in the Burdekin before settling into Townsville to attend university. She was initially enrolled in a Bachelor of Biomedicine at James Cook University before discovering her passion in anatomy and biomechanics, which led to her enrolling in a Bachelor of Physiotherapy. Anna is experienced in Kinesiology taping and is interested in broadening her skillset by completing dry needling and Mulligans courses in the near future.

Anna enjoys working with all ranges of patients and is eager to continue developing her skills and finding her primary area of interest in physiotherapy. Outside of work, Anna has a keen interest in piano, walking her border collie, Arlo, exploring other countries and cultures, and skiing with her partner.

Brittany Souter (Physiotherapist)

Brittany was born and raised in Townsville and graduated from James Cook University with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) First Class in 2020. During her studies, Brittany undertook placements in a variety of areas of physiotherapy, including private practice, orthopaedic and general surgical, neurological rehabilitation and paediatric development.

Brittany has trained in classical ballet, jazz and contemporary dance from an early age and has a particular interest in the musculoskeletal system and unique movements of the human body. Brittany enjoys working with clients of all ages and abilities and aims to provide individualised treatments that assist clients in achieving their goals and getting back to doing what they love.

In her spare time, Brittany enjoys keeping active and spending time with her family and friends.

Celeste Wilkinson (Physiotherapist)

Celeste grew up in Innisfail, Far North Queensland, before moving to Townsville to complete a Bachelor of Physiotherapy through James Cook University.

Celeste worked across a variety of areas during placements, such as respiratory, general surgery and orthopaedic wards, paediatrics, neurological rehabilitation and musculoskeletal private practice. Celeste has a keen interest in post-orthopaedic surgery rehab, paediatrics and musculoskeletal conditions.

Outside of work, Celeste enjoys going to the local cafes for a coffee and visiting Magnetic Island as well as the local swimming spots.

Jeff Skinner (Physiotherapist)

Jeff is a late bloomer into the physiotherapy world, completing his bachelor’s degree at James Cook University in 2019. Jeff was born and raised in Ingham, where he completed all his schooling, as well as his electrical apprenticeship at the local sugar mills. Dealing with many of his own personal sporting injuries led to an interest in anatomy and helping others. Therefore, after completing his electrical trade, Jeff sought out the challenge to complete his physio degree after being accepted into the inaugural intake of students in the James Cook physio program in 2005. Health issues led to Jeff deferring his degree for a while, but he was able to maintain some of his knowledge by working as an allied health assistant for both the Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy departments at the Cairns Hospital up until his return to uni to re-commence his degree in 2016.

Jeff is qualified in dry needling and enjoys treating all sorts of presentations. In the future, Jeff is looking to broaden his knowledge by undertaking further training in a variety of different areas. Jeff loves to educate his patients about the what, why and how to help them with their understanding of their symptoms.

In his spare time, Jeff likes to spend time with his wife Wendy and daughter Addison who is 5, go fishing and camping when he can, and be the number one sports armchair critic watching cricket or the NRL.

Lleyton Lamont (Physiotherapist)

Lleyton is originally from Mackay and moved to Townsville to complete his Bachelor of Physiotherapy at James Cook University. His interest in physiotherapy stems from his love of sports and interest in anatomy and biomechanics. Lleyton enjoys helping a variety of clients from all walks of life, aiding them to return to the activities and occupations they enjoy. He is also qualified in dry needling and is excited to continue the development of his clinical skills. Outside of work, he enjoys playing soccer and cricket, exploring the outdoors and spending quality time with friends and family.

Lleyton can be found in our Thuringowa clinic.

Yasmin Schuch (Physiotherapist)

Yasmin was born and raised on the Atherton Tablelands before moving to the Gold Coast to commence her physiotherapy degree. She graduated in 2015 from Griffith University and has since worked in musculoskeletal private practice across the Hunter Valley and Gympie.

Yasmin has completed extra training in women’s health, dry needling and Sports Physiotherapy. She enjoys rehabilitating sporting injuries, pre- and post-orthopaedic surgeries and all women’s health-related conditions. Yasmin’s love of health led her to make the big decision to return to full-time study at JCU in 2022.

Outside of work and study, Yasmin enjoys walking along the Ross River with her fiancé Joel, son Ben and two dogs Alfie and Flossy. They hope to explore some of the local camping, waterfalls and walking trails across the region.

Yasmin has joined the PhysioCare team on a part-time basis.