Our Team
Established in 2013, Movement Matters Physiotherapy for Children consists of its founder and Principal Physiotherapist, John Drysdale, and a team of experienced senior physiotherapists. The team have over 100 years experience in paediatric physiotherapy between them. We have extensive expertise within the areas of children’s developmental physiotherapy and childhood disability.
All staff at Movement Matters Physiotherapy are registered Physiotherapists with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Agency (AHPRA). All staff have Medicare Provider Numbers, enabling access to Medicare Programs.
All staff hold a current Child-Related Employment Screening from the Department of Communities and Social Inclusion (DSCI, SA Government) which indicates our suitability and safety to work with vulnerable people including children.
John Drysdale
DIRECTOR & PRINCIPAL PHYSIOTHERAPIST
John graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy (with Honours) in 1992. Since then, John has acquired expert knowledge in the area of Paediatric Physiotherapy. He has worked in Adelaide at the Women’s and Children’s and Lyell McEwin Hospitals, Novita and Disability Services (formerly IDSC); and in the United Kingdom in a variety of paediatric settings, including hospitals, child development centres, family homes, and schools for children with special needs. Read more
John has comprehensive knowledge and expert physiotherapy skills covering many paediatric conditions such as developmental delay, intellectual disabilities, genetic or chromosomal abnormalities (including Down Syndrome), and physical disabilities (including cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophies). He has travelled extensively and presented at national and international conferences on topics relating to developmental outcomes of premature children. Read less
Chris Innes-Wong
BUSINESS MANAGER & PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Chris is a physiotherapist and the current manager of Movement Matters Physiotherapy. He delivers innovative, energetic, and creative therapy solutions to help children achieve their goals. With extensive experience in rehabilitation and disability across all ages, Chris has particular expertise in neurological recovery, managing movement disorders, and prescribing complex equipment. Read more
He recently completed a Master of Health by Research, investigating innovative rehabilitation approaches for children with acquired brain injury (ABI), and has presented his work at numerous national and international conferences on rehabilitation post-ABI. Chris believes curiosity is key to discovering new ways to motivate and empower the people he works with, enabling them to reach their full potential.
Outside of work, Chris is a dad who loves spending time with his family, surfing, and competitive sport. Having competed at high levels in both tennis and athletics — including making the final of the Stawell Gift — he has a particular passion for helping people find enjoyment in sport and recreation. Read less
Angela Tully
SENIOR PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Ange graduated from University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2003. Ange has worked in the field of children’s disability in public hospitals and community settings (including at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Perth Children’s Hospital and Novita). Read more
She has extensive experience working with a range of disabilities, including cerebral palsy, developmental delay, genetic and chromosomal conditions and neuro-muscular disorders.
Ange uses a family-centred, play-based approach to optimise a child’s movement, learning and development. Read less
Ashley Kimber
SENIOR PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Ashley graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from the University of South Australia in 2019, and since then she has predominantly worked with children in the community disability field. Ashley also works as a primary supervisor at Movement Matters and a paediatric Clinical Educator at Adelaide University. Read more
Ashley is passionate about collaboration, connection, and providing meaningful support to children and their families to achieve high-quality care and best outcomes. Ashley is experienced in working with diverse caseloads, including Cerebral Palsy, Global Developmental Delay, a variety of syndromes, Intellectual Disability, Autism and Acquired Brain Injuries. Ashley has a special interest working with children who have complex physical presentations and integrating equipment to support them towards their functional goals.
Ashley strives to provide care that is neuro and LGBTQI+ affirming. Read less
Bec Fleet
SENIOR PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Bec grew up as Rebecca, but these days she is very happily Bec — partly because it is much easier for little people to say!
Bec graduated from the University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy with Honours in 2002. After spending her early physiotherapy career “doing a bit of everything” across several regions of country South Australia, she found her passion in working with children and their families. Read more
Over more than 20 years as a physiotherapist, Bec has worked across a wide range of paediatric and disability roles. These have included many years with the former Disability SA Child and Youth Services, working as a paediatric physiotherapy clinical educator, contributing to children’s equipment projects, and working as an NDIS Early Childhood Partner with Kudos Services. She also has a long-standing association with Movement Matters Physiotherapy for Children.
Bec has lived and worked in the Gawler, Barossa and outer northern Adelaide regions for many years. She has extensive experience working with children with a wide range of developmental, neurological and genetic conditions, including global developmental delay, cerebral palsy and autism. She is passionate about working collaboratively with families, caregivers, therapists and educators to support children to participate more fully in everyday life.
She believes the best therapy happens through partnership, with children’s goals, interests and strengths at the centre. Bec is experienced in assessing and prescribing assistive technology and enjoys finding practical ways to help children participate more fully in everyday family and community life.
Outside of work, Bec enjoys spending time with her family and pets. In her free time she loves to get out in nature – bush walking in winter and kayaking in summer.
Bec has a passion for aquatic physiotherapy (hydrotherapy) and loves the opportunities water provides for movement, participation and confidence. She especially enjoys helping kids discover just how much fun and challenging moving their bodies in the water can be. Read less
Bec Pontifex
SENIOR PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Bec graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy (Honours) in 1997 and has nearly 30 years of experience working with babies and children across hospitals, private practice, community health, childcare centres, schools, and family homes, both in Australia and overseas. Read more
Bec enjoys providing community-based physiotherapy supports for children with developmental challenges, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, complex medical needs, and movement disorders such as cerebral palsy. She is passionate about helping children develop the skills and confidence to participate in everyday life.
