
Overview
Background
Roma Forbes is the Program Director of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) program at The University of Queensland. She is a highly experienced APA titled musculoskeletal physiotherapist and Senior Teaching-Focused Lecturer. Roma is a Director of the Australian Physiotherapy Council and the national Chair of the Accreditation Committee, and represents Australia on the World Physiotherapy Education Committee. She serves on a number of editorial boards and is an Associate Editor for The Clinical Teacher.
Ensuring health professional students are prepared for a challenging and changing workforce is a global priority. Roma leads programs of research that explore the use of work integrated learning and the readiness of health professional graduates across emerging and challenging aspects of clinical practice and workplace settings. Her work spans local, national, and international efforts, where she leads work-integrated learning and health professional education advocacy and policy.
Roma's current research focuses on teaching and learning in the health professions, with a specific focus on graduate preparedness for clinical practice and outcomes of clinical education. This research uses several approaches to explore graduate, educator, and employer perspectives with a focus on knowledge translation to improve clinical education capacity and outcomes. She has a strong track record of national and international collaborations in patient education training, clinical education capacity, and physiotherapy teaching and learning. Roma is passionate about health professional education research and enhancing graduate readiness for practice and fostering a stronger, more supported community of health professional educators and researchers at UQ and abroad.
Awards and Fellowships
- Advance Higher Education Global Impact Award (2023)
- The University of Queensland Award for Teaching Excellence (2023)
- Association for the Study of Medical Education - Medical Education Developing Scholarship Award (2023)
- Higher Education Academy Senior Fellow (2023)
- Health and Behavioural Sciences Faculty Award for Programs that Enhance Learning (2023)
- Australian Award for University Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2021)
- Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) Fellow (2021)
- The University of Queensland Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2020)
- Flinders University - ANZAHPE Award for Excellence in Health Professional Education (2020)
- Higher Eduction Academy Fellow (2019)
- Health and Behavioural Sciences Faculty Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2019)
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2018)
- Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) Associate Fellow (2018)
Availability
- Dr Roma Forbes is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Bachelor, Auckland University of Technology
- Postgraduate Diploma, Auckland University of Technology
- Masters (Coursework), Auckland University of Technology
- Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Certificate of Languages, Te Wananga o Aotearoa
Research impacts
Dr. Forbes leads and collaborates with teams from various institutions and industry sectors to explore and integrate innovative patient education training and frameworks into health professional programs, both within Australia and internationally. By developing educator-focused frameworks and comprehensive training guidelines, Dr. Forbes ensures that these models are effectively embedded into both clinical and classroom settings across multiple health professions. Additionally, Dr. Forbes leads significant research initiatives focused on identifying the barriers and facilitators to private practice participation in Work Integrated Learning and enhancing the quality of private practice placements.
Works
Search Professor Roma Forbes’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Comparative Self-Evaluation of Patient Education Practice: A Study of Novice and Experienced Physiotherapists
Grbavac, Vedrana, Naletilić, Mladenka, Šimić, Josip and Forbes, Roma (2025). Comparative Self-Evaluation of Patient Education Practice: A Study of Novice and Experienced Physiotherapists. Healthcare, 13 (3) 260, 1-15. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13030260
2025
Journal Article
Culturally safe physiotherapy care: how this looks and feels for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Nelson, Curtley, Forbes, Roma and Mandrusiak, Allison (2025). Culturally safe physiotherapy care: how this looks and feels for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 31 (1), 1. doi: 10.1071/py24137
2024
Journal Article
Early work-integrated learning experiences shaping Australia’s future health workforce
Forbes, Roma, Reinke, Nicole, Paquet-Fifield, Sophie, Masters, Nicole and Kusljic, Snezana (2024). Early work-integrated learning experiences shaping Australia’s future health workforce. Focus on Health Professional Education, 25 (4), 47-48. doi: 10.11157/fohpe.v25i4.819
2024
Journal Article
Telehealth services supporting allied health work-integrated learning: a pilot study
Martin, Romany, Su, Yi-Jen, Neish, Calum, Mandrusiak, Allison, Penman, Adriana, Patterson, Freyr, Booth, Jodie, Hunter, Lucy, Donovan, Michael, Mahendran, Niru, Dunwoodie, Ruth and Forbes, Roma (2024). Telehealth services supporting allied health work-integrated learning: a pilot study. International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning, 24 (4), 649-662.
