Overview
Background
Dr Barbra Timmer is a Senior Lecturer in Audiology (Teaching & Research) at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland and Senior Scientist at Sonova AG. Her research focuses on understanding real-world hearing challenges, promoting engagement with hearing care, and improving audiological rehabilitation outcomes. She employs innovative methods, such as ecological momentary assessment, to capture real-time data on the listening experiences of individuals with hearing loss. Her work has significantly contributed to highlighting the importance of addressing the emotional and social aspects of hearing loss in clinical practice.
Dr. Timmer's extensive clinical experience includes roles at Hearing Australia and the Free University of Amsterdam, as well as industry experience with Sonova AG in Australia and Switzerland. She holds an MBA and a PhD in Audiology, aiming to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice.
As Board Director and immediate past president of Audiology Australia, Dr. Timmer leads efforts to advance the profession, ensuring high standards of practice and advocating for individuals with hearing loss. Her leadership and research have significantly influenced clinical approaches and public awareness of hearing health, improving the quality of life for individuals with hearing loss worldwide.
Availability
- Dr Barbra Timmer is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Diploma in Audiology, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Coursework) of Business Administration, University of Western Sydney
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research impacts
Dr Timmer is recognised as leader in the use of ecological momentary assessment to investigate real-world hearing experiences. Bridging the world of hearing science academia and industry, she is committed to the transfer of knowledge into practice and has extensive professional links that facilitate this transfer. She is regularly invited to give presentations to clinical and research conferences around the world.
Works
Search Professor Barbra Timmer’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Conference Publication
What does culturally responsive hearing care look like? An international Delphi study
Dawes, Piers, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Nisar, Mehwish, Newall, John, Timmer, Barbra, Hickson, Louise, Furze, Cailyn, Armitage, Christopher J. and Scarinci, Nerina (2025). What does culturally responsive hearing care look like? An international Delphi study. 14th International Conference of the Coalition for Global Hearing Health, Wellington, New Zealand, 16-18 January 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
Actors influencing the accessibility and use of hearing services by diverse ethnic communities in Australia
Newall, John, Furze, Cailyn, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Nisar, Mehwish, Scarinci, Nerina, Hickson, Louise, Armitage, Christopher J., Ching, Teresa Y. C., Shi, Li, Timmer, Barbra and Dawes, Piers (2025). Actors influencing the accessibility and use of hearing services by diverse ethnic communities in Australia. 14th Annual Conference of the Coalition for Global Hearing Health, Wellington, New Zealand, 16-18 January 2025.
2025
Journal Article
How do adults with hearing loss, family members, and hearing care professionals respond to the stigma of hearing loss and hearing aids?
Scarinci, Nerina, Waite, Monique, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Ekberg, Katie, Timmer, Barbra, Meyer, Carly and Hickson, Louise (2025). How do adults with hearing loss, family members, and hearing care professionals respond to the stigma of hearing loss and hearing aids?. International Journal of Audiology, 64 (sup1), s20-s27. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2406885
2025
Journal Article
Barriers and enablers to referral of older adults to hearing care: a cross-sectional questionnaire study of Australian general practitioners
Davine, Ella C., Busby, Peter A., Peters, Sanne, Francis, Jill J., Harris, David, Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Sarant, Julia Z. (2025). Barriers and enablers to referral of older adults to hearing care: a cross-sectional questionnaire study of Australian general practitioners. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 31 (3) PY24224. doi: 10.1071/PY24224
2025
Journal Article
Australian hearing healthcare stakeholders’ experiences of and attitudes towards teleaudiology uptake: a qualitative study
Mui, Boaz, Lawless, Michael, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Gopinath, Bamini, Tang, Diana, Venning, Anthony, May, David, Muzaffar, Jameel, Bidargaddi, Niranjan and Shekhawat, Giriraj Singh (2025). Australian hearing healthcare stakeholders’ experiences of and attitudes towards teleaudiology uptake: a qualitative study. Speech, Language and Hearing, 28 (1) 2372171, 1-10. doi: 10.1080/2050571x.2024.2372171
2025
Journal Article
Adults’ recollections of discussions with their audiologist: a qualitative study of what was and was not successfully communicated about listening difficulties
McNeice, Zoe, Tomlin, Dani, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Short, Camille E. and Galvin, Karyn (2025). Adults’ recollections of discussions with their audiologist: a qualitative study of what was and was not successfully communicated about listening difficulties. International Journal of Audiology, 64 (4), 343-354. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2351033
2025
Journal Article
Using Ecological Momentary Analysis to explore stigma experiences in the real world for adults with acquired hearing loss
Timmer, Barbra H. B., Ekberg, Katie, Meyer, Carly, Waite, Monique, Scarinci, Nerina, Nickbakht, Mansoureh and Hickson, Louise (2025). Using Ecological Momentary Analysis to explore stigma experiences in the real world for adults with acquired hearing loss. International Journal of Audiology, 64 (sup1), s28-s38. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2418970
2024
Journal Article
A retrospective audit of audiology encounters in patients undergoing Cisplatin treatment at a large Australian tertiary cancer care centre
Lester, Georgia M., Wilson, Wayne J., Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Ladwa, Rahul M. (2024). A retrospective audit of audiology encounters in patients undergoing Cisplatin treatment at a large Australian tertiary cancer care centre. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 1-7. doi: 10.1007/s11764-024-01689-x
2024
Journal Article
Supporting older adults’ mental health: a Delphi survey identifying audiology best practices
