![Dr Roma Forbes](/sites/default/files/profiles/16059.jpeg)
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
2022
Journal Article
A qualitative exploration of the factors which influence rural nursing and midwifery placement experience: nenefits and challenges identified by students and health service staff
Walker, Clara, Forbes, Roma, Osborn, Dayle, Lewis, Peter A., Turner, Emma and Beyer, Kate (2022). A qualitative exploration of the factors which influence rural nursing and midwifery placement experience: nenefits and challenges identified by students and health service staff. Australian Journal of Clinical Education, 11 (1), 29-40. doi: 10.53300/001c.33149
2022
Journal Article
Diagnostic uncertainty in musculoskeletal pain: Implications for physiotherapy education
Forbes, Roma and Toloui-Wallace, Joshua (2022). Diagnostic uncertainty in musculoskeletal pain: Implications for physiotherapy education. OpenPhysio Journal. doi: 10.14426/opj/a20220202
2022
Journal Article
A survey of patient education practices and perceptions of physiotherapists: a mixed methods study
Snook, Abigail Grover, Arnadottir, Solveig A. and Forbes, Roma (2022). A survey of patient education practices and perceptions of physiotherapists: a mixed methods study. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 39 (4), 1-13. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2022.2025966
2022
Journal Article
Weighing up the benefits and challenges of hosting physiotherapy student placements in private practice; a qualitative exploration
Forbes, Roma, Dinsdale, Alana, Dunwoodie, Ruth, Birch, Stephen and Brauer, Sandra (2022). Weighing up the benefits and challenges of hosting physiotherapy student placements in private practice; a qualitative exploration. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 38 (6), 794-804. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2020.1799461
2021
Journal Article
Professional development needs and decision-making of new graduate physiotherapists within Australian private practice settings
Zou, Yixin, Almond, Allexandra and Forbes, Roma (2021). Professional development needs and decision-making of new graduate physiotherapists within Australian private practice settings. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 39 (2), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2021.2007559
2021
Other Outputs
Private practice Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities for health professional students: Increasing capacity for educational quality and equity
Forbes, Roma (2021). Private practice Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities for health professional students: Increasing capacity for educational quality and equity. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2021
Journal Article
Physiotherapy student clinical placements in Australian private practice: patient‐reported outcomes with supervised student care
Chia, Ruo Xin, Gomersall, Sjaan R., Fooken, Jonas, Birch, Stephen, Dinsdale, Alana, Dunwoodie, Ruth and Forbes, Roma (2021). Physiotherapy student clinical placements in Australian private practice: patient‐reported outcomes with supervised student care. Physiotherapy Research International, 27 (1) e1929, 1-9. doi: 10.1002/pri.1929
2021
Journal Article
Competencies for entry-level rural and remote physiotherapy practice: a Delphi approach
Martin, Romany, Mandrusiak, Allison, Lu, Andric and Forbes, Roma (2021). Competencies for entry-level rural and remote physiotherapy practice: a Delphi approach. Rural and Remote Health, 21 (4) 6471, 6471. doi: 10.22605/rrh6471
2021
Other Outputs
An international, interprofessional evaluation of the experiences and needs of health professional students and educators in the online teaching and learning of clinical skill
Forbes, Roma (2021). An international, interprofessional evaluation of the experiences and needs of health professional students and educators in the online teaching and learning of clinical skill. Melbourne, VIC Australia: Universitas 21.
2021
Journal Article
The management experiences, needs and preferences of individuals seeking care for persistent intra‐articular temporomandibular disorders: a qualitative study
Dinsdale, Alana, Forbes, Roma, Thomas, Lucy and Treleaven, Julia (2021). The management experiences, needs and preferences of individuals seeking care for persistent intra‐articular temporomandibular disorders: a qualitative study. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 49 (1), 10-21. doi: 10.1111/joor.13267
2021
Journal Article
Effectiveness of patient education training on health professional student performance: a systematic review
Forbes, Roma, Clasper, Bennita, Ilango, Anusha, Kan, Haeley, Peng, Julia and Mandrusiak, Allison (2021). Effectiveness of patient education training on health professional student performance: a systematic review. Patient Education and Counseling, 104 (10), 2453-2466. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2021.02.039
2021
Journal Article
“What if it doesn't unlock?”: a qualitative study into the lived experiences of adults with persistent intra-articular temporomandibular disorders
Dinsdale, Alana, Forbes, Roma, Thomas, Lucy and Treleaven, Julia (2021). “What if it doesn't unlock?”: a qualitative study into the lived experiences of adults with persistent intra-articular temporomandibular disorders. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 54 102401, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2021.102401
2021
Journal Article
New-graduate physiotherapists' training needs and readiness for telehealth
Martin, Romany, Mandrusiak, Allison, Russell, Trevor and Forbes, Roma (2021). New-graduate physiotherapists' training needs and readiness for telehealth. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 38 (13), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2021.1955423
2021
Conference Publication
Allied health student and educator experiences of teaching and learning clinical skills online in response to COVID-19
Forbes, Roma , Martin, Romany, Patterson, Freyr, Hill, Anne, Hoyle, Melanie, Penman, Adriana, Leung, Letizia, Smith, Sage and Mandrusiak, Allison (2021). Allied health student and educator experiences of teaching and learning clinical skills online in response to COVID-19. QLD Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) Showcasing Research and Scholarship in Teaching and Learning, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 15 July 2021.
2021
Journal Article
Descriptions of learning and teaching innovations; using project-based learning to support clinical education
Forbes, Roma (2021). Descriptions of learning and teaching innovations; using project-based learning to support clinical education. Australian Journal of Clinical Education, 9 (1), 30-35. doi: 10.53300/001c.25453
2021
Conference Publication
Patient-centred education in healthcare practice
Forbes, Roma (2021). Patient-centred education in healthcare practice . Caring and Sharing International Conference of Medical Humanities, Lisbon, Portugal , 24-26 June 2021.
2021
Conference Publication
New-graduate physiotherapists working in rural Queensland.
Lu, Andric, Martin, Romany , Mandrusiak, Allison and Forbes, Roma (2021). New-graduate physiotherapists working in rural Queensland.. Outback Allied Health Forum, Centre for Rural and Remote Health, Mount Isa, QLD, Australia, 24-25 June 2021.
2021
Journal Article
Exploring allied health professional student and academic teacher experiences of teaching and learning clinical skills online in response to COVID-19
Forbes, Roma, Martin, Romany, Patterson, Freyr, Hill, Anne, Hoyle, Melanie, Penman, Adriana, Leung, Letizia, Smith, Sage and Mandrusiak, Allison (2021). Exploring allied health professional student and academic teacher experiences of teaching and learning clinical skills online in response to COVID-19. Australian Journal of Clinical Education, 9 (1). doi: 10.53300/001c.24488
2021
Journal Article
Five myths about hosting physio students in private practice
Peiris, Casey, Forbes, Roma , Dunwoodie, Ruth, Lawton, Vidya and Eustace, Jim (2021). Five myths about hosting physio students in private practice. Physiotherapy InMotion.
2021
Journal Article
Exploring the workplace mentorship needs of new-graduate physiotherapists: a qualitative study
Lao, Andrew, Wilesmith, Sarah and Forbes, Roma (2021). Exploring the workplace mentorship needs of new-graduate physiotherapists: a qualitative study. Physiotherapy theory and practice, 38 (12), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2021.1917023
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
Educational experience and work readiness of allied health students from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Adriana Penman, Dr Freyr Patterson
-
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 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
Exploring student and practice educator experiences in feedback processes within clinical learning environments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Freyr Patterson, 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
Study Strategies in Health Professions Education
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Allison Mandrusiak, Associate Professor Jason Lodge
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: Dr 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
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