2024
Journal Article
Understanding the beliefs, motivations and perceived barriers of physiotherapists toward career development and related post-graduate training opportunities: a qualitative study
Dinsdale, Alana, Wilesmith, Sarah, McKeon, Ashleigh, Chan, Chung Ming, Lau Shi Ang, Sean, Lu, Andric and Forbes, Roma (2024). Understanding the beliefs, motivations and perceived barriers of physiotherapists toward career development and related post-graduate training opportunities: a qualitative study. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2024.2433612
2024
Journal Article
Understanding simulation-based learning for health professions students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds: a scoping review
Zhang, Luocheng, Patterson, Freyr, Penman, Adriana and Forbes, Roma (2024). Understanding simulation-based learning for health professions students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds: a scoping review. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 1-23. doi: 10.1007/s10459-024-10384-6
2024
Journal Article
Prescribing exercise therapy for the management of musculoskeletal pain: new-graduate physiotherapists' perceptions and perceived training needs
Leung, Letizia, Mandrusiak, Allison, Martin, Romany, Ma, Tsz Wun and Forbes, Roma (2024). Prescribing exercise therapy for the management of musculoskeletal pain: new-graduate physiotherapists' perceptions and perceived training needs. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 40 (10), 2321-2330. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2023.2242461
2024
Journal Article
How do clinical placements influence the career decisions of new-graduate physiotherapists in Australia? A qualitative exploration
Singh, Lakhvir, Martin, Romany, Mandrusiak, Allison, Phua, Rachel, Al-Hashemy, Hussan and Forbes, Roma (2024). How do clinical placements influence the career decisions of new-graduate physiotherapists in Australia? A qualitative exploration. Health Science Reports, 7 (10) e70132, 1-9. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.70132
2024
Journal Article
Factors associated with patient-reported mouth opening activity limitations in individuals with persistent intra-articular temporomandibular disorders: a cross-sectional study exploring physical and self-reported outcomes
Dinsdale, Alana, Thomas, Lucy, Forbes, Roma and Treleaven, Julia (2024). Factors associated with patient-reported mouth opening activity limitations in individuals with persistent intra-articular temporomandibular disorders: a cross-sectional study exploring physical and self-reported outcomes. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 73 103166, 103166-73. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2024.103166
2024
Journal Article
Impact of a clinical placement on pre-professional health students perceived knowledge, skills, and confidence in the delivery of behaviour change and physical activity support
Lehman, Emily, Healy, Genevieve N., Forbes, Roma, Laroiya, Menakshi and Gomersall, Sjaan R. (2024). Impact of a clinical placement on pre-professional health students perceived knowledge, skills, and confidence in the delivery of behaviour change and physical activity support. Australian Journal of Clinical Education, 13 (1), 134-169. doi: 10.53300/001c.123458
2024
Conference Publication
Management experiences and expectations of individuals seeking care for intra-articular TMDs
Dinsdale, Alana, Forbes, Roma, Thomas, Lucy and Treleaven, Julia (2024). Management experiences and expectations of individuals seeking care for intra-articular TMDs. Australian and New Zealand Academy of Orofacial Pain, Sydney, NSW Australia, 13-14 September 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
More than just opening: myriad of local musculoskeletal impairments associated with temporomandibular disorders
Dinsdale, Alana, Thomas, Lucy, Forbes, Roma and Treleaven, Julia (2024). More than just opening: myriad of local musculoskeletal impairments associated with temporomandibular disorders. Australian and New Zealand Academy of Orofacial Pain, Sydney, NSW Australia, 13-14 September 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Are Portuguese novice physiotherapists prepared for patient education practice in musculoskeletal settings? A qualitative study
Santos, Diogo, Forbes, Roma and Caiero, Carmen (2024). Are Portuguese novice physiotherapists prepared for patient education practice in musculoskeletal settings? A qualitative study. IFOMPT, Basel, Switzerland, 4-6 July 2024.
2024
Journal Article
New-Graduate Physiotherapists’ Reflections on Training Experiences for Clinical Documentation
Wilesmith, Sarah, Forbes, Roma, Martin, Romany and Mandrusiak, Allison (2024). New-Graduate Physiotherapists’ Reflections on Training Experiences for Clinical Documentation. Australian Journal of Clinical Education, 13 (1), 35-54. doi: 10.53300/001c.93941
2024
Journal Article
Physiotherapy students’ perceptions of engagement with people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities during clinical placement
Martin, Romany, Neish, Calum, Su, Yi-Jen, Mandrusiak, Allison, Donovan, Michael, Dunwoodie, Ruth and Forbes, Roma (2024). Physiotherapy students’ perceptions of engagement with people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities during clinical placement. Focus on Health Professional Education, 25 (2), 20-35. doi: 10.11157/fohpe.v25i2.748
2024
Conference Publication
Internationalising health professions education researcher development: a collective approach in two continents
Pearson, Alison, Forbes, Roma, Mattick, Karen and Noble, Christy (2024). Internationalising health professions education researcher development: a collective approach in two continents. Association for the Study of Medical Education Annual Scholarship Conference, Warwick, United Kingdom, 10-12 July 2024.
2024
Journal Article
Supporting health professional students to navigate diagnostic uncertainty in pain
Forbes, Roma, Costa, Nathalia and West-Newman Stephen (2024). Supporting health professional students to navigate diagnostic uncertainty in pain. Health Professions Education, 10 (2) 7, 141-143. doi: 10.55890/2452-3011.1072
2024
Journal Article
Identifying and navigating suspected serious pathologies: new-graduate physiotherapists' perspectives and developmental needs
Phua, Rachel, Mandrusiak, Allison, Singh, Lakhvir, Martin, Romany and Forbes, Roma (2024). Identifying and navigating suspected serious pathologies: new-graduate physiotherapists' perspectives and developmental needs. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 71 102944. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2024.102944
2024
Journal Article
"This patient is not appropriate": Perspectives of physiotherapy students and clinical educators on exposing students to patients with complex needs during clinical practice placements
McGivern, Elaine, Mandrusiak, Allison, Rahmann, Ann and Forbes, Roma (2024). "This patient is not appropriate": Perspectives of physiotherapy students and clinical educators on exposing students to patients with complex needs during clinical practice placements. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 1-16. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2024.2355243
2024
Journal Article
Fluid professional boundaries: ethnographic observations of co-located chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists
Toloui-Wallace, Joshua, Forbes, Roma, Thomson, Oliver P. and Costa, Nathalia (2024). Fluid professional boundaries: ethnographic observations of co-located chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists. BMC Health Services Research, 24 (1) 344, 1-13. doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-10738-1
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Roma Forbes is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Enhancing clinical education capacity within the physiotherapy profession
-
New graduate physiotherapist readiness for practice
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Preparing and supporting recent graduate physiotherapists for the private sector
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Allison Mandrusiak, Dr Alana Dinsdale
-
Doctor Philosophy
The contribution of patient caseload complexity in bridging the gap between student and new graduate physiotherapist
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Allison Mandrusiak
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring and enhancing physiotherapist competency in clinical documentation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Allison Mandrusiak
-
Doctor Philosophy
Preparing the physiotherapy workforce for identifying and managing social determinants of health
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Allison Mandrusiak
-
Doctor Philosophy
Comparing and contrasting the physical therapies.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nathalia Costa
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring new graduate physiotherapists transition to practice and the role of graduate programs
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Educational experience and work readiness of allied health students from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Adriana Penman
-
Doctor Philosophy
Study Strategies in Health Professions Education
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Allison Mandrusiak, Professor Jason Lodge
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the experiences of clinical based learning and transition to clinical practice for physiotherapy students from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background with a view to informing better student, university and clinical placement practices
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Martin Sale
-
Master Philosophy
Navigating diagnostic uncertainty in physiotherapy practice
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alana Dinsdale
-
Master Philosophy
Exploring student and practice educator experiences in feedback processes within clinical learning environments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Adriana Penman
-
Doctor Philosophy
Behaviour Change for Healthy Living - Implementation and evaluation of a health professional delivered physical activity intervention in older adults in a community health service
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Genevieve Healy, Associate Professor Sjaan Gomersall
-
Doctor Philosophy
Behaviour Change for Healthy Living - Implementation and evaluation of a health professional delivered physical activity intervention in older adults in a community health service
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Genevieve Healy, Associate Professor Sjaan Gomersall
Completed supervision
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Preparing and supporting new-graduate physiotherapists for rural practice
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trevor Russell, Associate Professor Allison Mandrusiak
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring disability and management in adults with persistent mechanical temporomandibular disorders
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Julia Treleaven, Dr Lucy Thomas
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Roma Forbes directly for media enquiries about:
- Clinical Education
- Graduate Preparedness
- Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
- Patient Education
- Private Practice
- Readiness for Practice
- Teaching and Learning
- Work Integrated Learning
- Workforce
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: