Emma Beckman
Source: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/1536 Parent: https://about.uq.edu.au/faculties-institutes/hmbs/schools-institutes-centres/qcops/initiatives
Associate Professor
Emma Beckman
Email: : e.beckman@uq.edu.au
Phone: : +61 7 334 67904
Mobile: : 0431807573
Positions
Director of Teaching and Learning of School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences : School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences : Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
Associate Professor : School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences : Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
Background
Dr Emma Beckman is a Teaching and Research academic at the University of Queensland. Emma is passionate about engaging in research to improve the lives of people with a disability through sports, physical activity, and exercise. Following a master’s degree in Adapted physical activity, Emma completed her PhD in strength assessment for classification in Para Sport. She is currently a co-investigator in the UQ IPC Classification Research Partnership, and an internationally accredited classifier in Para Athletics.
Through her Para Sport research, Dr Beckman has seen the power of collaborative care and is committed to research that uses collaborative care models to improve health outcomes. She has undertaken projects to evaluate the impact of interprofessional education and practice on students, educators and clients and has adapted this work for different populations, including people with disabilities and university students with mental health issues.
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Availability
Associate Professor Emma Beckman is: : Available for supervision : Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Applied Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
-
Paralympics
Read more Read less - #### Disability sports
Read more Read less - #### Classification
Read more Read less - #### Exercise physiology
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Research impacts
Dr Beckman has strong connections to the sports science industry through her research, particularly in translation of her research into rules and regulations that impact on para athletes worldwide. On the basis of research conducted by Dr Beckman and her team, the International Paralympic Committee has updated or introduced rules related to Maximal Allowable Standing Height in bilateral lower limb amputees, and the procedures and process related to classification of athletes with eligible impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis in athletics. Dr Beckman has acted as an expert for World Athletics in legal proceedings for the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS), demonstrating the impact of her research in practice.
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Search Professor Emma Beckman’s works on UQ eSpace
All (109) Book (1) Journal Article (87) Other Outputs (7) Conference Publication (10) Book Chapter (4)
2025
Journal Article
Athletes, support staff, and classifiers opinions on intentional misrepresentation in Para sport
Gowans, Iain, Yilmaz, Serhat, Goosey-Tolfrey, Victoria L., Beckman, Emma M. and Rhind, Daniel Ja (2025). Athletes, support staff, and classifiers opinions on intentional misrepresentation in Para sport. International Review for the Sociology of Sport 10126902251406919. doi: 10.1177/10126902251406919
Athletes, support staff, and classifiers opinions on intentional misrepresentation in Para sport
2025
Journal Article
An analysis of people with disabilities in Australia by age, sex, disability type and severity – Implications for leveraging the 2032 Paralympic games to increase physical activity participation
Tweedy, Sean, Fortnum, Kathryn, Thomas, George, Cole, Damien, Demetriou, Bridget, Dutia, Iain, Hill, Jessica, Cairney, John and Beckman, Emma (2025). An analysis of people with disabilities in Australia by age, sex, disability type and severity – Implications for leveraging the 2032 Paralympic games to increase physical activity participation. JSAMS Plus, 6 100110, 100110. doi: 10.1016/j.jsampl.2025.100110
2025
Journal Article
Support needs assessment tool for people with disability wanting to participate in sport and exercise (SNAT-SE): Usability and acceptability testing
Hill, Jessica, Clanchy, Kelly, Trost, Stewart, Fleming, Jennifer, Beckman, Emma, Tweedy, Sean, Dutia, Iain and Gomersall, Sjaan (2025). Support needs assessment tool for people with disability wanting to participate in sport and exercise (SNAT-SE): Usability and acceptability testing. JSAMS Plus, 6 100111, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jsampl.2025.100111
2025
Journal Article
Evaluation of an inpatient sports program to guide post-discharge physical activity participation among people with brain and spinal cord injury – a cross-sectional study
Daniel, Hannah, Bray, Emily A., Beckman, Emma M., Smith, Kathryn, Kendall, Melissa, Tweedy, Sean, Geraghty, Timothy, Richardson, James, Verner-Wren, Glenn, Tonks, Peter, Peach, Jai and Gane, Elise (2025). Evaluation of an inpatient sports program to guide post-discharge physical activity participation among people with brain and spinal cord injury – a cross-sectional study. Disability and Rehabilitation, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-16. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2527354
2025
Journal Article
A comparison of reactive strength in elite and sub-elite male and female Australian footballers
Southey, Benjamin M., James, Lachlan P., Connick, Mark J., Austin, Damien J., Wellington, Brandon M., Green, Matthew J., Scott, Tannath J., Spits, Dirk R. and Beckman, Emma M. (2025). A comparison of reactive strength in elite and sub-elite male and female Australian footballers. Sports Biomechanics, 1-14. doi: 10.1080/14763141.2025.2524349
A comparison of reactive strength in elite and sub-elite male and female Australian footballers
2025
Journal Article
Prioritised actions to reduce the threat of cheating classification in Para sport: a Delphi study
Gowans, Iain, Yilmaz, Serhat, Goosey-Tolfrey, Victoria L., Beckman, Emma M. and Rhind, Daniel J. A. (2025). Prioritised actions to reduce the threat of cheating classification in Para sport: a Delphi study. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 1-23. doi: 10.1080/19406940.2025.2521525
Prioritised actions to reduce the threat of cheating classification in Para sport: a Delphi study
2025
Journal Article
A systematic review of sample representativeness and homogeneity in exercise trials using group designs for people with cerebral palsy
Tweedy, S.M., Dutia, I.M., Caughey, L., Demetriou, B., Beckman, E.M. and Cairney, J. (2025). A systematic review of sample representativeness and homogeneity in exercise trials using group designs for people with cerebral palsy. JSAMS Plus, 5 100103, 100103. doi: 10.1016/j.jsampl.2025.100103
2025
Journal Article
Determining the effects of a 6-week training intervention on reactive strength: a single-case experimental design approach
Southey, Benjamin, Spits, Dirk, Austin, Damien, Connick, Mark and Beckman, Emma (2025). Determining the effects of a 6-week training intervention on reactive strength: a single-case experimental design approach. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 10 (2) 191, 191. doi: 10.3390/jfmk10020191
2025
Journal Article
Sharper minds: feasibility and effectiveness of a mental health promotion package for university students targeting multiple health and self-care behaviours
Dingle, Genevieve A., Han, Rong, Huang, Kevin, Alhadad, Sakinah S.J., Beckman, Emma, Bentley, Sarah V., Edmed, Shannon, Gomersall, Sjaan R., Hides, Leanne, Lorimer, Nadine, Maccallum, Fiona, McKimmie, Blake M., Ng, Norman, Rossa, Kalina, Smith, Simon S., Walter, Zoe C., Williams, Elyse, Wright, Olivia R.L. and Tanksale, Radhika (2025). Sharper minds: feasibility and effectiveness of a mental health promotion package for university students targeting multiple health and self-care behaviours. Journal of Affective Disorders, 378, 271-280. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.03.011
2025
Journal Article
Protocol for Fit4Study: A non-randomised controlled trial of a physical activity intervention for university students’ mental health and wellbeing
Huang, Kevin, Beckman, Emma M., Ng, Norman, Dingle, Genevieve A. and Gomersall, Sjaan R. (2025). Protocol for Fit4Study: A non-randomised controlled trial of a physical activity intervention for university students’ mental health and wellbeing. Mental Health and Prevention, 37 200390, 200390. doi: 10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200390
2024
Journal Article
A reliability and kinetic analysis of the 10/5 repeated jump and drop jump tests to determine the use of a novel reactive strength measure: the reactive quality ratio
Southey, Benjamin M., Connick, Mark J., Spits, Dirk R., Austin, Damien J. and Beckman, Emma M. (2024). A reliability and kinetic analysis of the 10/5 repeated jump and drop jump tests to determine the use of a novel reactive strength measure: the reactive quality ratio. Kinesiology, 56 (2), 198-204. doi: 10.26582/k.56.2.2
2024
Journal Article
Comparison of pelvic floor morphometry in supine and standing in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse: a cross-sectional exploratory study
Forner, Lori B., Cyr, Marie-Pierre, Beckman, Emma M., Hodges, Paul W. and Smith, Michelle D. (2024). Comparison of pelvic floor morphometry in supine and standing in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse: a cross-sectional exploratory study. Continence, 12 101708, 101708. doi: 10.1016/j.cont.2024.101708
2024
Conference Publication
Development of a support needs assessment tool for people with disability wanting to participate in sport and exercise
Hill, J., Fleming, J., Beckman, E., Tweedy, S., Trost, S., Dutia, I., Clanchy, K. and Gomersall, S. (2024). Development of a support needs assessment tool for people with disability wanting to participate in sport and exercise. 2024 SMA & ACSEP Conference, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 16-19 October 2024. Chatswood, NSW, Australia: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2024.08.105
2024
Journal Article
Single case experimental design: a rigorous method for addressing inequity and enhancing precision within Para sport and exercise medicine research
Tweedy, Sean, Dutia, Iain Mayank, Cairney, John and Beckman, Emma (2024). Single case experimental design: a rigorous method for addressing inequity and enhancing precision within Para sport and exercise medicine research. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 58 (21) 108587, 1242-1243. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2024-108587
2024
Journal Article
Seasonal muscular power changes: considerations of concurrent resistance and field-based training in professional rugby league
Redman, Kellyanne J., Wade, Logan, Whitley, Ryan, Connick, Mark J., Kelly, Vincent G. and Beckman, Emma M. (2024). Seasonal muscular power changes: considerations of concurrent resistance and field-based training in professional rugby league. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 38 (9), 1620-1626. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004842
2024
Journal Article
The influence of water and air temperature on elite wheelchair triathlon performance
Borg, David N., Gibson, Alexander D., Bach, Aaron J.E., Beckman, Emma M., Tweedy, Sean M. and Stewart, Ian B. (2024). The influence of water and air temperature on elite wheelchair triathlon performance. Temperature, 11 (4), 363-372. doi: 10.1080/23328940.2024.2391170
The influence of water and air temperature on elite wheelchair triathlon performance
2024
Journal Article
Perceptions and beliefs of community-based fitness professionals working with people with disability: a qualitative study
Hill, Jessica, Gaukroger, Kate, Gomersall, Sjaan, Tweedy, Sean, Gullo, Hannah and Beckman, Emma (2024). Perceptions and beliefs of community-based fitness professionals working with people with disability: a qualitative study. Disability and Rehabilitation, 47 (6), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2375062
2024
Journal Article
Data from four consecutive cohorts of students in Australia (2019-2022) show the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic and international university students' mental health
Dingle, Genevieve A., Han, Rong, Alhadad, Sakinah S. J., Beckman, Emma, Bentley, Sarah V., Gomersall, Sjaan R., Hides, Leanne, Maccallum, Fiona, McKimmie, Blake M., Rossa, Kalina, Smith, Simon S., Walter, Zoe C., Williams, Elyse and Wright, Olivia (2024). Data from four consecutive cohorts of students in Australia (2019-2022) show the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic and international university students' mental health. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 58 (6), 528-536. doi: 10.1177/00048674241233111
2024
Journal Article
Effectiveness of physical activity interventions on undergraduate students' mental health: systematic review and meta-analysis
Huang, Kevin, Beckman, Emma M., Ng, Norman, Dingle, Genevieve A., Han, Rong, James, Kari, Winkler, Elisabeth, Stylianou, Michalis and Gomersall, Sjaan R. (2024). Effectiveness of physical activity interventions on undergraduate students' mental health: systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Promotion International, 39 (3) daae054. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daae054
2024
Journal Article
The power of Para sport: the effect of performance-focused swimming training on motor function in adolescents with cerebral palsy and high support needs (GMFCS IV) – a single-case experimental design with 30-month follow-up
Dutia, Iain Mayank, Connick, Mark, Beckman, Emma, Johnston, Leanne, Wilson, Paula, Macaro, Angelo, O'Sullivan, Jennifer and Tweedy, Sean (2024). The power of Para sport: the effect of performance-focused swimming training on motor function in adolescents with cerebral palsy and high support needs (GMFCS IV) – a single-case experimental design with 30-month follow-up. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 58 (14) bjsports-2023-107689, 777-784. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2023-107689
Current funding
- 2025 - 2027
Cost effective and portable low-field musculoskeletal MRI for high performance sport
Australia's Economic Accelerator Innovate Grants
Open grant - 2024 - 2027
Quantum Concussion Diagnostics
Quantum 2032 Challenge Program
Open grant - 2024 - 2027
Quantum-Enabled Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging for High-Performance Sport
Quantum 2032 Challenge Program
Open grant - 2024 - 2027
AI-Empowered and Video-Based uplift of Paralympic classification systems (AQIRP project administered by Follow Me AI)
Follow Me AI Pty Ltd
Open grant - 2023 - 2027
Implementation and scale-up of a consumer co-designed physical activity promotion program for people with moderate-to-profound disabilities
NHMRC MRFF PPHR - Effective Treatments and Therapies
Past funding
- 2024
The safety, feasibility and acceptability of a performance focused sports training program for previously able-bodied athletes with recently acquired spinal cord injuries
Queensland Academy of Sport
Open grant - 2023
Participation in a Program on the side of Normal Rehabilitation to Guide Participation in Physical Activity after Hospital Discharge
Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association
Open grant - 2022 - 2023
Design of a First Nations Community Impact Framework for Athletics Australia
Athletics Australia
Open grant - 2022 - 2025
Transforming the World Para Swimming Classification System with sEMG.
Manchester Metropolitan University
Open grant - 2021 - 2022
The Impact of Structured Interprofessional Education (IPE) Clinical Placements on Student Interprofessional Collaborative Behaviour
ACEN Research Grants
Open grant - 2021 - 2022
Understanding the effects of heavy weightlifting on pelvic organ support in vaginally parous premenopausal women: a cross-sectional study
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 - 2018 - 2020
Classification in wheelchair tennis
Loughborough University
Open grant - 2018 - 2020
Classification of runners with hypertonia, axtaxia or athetosis - improving the current system and evaluation of new methods
International Paralympic Committee
Open grant - 2017 - 2018
Towards evidence-based classification for sprinters with neurological impairment in World Para Athletics
Exercise and Sports Science Australia Ltd
Open grant - 2016 - 2017
Towards evidence-based classification in paralympic sport - developing an international standard for trunk impairment assessment
UQ Early Career Researcher
Open grant - 2015 - 2018
Does a high-volume, performance-focused swimming program elicit meaningful, therapeutic change in people with cerebral palsy? A proof-of-concept study
Swimming Australia Limited
Open grant - 2015 - 2022
A longitudinal intervention study evaluating physical and psychosocial responses to performance focused sports training for people with moderate-to-severe cerebral palsy
Queensland Academy of Sport
Open grant - 2015 - 2020
Does a high-volume, performance-focused swimming program elicit meaningful, therapeutic change in people with cerebral palsy? A proof-of-concept study
Australian Paralympic Committee
Open grant - 2014 - 2015
Improving reliability and validity of current classification methods in classes FT5-FT8 and t35-T38
The Agitos Foundation
Open grant - 2013 - 2015
Examination of intervention effectiveness - ICC East Asia Pacific: Pacific Sport Partnership (Fiji and Papua New Guinea)
International Cricket Council FZ LLC
Open grant - 2013 - 2021
IPC Classification Research and Development Centre
International Paralympic Committee
Open grant - 2013 - 2014
Evaluation of the impact of neuromusculoskeletal impairment on running performance in Kenyan Athletes
International Paralympic Committee
Open grant - 2011 - 2012
Towards evidence-based classification in Paralympic Athletics: Assessment of muscle strength impairment in athletes with Cerebral Palsy
UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
Availability
Associate Professor Emma Beckman is: : Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
- Doctor Philosophy
##### Prospective analysis of para swimming- investigating talent identification, talent development and the impact on impairment and performance.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy - Doctor Philosophy
##### Building a systems level, evidence informed approach to increasing sport and physical activity among people with a disability
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy, Dr Georgina Clutterbuck - Doctor Philosophy
##### Neurophysiological measurements in Paralympic Sport Classification
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy, Professor Timothy Carroll - Doctor Philosophy
##### Developing a Motor Assessment Tool that is Feasible for Autistic Children with High Support Needs
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy, Professor John Cairney - Doctor Philosophy
##### Para Sport coach development- a prospective longitudinal study
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy, Associate Professor Steven Rynne - Doctor Philosophy
##### Implementation and scale-up of ParaSTART, a performance focused sports training and applied research program for people with high support needs disabilities.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy - Doctor Philosophy
##### Evaluating the effect of a performance-focused sports training program on the functional independence and mobility in people with neuromusculoskeletal high support needs impairments.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy - Doctor Philosophy
##### Development and evaluation of a Best Practice Classification Framework for current and prospective Paralympic sports
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Leigh Sperka, Professor Sean Tweedy - Doctor Philosophy
##### Development and Evaluation of Medical Screening and Management Procedures for People with Disabilities and High Support Needs Commencing Competitive Sport
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jessica Hill, Professor Sean Tweedy - Doctor Philosophy
##### The Impact of Environmental Factors on the Distribution of Talent Hotspots within Queensland Olympic and Paralympic Populations.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Veronique Richard - Doctor Philosophy
##### an evaluation of the impact of performance focused sports training on clinical outcomes in individuals with high support needs
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy - Doctor Philosophy
##### Developing new approaches to pressure injury mitigation for athletes with spinal cord injury
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy, Associate Professor Sjaan Gomersall, Dr Jessica Hill
Completed supervision
- 2025
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor - 2025
Doctor Philosophy
##### The Impact of Structured Interprofessional Clinical Placements on Student Collaborative Functioning
Principal Advisor - 2024
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor - 2022
Doctor Philosophy
##### Monitoring the Development and Maintenance of Strength and Power in Professional Rugby League
Principal Advisor - 2022
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy - 2018
Master Philosophy
##### Neuromuscular and Perceptual Fatigue Responses of Elite Netball Players
Principal Advisor - 2017
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor - 2026
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Genevieve Dingle, Associate Professor Sjaan Gomersall - 2025
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Hodges, Dr Marie-Pierre Cyr, Associate Professor Michelle Smith - 2021
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy - 2021
Doctor Philosophy
##### Urinary incontinence in young to mid-aged women
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Wendy Brown - 2021
Doctor Philosophy
##### Para-athletes' navigation of environmental barriers to air travel
Associate Advisor - 2021
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy - 2020
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy - 2020
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy - 2016
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy - 2015
Doctor Philosophy
##### Towards Evidence-Based Classification for Paralympic Running and Throwing Events
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Emma Beckman directly for media enquiries about:
- disability sport
- Paralympics
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