Overview
Background
Roma Forbes is the Deputy Associate Dean (Academic) for Student Experience and Success in the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioual Sciences. A highly experienced APA-titled Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and teaching-focused Associate Professor in Physiotherapy, she brings extensive clinical and academic expertise to her role.
Roma is a Director of the Australian Physiotherapy Council and serves as the National Chair of the Accreditation Committee, overseeing the quality and standards of physiotherapy education and practice. She also represents Australia on the World Physiotherapy Education Committee, contributing to global advancements in physiotherapy and interprofessional education. She serves a number of editorial roles including as an Associate Editor for The Clinical Teacher and Editor for Education for the Archives of Physiotherapy.
With a strong commitment to student success and workforce readiness, Roma leads programs of research exploring work-integrated learning, student transition, and the capabilities needed for a contemporary health workforce. Her work informs both curriculum innovation and policy, focusing on how learning environments, assessment, and educator development can enhance graduate outcomes.
Roma is passionate about fostering a supported, inclusive, and high-performing community of health professional students, educators, and researchers at UQ and beyond. She remains deeply committed to transforming health professional education through evidence-informed leadership, policy, and partnerships that support students from university entry through to graduation and into the workforce.
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
- Associate Professor 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
Roma leads and collaborates with teams across universities and industry sectors to embed innovative patient education models and educator development frameworks into health professional programs in Australia and internationally. Her work focuses on building educator capability and embedding evidence-informed teaching practices across classroom and clinical settings. She also leads national research initiatives to improve access to and quality of work-integrated learning in private practice, identifying systemic barriers and co-designing solutions that strengthen placement capacity, educator support, and student learning outcomes.
Works
Search Professor Roma Forbes’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2025
Book
Patient education essentials for physiotherapy
Forbes, Roma, Pottananikal, Austine, Kitano, Tatiana, Ong, Benjamin and Rynne, Jaide (2025). Patient education essentials for physiotherapy. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/c03a039
2025
Journal Article
Educational interventions to develop and enhance clinical documentation skills in health professional students: a systematic review
Wilesmith, Sarah, Mandrusiak, Allison, Lang, Ray, Martin, Romany, Lu, Andric and Forbes, Roma (2025). Educational interventions to develop and enhance clinical documentation skills in health professional students: a systematic review. The Clinical Teacher, 22 (5) e70157, 1-35. doi: 10.1111/tct.70157
2025
Journal Article
Navigating uncertainty in low back pain care through an ethic of openness: Learnings from a post-critical analysis
Costa, Nathalia, Olson, Rebcca, Dillon, Miriam, Mescouto, Karime, Butler, Prudence, Forbes, Roma and Setchell, Jenny (2025). Navigating uncertainty in low back pain care through an ethic of openness: Learnings from a post-critical analysis. Health, 29 (5), 609-632. doi: 10.1177/13634593241310383
2025
Journal Article
The first steps into physiotherapy: a qualitative exploration of student motivations and early-career intentions as they prepare to enter the workforce
Jones, Abraham H. K. W., Dinsdale, Alana, Mandrusiak, Allison and Forbes, Roma (2025). The first steps into physiotherapy: a qualitative exploration of student motivations and early-career intentions as they prepare to enter the workforce. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 1-17. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2025.2551273
2025
Journal Article
Helpful strategies identified and utilized by physiotherapy students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds during clinical placements in Australia
West-Newman, Stephen, Sale, Martin, Forbes, Roma and Attrill, Stacie (2025). Helpful strategies identified and utilized by physiotherapy students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds during clinical placements in Australia. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 1-17. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2025.2544191
2025
Journal Article
Becoming through simulation‐based learning: Lived experiences of occupational therapy students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Zhang, Luocheng, Forbes, Roma, Patterson, Freyr and Penman, Adriana (2025). Becoming through simulation‐based learning: Lived experiences of occupational therapy students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 72 (4) e70044, 1-15. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.70044
2025
Journal Article
Therapeutic Exercise Effects on Activity, Participation and Quality of Life in Individuals With Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review
Scrase, Sarah, Forbes, Roma, Lindop, Adrienne, Parcher, Adrienne, Rainbird, Louise and Dinsdale, Alana (2025). Therapeutic Exercise Effects on Activity, Participation and Quality of Life in Individuals With Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 52 (10), 1-26. doi: 10.1111/joor.14042
2025
Journal Article
What factors influence the community’s use of physiotherapy services as first-line management for temporomandibular disorders? A qualitative study using the COM-B framework
Dinsdale, Alana, Levine, Joni, O’Leary, Shaun, Delaney, Jaqueline, Read, Jeanne, Vuvan, Susana, Dimitroulis, George, Scanlan, Rory and Forbes, Roma (2025). What factors influence the community’s use of physiotherapy services as first-line management for temporomandibular disorders? A qualitative study using the COM-B framework. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 77 103315, 103315. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2025.103315
2025
Journal Article
The effectiveness of conservative interventions on temporomandibular disorder-related kinesiophobia and pain catastrophizing: a systematic review
