Locally Owned and Operated
Occupational Therapists at Physio Plus
Tori Smith
Tori completed her Bachelors degree in Occupational Therapy at the Australian Catholic University in Brisbane. She has gained experience working with children and young people within a number of different therapy settings including early intervention programs, hospitals and therapy workshops focusing on developing independence in life skills and improving bilateral upper limb function.
Tori has grown up in Ballina and always wanted to establish herself as an Occupational Therapist in the local area. Outside of work, Tori enjoys stand up paddle boarding, playing soccer and spending time with her family.
Karin du Plessis
Karin is a registered Occupational Therapist with post graduate training in Pain Management through the University of Sydney (Pain Management Research Institute). She has over 20 years’ experience in the rehabilitation and treatment of people with persistent pain.
Karin uses a whole person approach to help people manage their pain. Her aim is always to reduce the impact that the pain has on someone’s life, to alleviate the distress and suffering associated with persistent pain and to improve their engagement in living life to the full.
Dannielle Andrews
Dannielle is an Occupational Therapist with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy from Southern Cross University on the Gold Coast. Her main focus is to help people by breaking down the barriers that the world and life can put on a person influencing their choices, activities of daily living function and involvement in their community. She believes that maintaining a holistic client-centred collaborative approach is important to provide the best individualised practice to each client to reach their full potential to maximise a person’s independence and enhance their overall quality of life on a daily basis.
An influential part of this involves utilising effective communication skills between contacting clients, their families, their case managers or coordinators and other health practitioners associated with their care in a timely and efficient manner to ensure client goals are being achieved.
Dannielle has worked collaboratively from a client-focused family orientated approach with a variety of conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), mild to moderate intellectual disabilities and developmental delays. This included the implementation of individualised learning plans to evaluate improvement in alertness, attention, problem-solving, social skills, self-regulation, identification of moods/emotions and behaviours to improve self-regulation of emotions/feelings.
She has proficiency in completing clear succinct reports to assist with effective transparent communication in regards to equipment prescriptions, assistive technology prescriptions and Functional Capacity Assessment and Progress Reports for NDIS Reviews.
Zoe Hansen
Zoe completed a Bachelor’s degree at the University of the Sunshine Coast, graduating with Honours in 2025. She values a holistic approach to therapy, considering the whole child and their family’s needs to ensure support is meaningful, collaborative, and effective across everyday environments. Zoe enjoys building connections with children and families, making sessions fun, purposeful, and tailored to each child’s individual strengths and goals.
Zoe values supporting children and their families to develop confidence, independence in meaningful skills through engaging and evidence-based therapy.
Outside of work, Zoe enjoys Pilates and boxing, spending time at the beach or relaxing with a good book.
Nic Pennisi
Nic completed his Bachelors degree in Occupational Therapy at Southern Cross University on the Gold Coast, graduating in 2025.
Nic is a recent graduate that is passionate about early intervention. He believes in a fun and collaborative approach to supporting kids to thrive at school, home and in the community. Nic gained experience working in a range of schools in the area as an allied health assistant. He grew up in the Northern Rivers and is excited to support the next generation in his local community.
Outside of work, Nic enjoys playing golf and rugby union, spending time with family and friends, and caring for his animals
At Physio Plus You’re in the Right Hands