Roma Forbes
Source: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/16059 Parent: https://about.uq.edu.au/faculties-institutes/hmbs/about/leaders
Associate Professor
Roma Forbes
Email: : r.forbes2@uq.edu.au
Phone: : +61 7 336 52718
Positions
Associate Dean (Academic) : Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
Associate Professor : School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences : Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
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.
Roma also maintains a long-standing commitment to community service through her advocacy and volunteer work with the Australian Government’s Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme (ACVVS). This commitment to community wellbeing informs her leadership and reflects her broader values of connection and equitable access to care.
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)
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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.
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Works
Search Professor Roma Forbes’s works on UQ eSpace
All (159) Book (1) Journal Article (107) Other Outputs (13) Conference Publication (37) Book Chapter (1)
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
Patient education essentials for physiotherapy
2026
Journal Article
Student and Supervisor Qualitative Perspectives of the Benefits and Challenges of Longer‐Term Rural Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Placements
Walker, Clara, Mander, Gordon, Forbes, Roma, Fallon, Anthony Bruce, Elliott, Jessica, Paine, Marina and Argus, Geoff (2026). Student and Supervisor Qualitative Perspectives of the Benefits and Challenges of Longer‐Term Rural Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Placements. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 34 (1) e70139. doi: 10.1111/ajr.70139
2025
Other Outputs
Making student experience a core part of academic work
Forbes, Roma and Ong, Benjamin (2025, 12 23). Making student experience a core part of academic work Times Higher Education (THE-Campus)
Making student experience a core part of academic work
2025
Journal Article
Implementing an integrated psychological and physical intervention in routine physiotherapy practice for patients with musculoskeletal road traffic injury: protocol for a hybrid implementation-effectiveness type III cluster randomised controlled trial
Sterling, Michele, Xie, Yanfei, Papic, Christopher, Carvalho-e-Silva, Ana Paula, Eather, Chloe-Emily, Forbes, Roma, Lodge, Jason, Ware, Robert S., Foster, Nadine E., Treleaven, Julia, Slater, Helen, Tuffaha, Haitham, Peek, Kerry, Lynch, Johanna, O’Leary, Shaun, Rebbeck, Trudy, French, Simon, Evans, Kerrie, Austin, Tim, Brentnall, David, Nicholas, Michael, Hodkinson, Emily and Elphinston, Rachel A. (2025). Implementing an integrated psychological and physical intervention in routine physiotherapy practice for patients with musculoskeletal road traffic injury: protocol for a hybrid implementation-effectiveness type III cluster randomised controlled trial. Implementation Science, 20 (1) 51. doi: 10.1186/s13012-025-01464-1
2025
Journal Article
Balancing student opportunity with advocacy for sustainable academic careers
Forbes, Roma and Wilesmith, Sarah (2025). Balancing student opportunity with advocacy for sustainable academic careers. The Clinical Teacher, 22 (6) e70232, e70232. doi: 10.1111/tct.70232
Balancing student opportunity with advocacy for sustainable academic careers
2025
Conference Publication
Extended rural nursing, midwifery and allied health placements: benefits and challenges
Argus, Geoff, Walker, Clara, Forbes, Roma, Mander, Gordon, Fallon, Tony, Elliott, Jessica and Payne, Marina (2025). Extended rural nursing, midwifery and allied health placements: benefits and challenges. 10th Rural and Remote Scientific Symposium, Alice Springs, NT, Australia, 8-9 October 2025.
Extended rural nursing, midwifery and allied health placements: benefits and challenges
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
Conference Publication
New graduate physiotherapists’ challenges in delivering patient education
Pomabares, Andreia, Forbes, Roma and Caeiro, Carmen (2025). New graduate physiotherapists’ challenges in delivering patient education. National Congress of Clinical Communication in Healthcare, Porto, 23-24 October 2025.
New graduate physiotherapists’ challenges in delivering patient education
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, 42 (1), 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, 41 (12), 2654-2670. 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
Conference Publication
Understanding simulation-based learning for health professions students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds: a scoping review
Zhang, L., Penman, A., Patterson, F. and Forbes, R. (2025). Understanding simulation-based learning for health professions students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds: a scoping review. ANZAHPE Conference, Perth, WA, Australia, 30 June-3 July 2025.
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.
The Future of Physiotherapy Education
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
Rethinking clinical placements: a response to changing healthcare demands
Funding
Current funding
- 2023 - 2028
Implementing integrated psychological and physical care for Australians after road traffic injury
NHMRC MRFF Clinician Researchers: Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Grant
Past funding
- 2023 - 2025
Raising consumer awareness on the role of physiotherapy in the management of temporomandibular disorders in Australia
Physiotherapy Research Foundation
Open grant - 2020 - 2021
An international, interprofessional evaluation of the experiences and needs of health professional students and educators in the online teaching and learning of clinical skills
U21 Health Sciences Group Research Development Fund
Open grant - 2020 - 2021
Private practice WIL opportunities for health professional students: increasing capacity for educational quality and equity
ACEN Research Grants
Open grant - 2019 - 2020
Dr Roma Forbes - AQ WRAP
Advance Queensland Women's Research Assistance Program
Supervision
Availability
Associate Professor Roma Forbes is: : Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Enhancing clinical education capacity within the physiotherapy profession
Read more Read less - #### New graduate physiotherapist readiness for practice
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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
##### Exploring new graduate physiotherapists transition to practice and the role of graduate programs
Principal Advisor - Doctor Philosophy
##### Enhancing new graduate physiotherapist practice of clinical documentation
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 - 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
##### Exploring the professional boundaries between physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy in Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nathalia Costa - Doctor Philosophy
##### Belonging in Health Professions Practice Placements
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jessica Hill, Dr Adriana Penman - 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 - Master Philosophy
##### Navigating diagnostic uncertainty in physiotherapy practice
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alana Dinsdale, Dr Nathalia Costa
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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
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, Associate Professor 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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