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Associate Professor Emma Beckman
Associate Professor

Emma Beckman

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 67904
Mobile: 
0431807573

Overview

Background

Dr Emma Beckman is a Teaching and Research academic at the University of Queensland. Emma is passionate about engaging in research to improve the lives of people with a disability through sports, physical activity, and exercise. Following a master’s degree in Adapted physical activity, Emma completed her PhD in strength assessment for classification in Para Sport. She is currently a co-investigator in the UQ IPC Classification Research Partnership, and an internationally accredited classifier in Para Athletics.

Through her Para Sport research, Dr Beckman has seen the power of collaborative care and is committed to research that uses collaborative care models to improve health outcomes. She has undertaken projects to evaluate the impact of interprofessional education and practice on students, educators and clients and has adapted this work for different populations, including people with disabilities and university students with mental health issues.

Availability

Associate Professor Emma Beckman is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Applied Science, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Paralympics

  • Disability sports

  • Classification

  • Exercise physiology

Research impacts

Dr Beckman has strong connections to the sports science industry through her research, particularly in translation of her research into rules and regulations that impact on para athletes worldwide. On the basis of research conducted by Dr Beckman and her team, the International Paralympic Committee has updated or introduced rules related to Maximal Allowable Standing Height in bilateral lower limb amputees, and the procedures and process related to classification of athletes with eligible impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis in athletics. Dr Beckman has acted as an expert for World Athletics in legal proceedings for the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS), demonstrating the impact of her research in practice.

Works

Search Professor Emma Beckman’s works on UQ eSpace

98 works between 2008 and 2024

1 - 20 of 98 works

2024

Conference Publication

Development of a support needs assessment tool for people with disability wanting to participate in sport and exercise

Hill, J., Fleming, J., Beckman, E., Tweedy, S., Trost, S., Dutia, I., Clanchy, K. and Gomersall, S. (2024). Development of a support needs assessment tool for people with disability wanting to participate in sport and exercise. 2024 SMA & ACSEP Conference, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 16-19 October 2024. Chatswood, NSW, Australia: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2024.08.105

Development of a support needs assessment tool for people with disability wanting to participate in sport and exercise

2024

Journal Article

Comparison of pelvic floor morphometry in supine and standing in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse: A cross-sectional exploratory study

Forner, Lori B., Cyr, Marie-Pierre, Beckman, Emma M., Hodges, Paul W. and Smith, Michelle D. (2024). Comparison of pelvic floor morphometry in supine and standing in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse: A cross-sectional exploratory study. Continence, 12 101708, 101708. doi: 10.1016/j.cont.2024.101708

Comparison of pelvic floor morphometry in supine and standing in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse: A cross-sectional exploratory study

2024

Journal Article

Single case experimental design: a rigorous method for addressing inequity and enhancing precision within Para sport and exercise medicine research

Tweedy, Sean, Dutia, Iain Mayank, Cairney, John and Beckman, Emma (2024). Single case experimental design: a rigorous method for addressing inequity and enhancing precision within Para sport and exercise medicine research. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 58 (21) bjsports-2024-108587, bjsports-2024. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2024-108587

Single case experimental design: a rigorous method for addressing inequity and enhancing precision within Para sport and exercise medicine research

2024

Journal Article

The influence of water and air temperature on elite wheelchair triathlon performance

Borg, David N, Gibson, Alexander D, Bach, Aaron Je, Beckman, Emma M, Tweedy, Sean M and Stewart, Ian B (2024). The influence of water and air temperature on elite wheelchair triathlon performance. Temperature, 11 (4), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/23328940.2024.2391170

The influence of water and air temperature on elite wheelchair triathlon performance

2024

Journal Article

Perceptions and beliefs of community-based fitness professionals working with people with disability: a qualitative study

Hill, Jessica, Gaukroger, Kate, Gomersall, Sjaan, Tweedy, Sean, Gullo, Hannah and Beckman, Emma (2024). Perceptions and beliefs of community-based fitness professionals working with people with disability: a qualitative study. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-8. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2375062

Perceptions and beliefs of community-based fitness professionals working with people with disability: a qualitative study

2024

Journal Article

Data from four consecutive cohorts of students in Australia (2019-2022) show the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic and international university students' mental health

Dingle, Genevieve A., Han, Rong, Alhadad, Sakinah S. J., Beckman, Emma, Bentley, Sarah V., Gomersall, Sjaan R., Hides, Leanne, Maccallum, Fiona, McKimmie, Blake M., Rossa, Kalina, Smith, Simon S., Walter, Zoe C., Williams, Elyse and Wright, Olivia (2024). Data from four consecutive cohorts of students in Australia (2019-2022) show the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic and international university students' mental health. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 58 (6), 528-536. doi: 10.1177/00048674241233111

Data from four consecutive cohorts of students in Australia (2019-2022) show the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic and international university students' mental health

2024

Journal Article

Effectiveness of physical activity interventions on undergraduate students' mental health: systematic review and meta-analysis

Huang, Kevin, Beckman, Emma M., Ng, Norman, Dingle, Genevieve A., Han, Rong, James, Kari, Winkler, Elisabeth, Stylianou, Michalis and Gomersall, Sjaan R. (2024). Effectiveness of physical activity interventions on undergraduate students' mental health: systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Promotion International, 39 (3) ARTN daae054. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daae054

Effectiveness of physical activity interventions on undergraduate students' mental health: systematic review and meta-analysis

2024

Journal Article

The power of Para sport: the effect of performance-focused swimming training on motor function in adolescents with cerebral palsy and high support needs (GMFCS IV) – a single-case experimental design with 30-month follow-up

Dutia, Iain Mayank, Connick, Mark, Beckman, Emma, Johnston, Leanne, Wilson, Paula, Macaro, Angelo, O'Sullivan, Jennifer and Tweedy, Sean (2024). The power of Para sport: the effect of performance-focused swimming training on motor function in adolescents with cerebral palsy and high support needs (GMFCS IV) – a single-case experimental design with 30-month follow-up. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 58 (14) bjsports-2023-107689, bjsports-2023. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2023-107689

The power of Para sport: the effect of performance-focused swimming training on motor function in adolescents with cerebral palsy and high support needs (GMFCS IV) – a single-case experimental design with 30-month follow-up

2024

Journal Article

Seasonal Muscular Power Changes: Considerations of Concurrent Resistance and Field-Based Training in Professional Rugby League

Redman, Kellyanne J., Wade, Logan, Whitley, Ryan, Connick, Mark J., Kelly, Vincent G. and Beckman, Emma M. (2024). Seasonal Muscular Power Changes: Considerations of Concurrent Resistance and Field-Based Training in Professional Rugby League. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 38 (9), 1620-1626. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004842

Seasonal Muscular Power Changes: Considerations of Concurrent Resistance and Field-Based Training in Professional Rugby League

2024

Journal Article

Evaluating the Validity of Tests to Predict Sprint and Change of Direction Speed in Para-Athletes With Brain Impairments

Reina, Raul, Beckman, Emma M., Connick, Mark J., Spathis, Jemima G. and Tweedy, Sean M. (2024). Evaluating the Validity of Tests to Predict Sprint and Change of Direction Speed in Para-Athletes With Brain Impairments. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 41 (4), 1-18. doi: 10.1123/apaq.2023-0197

Evaluating the Validity of Tests to Predict Sprint and Change of Direction Speed in Para-Athletes With Brain Impairments

2023

Other Outputs

Compiled dataset of “effectiveness of physical activity interventions on undergraduate university students’ mental health and wellbeing” project

Huang, Kevin, Gomersall, Sjaan, Dingle, Genevieve, Beckman, Emma and Ng, Norman (2023). Compiled dataset of “effectiveness of physical activity interventions on undergraduate university students’ mental health and wellbeing” project. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/9a49618

Compiled dataset of “effectiveness of physical activity interventions on undergraduate university students’ mental health and wellbeing” project

2023

Other Outputs

Design of the Athletics Australia First Nations Community Impact Framework

Wheeler, Kai, Hall, Emily, Griffiths, Kealey, Boyd-Ford, Stella, Carle, Maleah, Richard, Veronique, Beckman, Emma and Cairney, John (2023). Design of the Athletics Australia First Nations Community Impact Framework. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.

Design of the Athletics Australia First Nations Community Impact Framework

2023

Journal Article

Sprinting with bilateral transtibial running-specific prostheses versus biological limbs – are they comparable? Comments on Beck et al . (2022)

Connick, M. J., Beckman, E. M. and Tweedy, S. M. (2023). Sprinting with bilateral transtibial running-specific prostheses versus biological limbs – are they comparable? Comments on Beck et al . (2022). Royal Society Open Science, 10 (9) 230086. doi: 10.1098/rsos.230086

Sprinting with bilateral transtibial running-specific prostheses versus biological limbs – are they comparable? Comments on Beck et al . (2022)

2023

Journal Article

Reactive strength index as a key performance indicator in different athlete populations – a systematic review

Southey, B., Willshire, M., Connick, M.J., Austin, D., Spits, D. and Beckman, E. (2023). Reactive strength index as a key performance indicator in different athlete populations – a systematic review. Science and Sports, 39 (2), 129-143. doi: 10.1016/j.scispo.2023.01.004

Reactive strength index as a key performance indicator in different athlete populations – a systematic review

2023

Journal Article

Determining Interday & Intraday Reliability of the 10/5 Repeated Jump Test in Elite Australian Footballers

Southey, Benjamin, Connick, Mark, Spits, Dirk, Austin, Damien and Beckman, Emma (2023). Determining Interday & Intraday Reliability of the 10/5 Repeated Jump Test in Elite Australian Footballers. International Journal of Strength and Conditioning, 3 (1). doi: 10.47206/ijsc.v3i1.181

Determining Interday & Intraday Reliability of the 10/5 Repeated Jump Test in Elite Australian Footballers

2023

Other Outputs

Sharper Minds 2022 Report

Dingle, G., Williams, E., Alhadad, S. S. J., Beckman, E., Bentley, S., Fooken, J., Gomersall, S. R., Hides, L., Ludlow, T., Maccallum, F., McKimmie, B.M., Rossa, K., Smith, S. S., Walter, Z.C and Wright, O. (2023). Sharper Minds 2022 Report.

Sharper Minds 2022 Report

2023

Journal Article

Behavioural outcomes of interprofessional education within clinical settings for health professional students: a systematic literature review

Mattiazzi, Sonya, Cottrell, Neil, Ng, Norman and Beckman, Emma (2023). Behavioural outcomes of interprofessional education within clinical settings for health professional students: a systematic literature review. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 38 (2), 1-14. doi: 10.1080/13561820.2023.2170994

Behavioural outcomes of interprofessional education within clinical settings for health professional students: a systematic literature review

2022

Journal Article

The impact of interprofessional education interventions in health professional student clinical training: a systematic review

Mattiazzi, Sonya, Cottrell, Neil, Ng, Norman and Beckman, Emma (2022). The impact of interprofessional education interventions in health professional student clinical training: a systematic review. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, 30 100596, 100596. doi: 10.1016/j.xjep.2022.100596

The impact of interprofessional education interventions in health professional student clinical training: a systematic review

2022

Journal Article

Time cost associated with sports participation for athletes with high support needs: a time-motion analysis of tasks required for para swimming

Dutia, Iain, Curran, Declan, Donohoe, Adam, Beckman, Emma and Tweedy, Sean Michael (2022). Time cost associated with sports participation for athletes with high support needs: a time-motion analysis of tasks required for para swimming. BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine, 8 (4) 001418, 1-7. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2022-001418

Time cost associated with sports participation for athletes with high support needs: a time-motion analysis of tasks required for para swimming

2022

Journal Article

Altered countermovement jump force profile and muscle‐tendon unit kinematics following combined ballistic training

Hoffman, Ben W., Raiteri, Brent J., Connick, Mark J., Beckman, Emma M., Macaro, Angelo, Kelly, Vincent G. and James, Lachlan P. (2022). Altered countermovement jump force profile and muscle‐tendon unit kinematics following combined ballistic training. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 32 (10), 1464-1476. doi: 10.1111/sms.14211

Altered countermovement jump force profile and muscle‐tendon unit kinematics following combined ballistic training

Funding

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2027
    Quantum Concussion Diagnostics
    Queensland Government Department of Environment, Science and Innovation
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2027
    Quantum-Enabled Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging for High-Performance Sport
    Queensland Government Department of Environment, Science and Innovation
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    AI-Empowered and Video-Based uplift of Paralympic classification systems (AQIRP project administered by Follow Me AI)
    Follow Me AI Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    Implementation and scale-up of a consumer co-designed physical activity promotion program for people with moderate-to-profound disabilities
    NHMRC MRFF PPHR - Effective Treatments and Therapies
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024
    The safety, feasibility and acceptability of a performance focused sports training program for previously able-bodied athletes with recently acquired spinal cord injuries
    Queensland Academy of Sport
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    Design of a First Nations Community Impact Framework for Athletics Australia
    Athletics Australia
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    Transforming the World Para Swimming Classification System with sEMG.
    Manchester Metropolitan University
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    The Impact of Structured Interprofessional Education (IPE) Clinical Placements on Student Interprofessional Collaborative Behaviour
    ACEN Research Grants
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Understanding the effects of heavy weightlifting on pelvic organ support in vaginally parous premenopausal women: a cross-sectional study
    Physiotherapy Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    An international, interprofessional evaluation of the experiences and needs of health professional students and educators in the online teaching and learning of clinical skills
    U21 Health Sciences Group Research Development Fund
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Classification in wheelchair tennis
    Loughborough University
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Classification of runners with hypertonia, axtaxia or athetosis - improving the current system and evaluation of new methods
    International Paralympic Committee
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Towards evidence-based classification for sprinters with neurological impairment in World Para Athletics
    Exercise and Sports Science Australia Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Towards evidence-based classification in paralympic sport - developing an international standard for trunk impairment assessment
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Does a high-volume, performance-focused swimming program elicit meaningful, therapeutic change in people with cerebral palsy? A proof-of-concept study
    Swimming Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2022
    A longitudinal intervention study evaluating physical and psychosocial responses to performance focused sports training for people with moderate-to-severe cerebral palsy
    Queensland Academy of Sport
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2020
    Does a high-volume, performance-focused swimming program elicit meaningful, therapeutic change in people with cerebral palsy? A proof-of-concept study
    Australian Paralympic Committee
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Improving reliability and validity of current classification methods in classes FT5-FT8 and t35-T38
    The Agitos Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Examination of intervention effectiveness - ICC East Asia Pacific: Pacific Sport Partnership (Fiji and Papua New Guinea)
    International Cricket Council FZ LLC
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2021
    IPC Classification Research and Development Centre
    International Paralympic Committee
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Evaluation of the impact of neuromusculoskeletal impairment on running performance in Kenyan Athletes
    International Paralympic Committee
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Towards evidence-based classification in Paralympic Athletics: Assessment of muscle strength impairment in athletes with Cerebral Palsy
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Emma Beckman is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Neurophysiological measurements in Paralympic Sport Classification

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy, Professor Timothy Carroll

  • Doctor Philosophy

    An Investigation into the Practical Application of a Novel Measure of Reactive Strength: The Reactive Quality Ratio

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Impact of Environmental Factors on the Distribution of Talent Hotspots within Queensland Olympic and Paralympic Populations.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The impact of Interprofessional Practice Initiatives on Graduate Attributes and Outcomes

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Neil Cottrell

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The impact of Interprofessional Practice Initiatives on Graduate Attributes and Outcomes

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Neil Cottrell

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Implementation and scale-up of ParaSTART, a performance focused sports training and applied research program for people with high support needs disabilities.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Developing a Motor Assessment Tool that is Feasible for Autistic Children with High Support Needs

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy, Professor John Cairney

  • Doctor Philosophy

    an evaluation of the impact of performance focused sports training on clinical outcomes in individuals with high support needs

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Towards better understanding of pelvic organ support in women who engage in recreational exercise: The effects of heavy lifting on the pelvic floor

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Paul Hodges, Dr Marie-Pierre Cyr, Associate Professor Michelle Smith

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Physical and Psychosocial Responses of Adolescents with Moderateto- Severe Cerebral Palsy to a Performance-Focused Frame Running Program

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Towards better understanding of pelvic organ support in women who engage in recreational exercise: The effects of heavy lifting on the female pelvic floor

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Paul Hodges, Dr Marie-Pierre Cyr, Associate Professor Michelle Smith

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development and Evaluation of Medical Screening and Management Procedures for People with Disabilities and High Support Needs Commencing Competitive Sport

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Fit4Study: A physical activity program to support mental well-being in university students

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Genevieve Dingle, Associate Professor Sjaan Gomersall

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Emma Beckman directly for media enquiries about:

  • disability sport
  • Paralympics

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au