Overview
Background
Roma Forbes is the Program Director of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) program at The University of Queensland. A highly experienced APA-titled Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, 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
- 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
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
2022
Journal Article
Exploring new-graduate physiotherapists’ preparedness for, and experiences working within, Australian acute hospital settings
Phan, Andrew, Tan, Shaun, Martin, Romany, Mandrusiak, Allison and Forbes, Roma (2022). Exploring new-graduate physiotherapists’ preparedness for, and experiences working within, Australian acute hospital settings. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 39 (9), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2022.2059424
2022
Journal Article
A student-led, interprofessional care, community-based healthcare service: Student, clinical educator and client perceptions of interprofessional care and education
Beckman, Emma M., Mandrusiak, Allison, Forbes, Roma, Mitchell, Leander, Tower, Marion, Cunningham, Brent and Lewis, Peter (2022). A student-led, interprofessional care, community-based healthcare service: Student, clinical educator and client perceptions of interprofessional care and education. Focus on Health Professional Education: A Multi-Professional Journal, 23 (1), 90-108. doi: 10.11157/fohpe.v23i1.476
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
Conference Publication
“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. UQ Postgraduate Research Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 2 December 2021.
2021
Conference Publication
Management experiences, needs and preferences of adults with persistent intra-articular temporomandibular disorders
Dinsdale, Alana, Forbes, Roma, Thomas, Lucy and Treleaven, Julia (2021). Management experiences, needs and preferences of adults with persistent intra-articular temporomandibular disorders. UQ Postgraduate Research Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 2 December 2021.
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
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
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
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
Conference Publication
Allied health student and educator experiences of teaching and learning clinical skills online in response to COVID-19
Forbes, R., Martin, R., Patterson, F., Hill, A., Hoyle, M. and Penman, A. (2021). Allied health student and educator experiences of teaching and learning clinical skills online in response to COVID-19. Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA), 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
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Roma Forbes is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Enhancing clinical education capacity within the physiotherapy profession
-
New graduate physiotherapist readiness for practice
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
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
-
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
Exploring new graduate physiotherapists transition to practice and the role of graduate programs
Principal Advisor
-
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 Adriana Penman
-
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
-
Master Philosophy
Navigating diagnostic uncertainty in physiotherapy practice
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alana Dinsdale
-
Doctor Philosophy
Study Strategies in Health Professions Education
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Allison Mandrusiak, 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: 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
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