She believes every child achieves the best outcomes when the important people in their life work together. Bec enjoys partnering with families, educators, childcare staff, schools, and other health professionals to provide holistic, child-centred care that supports each child’s development, participation, and wellbeing.
As a qualified Marte Meo Therapist and Trainer Plus, Bec also provides Marte Meo therapy and training. Using this strengths-based approach, she helps parents, caregivers, and professionals recognise each child’s unique strengths and build positive interactions that support learning, development, and strong relationships.
Bec is passionate about helping children reach their potential while empowering the adults around them with practical strategies that make a lasting difference. Read less
Deb Thompson
SENIOR PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Deb provides high quality physiotherapy to support children’s needs and help them do the things that are important to them and their families. Her approach values collaboration with families and other important people in a child’s life. Deb brings many years of experience working with children as a physiotherapist in hospital and community settings. Read more
In addition to her physiotherapy qualifications, she has completed a Master of Rehabilitation Science and is currently undertaking a PhD, researching children’s pain. Deb is also a Marte Meo therapist and colleague trainer under supervision and uses these principles in her practice, to support communication, connection and development.
Deb is highly experienced in orthopaedic physiotherapy for babies and children of all ages. She is skilled at casting and splinting for orthopaedic and neurological conditions, and integrates this into overall management to meet the child’s goals. Deb also has extensive experience designing rehabilitation programs to help children with conditions affecting their bones, joints and muscles to improve movement, strength and confidence. She also provides community physiotherapy services for children with disabilities, helping them to achieve their goals and participate in their communities. Read less
Jamila Ansaar
SENIOR PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Jamila graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from the University of South Australia in 2014. She has over 10 years experience as a paediatric physiotherapist at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
Jamila has a special interest in paediatric orthopaedics and hydrotherapy. With a background in ballet, movement and exercise form the foundation of her practice. Working with children, she enjoys using play to promote exercises that help children to achieve their goals in an enjoyable way. Read more
Her work in orthopaedics means she is experienced in treating children with conditions affecting their bones, muscles and joints. She uses serial casting and splinting as part of her treatment approach. Read less
Jane Burton
SENIOR PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Jane graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from The University of South Australia in 2005. Since graduating, she has worked in Pediatric Physiotherapy at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Queensland Health and within the community and private settings in South Australia. Read more
Jane has a special interest in working with children with neurodevelopmental delay in both a land and hydrotherapy environment. She currently combines her time between Movement Matters and as a Clinical Educator at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Read less
Marguerite Neate
SENIOR PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Marguerite graduated from the University of South Australia in 1998 with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy. Since graduating Marguerite has worked in Paediatric Physiotherapy at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, in private practice and in community settings. Read more
Marguerite has extensive experience in the area of Neurodevelopmental Physiotherapy particularly in pre school and school aged children with low muscle tone, coordination difficulties, Developmental Coordination Disorder, Autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and developmental delays as well as other conditions. Marguerite has a passion for assisting children with coordination difficulties to build their skill level and optimise their potential to be more at the level of their peers.
Marguerite worked as the Senior Physiotherapist in the Minimal Motor Dysfunction Unit gross motor group program at the WCH for over 10 years. This comprehensive service included initial assessment followed by intervention in specific skill based learning in small groups in the community.
Marguerite has a special interest in and 15 years experience working in aquatic physiotherapy using buoyancy and resistance of the water for facilitation and enjoyment of movement, muscle strengthening, balance, coordination and confidence. Read less
Terri Wilkinson
PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Terri graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) from the University of South Australia. She began her career working rurally, gaining experience across inpatient and outpatient adult settings, as well as community paediatrics. Read more
She has an interest in hydrotherapy and enjoys working with children with a variety of conditions, finding joy in helping them achieve their best outcomes through functional play and activities, both in the pool and land-based sessions. Read less
Geraldine Riley
PHYSIOTHERAPY ASSISTANT
Geraldine has been a Physio Assistant since 1992, joining Movement Matters Physiotherapy for Children in 2017. She assists with running movement groups, serial casting and hydrotherapy classes. Her passion is assisting children to make their rehabilitation fun and successful, dividing her time between Movement Matters Physiotherapy for Children and the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Rehabilitation Unit.
Monica Roach
ADMINISTRATION OFFICER
Mon joined Movement Matters Physiotherapy for Children in mid 2016, and provides integral support to the physiotherapists in their roles. Mon has first-hand lived experience as parent of a child with a disability. She also inputs into various disability-related consumer groups.
Biji Mathew
OPERATIONS & ACCOUNTS COORDINATOR
Biji supports the smooth operations at Movement Matters Physiotherapy for Children through effective administration, client coordination, and accounts support. She works closely with families and the physiotherapy team to assist with appointment coordination, communication, and operational processes. Read more
Biji is passionate about providing organised and efficient support to ensure a positive experience for clients, families, and the wider team. Read less