Bennett, Rebecca J., Gerace, Daniel, Meyer, Carly J., Pachana, Nancy A., Saulsman, Lisa, Eikelboom, Robert H., Campbell, Elissa, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Vitkovic, Jessica and Bucks, Romola S. (2024). Supporting older adults’ mental health: a Delphi survey identifying audiology best practices. International Journal of Audiology, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2383990
2024
Journal Article
A laughing matter? Managing hearing difficulties in real life everyday social interactions with adults with hearing loss
Ekberg, Katie, Timmer, Barbra, Meyer, Carly, Waite, Monique, Scarinci, Nerina, Nickbakht, Mansoureh and Hickson, Louise (2024). A laughing matter? Managing hearing difficulties in real life everyday social interactions with adults with hearing loss. International Journal of Audiology, 64 (sup1), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2389189
2024
Journal Article
Developing strategies to improve accessibility of hearing health services for people from diverse ethnic communities in Australia: Research Protocol
Dawes, Piers, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Scarinci, Nerina, Newall, John, Furze, Cailyn, Nisar, Mehwish, Timmer, Barbra, Ching, Teresa Y. C., Harris-Roxas, Benjamin, Scanlan, Emma, Van Buynder, Patricia, Waite, Monique, Orlando, Marc, Kruger, Jan-Louis, Ekberg, Katie, Dib, Mayada, Ginis, Jan, Barr, Margo, Armitage, Christopher J. and Hickson, Louise (2024). Developing strategies to improve accessibility of hearing health services for people from diverse ethnic communities in Australia: Research Protocol. Figshare. doi: 10.6084/m9.figshare.26499952.v1
2024
Journal Article
Effectiveness of the HEAR-aware app for adults not ready for hearing aids, but open to self-management support: results of a randomized controlled trial
Feenstra-Kikken, Vanessa, Van de Ven, Sjors, Lissenberg-Witte, Birgit I., Pronk, Marieke, Smits, Cas, Timmer, Barbra H. B., Polleunis, C., Besser, Jana and Kramer, Sophia E. (2024). Effectiveness of the HEAR-aware app for adults not ready for hearing aids, but open to self-management support: results of a randomized controlled trial. Ear and Hearing, 45 (6), 1502-1516. doi: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001533
2024
Journal Article
The experience of stigma related to hearing loss and hearing aids: perspectives of adults with hearing loss, their families, and hearing care professionals
Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Ekberg, Katie, Waite, Monique, Scarinci, Nerina, Timmer, Barbra, Meyer, Carly and Hickson, Louise (2024). The experience of stigma related to hearing loss and hearing aids: perspectives of adults with hearing loss, their families, and hearing care professionals. International Journal of Audiology, 64 (sup1), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2353862
2024
Journal Article
Development and implementation of national teleaudiology guidelines
Laird, Emma, Bennett, Bec, Timmer, Barbra and Campbel, Elissa (2024). Development and implementation of national teleaudiology guidelines. Hearing Journal, 77 (2), 23-27. doi: 10.1097/01.HJ.0001006568.83628.45
2023
Journal Article
Developing a prototype web-based decision aid for adults with hearing loss
Hickson, Louise, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Dawes, Piers (2023). Developing a prototype web-based decision aid for adults with hearing loss. International Journal of Audiology, 63 (10), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2279024
2023
Journal Article
Audiological ototoxicity monitoring guidelines: a review of current evidence and appraisal of quality using the AGREE II tool
Lester, Georgia M., Wilson, Wayne J., Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Ladwa, Rahul M. (2023). Audiological ototoxicity monitoring guidelines: a review of current evidence and appraisal of quality using the AGREE II tool. International Journal of Audiology, 63 (10), 1-6. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2278018
2023
Conference Publication
The worse your hearing the worse your balance: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Foster, Jacinta, Williams, Katrina L., Timmer, Barbra and Brauer, Sandra G. (2023). The worse your hearing the worse your balance: A systematic review and meta-analysis. NOTSA, Auckland, New Zealand, 26 - 28 October 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Differences in vestibular function in older adults with hearing loss, with and without a history of dizziness, or vertigo
Foster, Jacinta, Williams, Katrina L., Timmer, Barbra and Brauer, Sandra G. (2023). Differences in vestibular function in older adults with hearing loss, with and without a history of dizziness, or vertigo. NOTSA, Auckland, New Zealand, 26 - 28 October 2023.
2023
Journal Article
Reasons for the non-use of hearing aids: perspectives of non-users, past users, and family members
Franks, Inga and Timmer, Barbra H. B. (2023). Reasons for the non-use of hearing aids: perspectives of non-users, past users, and family members. International Journal of Audiology, 63 (10), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2270703
2023
Journal Article
Hearing care services for adults with hearing loss in Malaysia: a scoping review
Romli, Maziah, Timmer, Barbra H. B. and Dawes, Piers (2023). Hearing care services for adults with hearing loss in Malaysia: a scoping review. International Journal of Audiology, 63 (10), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2270594
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Barbra Timmer is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Audiology services for adults in Malaysia: perspectives of clinicians and adults with hearing loss
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Piers Dawes
-
Doctor Philosophy
Hearing monitoring for patients receiving ototoxic chemotherapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Wayne Wilson
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Hearing aid use, vibrotactile neurofeedback and balance in older adults with hearing impairment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sandy Brauer, Emeritus Professor Louise Hickson, Associate Professor Wayne Wilson
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Postural stability and vestibular function in older adults with hearing loss: the effect of vibrotactile neurofeedback training
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Katrina Williams, Professor Sandy Brauer
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Barbra Timmer directly for media enquiries about:
- Ecological momentary assessment
- Real-world hearing challenges for adults with hearing impairment
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: