Meet the Team

Paul Ryan

B. Phty (UQ), Grad Dip Manipulative Therapy (SA)

Paul is an owner and Director of Paul Ryan Physiotherapy. He has almost 4 decades of physiotherapy experience, having graduated from the UQ in 1982. Paul completed his Graduate Diploma in Manipulative Therapy in Adelaide in 1987.

Paul and his wife Meegan, also a physiotherapist, established a practice in Hervey Bay in 1983.

Paul is a skilled manipulative therapist and hands-on clinician. He has an active interest in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of all musculoskeletal conditions, with a particular interest in spinal pain and dysfunction, and cervicogenic headache. Paul also has extensive experience in workplace rehabilitation and occupational health

Ayley Smith

B. Phty (Hons first class CQU)

Ayley graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from CQU in 2022. Ayley has worked in private practice and hospital settings, gaining a broad range of experience in musculoskeletal, neurological, paediatric and vestibular physiotherapy. As a keen sportsperson, she enjoys treating all manner of sporting injuries and musculoskeletal conditions. More recently, Ayley has gained experience in occupational rehab and completed training in pre-employment functional assessments. Ayley has a special interest in vestibular physiotherapy and recently completed additional training in this area. Ayley looks forward to providing her clients with the best of care, while progressing and honing her skills in all aspects of physiotherapy.

Jess Clarkson

Physiotherapist

Jess holds a bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy (Hons) from ACU in Brisbane. She has a special interest in neurological, cardiorespiratory, and orthopaedic conditions. As a keen distance runner, Jess brings added insight to endurance training, injury prevention, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions. Offering her clients a broad range of therapeutic skills, including hydrotherapy, Jess aims to provide tailored, evidence-based care to support recovery and improve quality of life. Her goal is to help clients achieve knowledge and independence with self-management skills to facilitate meaningful, lasting results.

Jake Griffin

Physiotherapist

Jake holds a Bachelor of Physiotherapy with First Class Honours from ACU in Brisbane. He has a special interest in post-operative orthopaedic rehabilitation and tailored exercise prescription for all manner of musculoskeletal conditions. He has completed additional training in pre-employment assessments and remains committed to ongoing professional development to deliver holistic, patient-centred care. Jake strives to provide his clients with the skills required to promote optimal recovery and long-term functional outcomes.  

Nicolò Marrone

Physiotherapist

Nicolò has been practicing as a physiotherapist since 2015 where he worked in his own private studio in Italy. Nicolò embraces a ‘hands-on’ approach to treatment and has completed a number of post-graduate studies (Maitland method, Sahrmann Method about DSM and Fascial Osteopathic Manual Therapy by Marcel Bienfait’s School) focusing on musculoskeletal manual therapy. Nicolò enjoys treating a broad range of musculoskeletal injuries, however, has an interest in lumbar spine, cervical spine and shoulder injuries.

In 2016, Nicolò also completed a Masters in Aquatic Physiotherapy at the University of Pisa to become a specialised Aquatic Physiotherapist. He is one of the seventeen Italian physiotherapist founding members of the IAP (Italian Aquatic Physiotherapy) known as the Italian NIS (Specific Interested Network) in Aquatic Physiotherapy. Nicolò’s love for the water stems from his many hours swimming as a professional swimmer and believes the water is a wonderful modality for therapy.

Furthermore, Nicolò is a certified Pilates Teacher and practices following Anna Maria Cova’s method.

Brodie Dionysius

Accredited Exercise Physiologist / Diabetes Educator

BCLinExPhysio (USC) / GradCertDiabEdM (JCU)

Brodie graduated as an Accredited Exercise Physiologist from the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2021. Since graduating, Brodie has worked primarily in private practice, gaining extensive experience in chronic disease management across a broad range of conditions, including musculoskeletal and neurological disorders, metabolic, oncology, and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. Brodie is an accredited pulmonary rehabilitation clinician with Lung Foundation Australia and, in 2024, completed postgraduate studies and specialisation in diabetes education and management through James Cook University.

Samara Lau

Exercise Physiologist - Starting soon

Samara is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist at Paul Ryan Physiotherapy, bringing extensive experience across rural healthcare, disability services, high‑performance sport, and paediatric exercise therapy. She is committed to delivering evidence‑based, patient‑centred care, with a strong focus on improving functional capacity, long‑term health outcomes, and overall quality of life.

Samara is passionate about working collaboratively with clients of all ages and abilities, to help them achieve meaningful and sustainable improvements in their health and wellbeing.

Outside of her clinical work, Samara enjoys maintaining an active lifestyle, exploring new environments, and connecting with the community. She also has a particular fondness for cows—her favourite animal—and looks forward to discovering everything the Fraser Coast region has to offer.

Megan Mulholland

Allied Health Assistant

Megan is a qualified Allied Health Assistant with a Diploma in Health Science and additional training in Drug and Alcohol Studies. She’s currently in her third year of Physiotherapy at CQUniversity and loves putting her growing skills into practice. Working under the guidance of Allied Health Professionals, Megan supports therapy sessions, helps implement treatment plans, and enjoys assisting clients in developing their communication, motor, and functional skills. She has a special interest in Paediatrics, Neurological rehabilitation, and Women’s Health, and is excited to continue building her experience in these areas. Outside the clinic, you’ll often find Megan at Pilates or relaxing by the beach. She’s passionate about providing caring, supportive, and high‑quality assistance to every client she works with.