Dinsdale, Alana, Atkins, Cara, Golds, Laura, Gough, Addison, Jessen, Kelcie and Forbes, Roma (2025). The effectiveness of conservative interventions on temporomandibular disorder-related kinesiophobia and pain catastrophizing: a systematic review. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 77 103328, 1-18. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2025.103328
2025
Journal Article
Cultural safety in practice: An evaluation of an online learning module series in preparing physiotherapy students for practice
Nelson, Curtley, Mandrusiak, Allison and Forbes, Roma (2025). Cultural safety in practice: An evaluation of an online learning module series in preparing physiotherapy students for practice. First Nations Health and Wellbeing - The Lowitja Journal, 3 100065, 1-19. doi: 10.1016/j.fnhli.2025.100065
2025
Journal Article
The assessment of physiotherapy practice is a robust measure of entry-level physiotherapy standards: reliability and validity evidence from a large, representative sample
Reubenson, Alan, Ng, Leo, Lawton, Vidya, Nahon, Irmina, Terry, Rebecca, Baldwin, Claire, Blackford, Julia, Bond, Alex, Corrigan, Rosemary, Dalton, Megan, Dario, Amabile Borges, Donovan, Michael, Dunwoodie, Ruth, Dwyer, Genevieve M., Forbes, Roma, Francis-Cracknell, Alison, Gill, Janelle, Hams, Andrea, Jones, Anne, Jones, Taryn, Judd, Belinda, Kennedy, Ewan, Morgan, Prue, Palmer, Tanya, Peiris, Casey, Taylor, Carolyn, Virtue, Debra, Zischke, Cherie, Gucciardi, Daniel F. and on behalf of the Physiotherapy Clinical Education Research Collaborative (PCERC) (2025). The assessment of physiotherapy practice is a robust measure of entry-level physiotherapy standards: reliability and validity evidence from a large, representative sample. PLoS One, 20 (4) e0321397, 1-18. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0321397
2025
Conference Publication
The Future of Physiotherapy Education
Forbes, Roma (2025). The Future of Physiotherapy Education. World Physiotherapy Congress, Tokyo, Japan, 29-31 May 2025.
2025
Journal Article
Rethinking clinical placements: a response to changing healthcare demands
Rudland, Joy, Ash, Julie, Barclay, Luke, Bloomfield, Jacqueline, Bogossian, Fiona, Byrne, Kaylenne, Butler, Mary, Chur-Hansen, Anna, Clark, Scott, Edgar, Amanda, Fotheringham, Penelope, Forbes, Roma, Green, Elyce, Haworth, Navine, Hays, Richard, Judd, Belinda, Martin, Priya, Macdiarmid, Rachel, McNally, Clare, McNeill, Liz, McGee, Richard, Needham, Judith, Poole, Phillippa, Raymond, Jacqueline, Ridd, Melissa, Schoo, Adrian, Tran, Michael, Virtue, Debra, Wilkinson, Tim ... Ní Chróinín, Danielle (2025). Rethinking clinical placements: a response to changing healthcare demands. Focus on Health Professional Education: A Multi-Professional Journal, 26 (1), 60-77. doi: 10.11157/fohpe-vol26iss1id782
2025
Journal Article
The impact of physical activity behavior change training for preprofessional health students—a systematic review
Lehman, Emily, Healy, Genevieve N., Forbes, Roma, Phillips, Mia, Gilbert, Casey and Gomersall, Sjaan R. (2025). The impact of physical activity behavior change training for preprofessional health students—a systematic review. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 22 (5), 531-545. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2024-0399
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
2025
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 (2025). Understanding simulation-based learning for health professions students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds: a scoping review. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 30 (4), 1353-1375. doi: 10.1007/s10459-024-10384-6
2025
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 (2025). "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, 41 (3), 617-632. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2024.2355243
2025
Journal Article
Challenging feedback literacy
Forbes, Roma (2025). Challenging feedback literacy. Health Professions Education, 11 (1), 36-37. doi: 10.55890/2452-3011.1316
2025
Journal Article
Supporting allied health students during rural placements: perspectives of students and clinical educators
Martin, Romany, Wilesmith, Sarah, Mandrusiak, Allison, Lu, Andric, Donovan, Michael, Dunwoodie, Ruth and Forbes, Roma (2025). Supporting allied health students during rural placements: perspectives of students and clinical educators. International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning, 26 (2), 203-217.
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor 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
Enhancing new graduate physiotherapist practice of clinical documentation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Allison Mandrusiak
-
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
Exploring the professional boundaries between physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy in Australia
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring new graduate physiotherapists transition to practice and the role of graduate programs
Principal Advisor
-
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
Preparing new graduate physiotherapists to work with First Nations Australians: A cultural safety journey
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Allison Mandrusiak
-
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, Dr Tomomi McAuliffe
-
Master Philosophy
Does an understanding of interprofessional collaboration impact preregistration nursing students¿ readiness to engage in interprofessional education?
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jacqueline Jauncey-Cooke, Associate Professor Peter Lewis
-
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
-
Doctor Philosophy
Belonging in Health Professions Practice Placements
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jessica Hill, Dr Adriana Penman
-
Master Philosophy
Navigating diagnostic uncertainty in physiotherapy practice
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alana Dinsdale
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
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Physical activity behaviour change training for pre-professional health students to support delivery in clinical practice
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Genevieve Healy, Associate Professor Sjaan Gomersall
-
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 Associate Professor 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
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