Roma Forbes

Associate Professor Roma Forbes is a Program Director at The University of Queensland's Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) program and an APA-titled Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist. She holds leadership roles in global and national physiotherapy education through the Australian Physiotherapy Council, World Physiotherapy Education Committee, and editorial positions at The Clinical Teacher and Archives of Physiotherapy.

• Qualifications: PhD, Master's, and Bachelor's degrees from Auckland University of Technology and The University of Queensland.
• Leadership: Director of Australian Physiotherapy Council, National Chair of Accreditation Committee, and World Physiotherapy Education Committee representative.

Her research focuses on work-integrated learning, student transition, and contemporary health workforce capabilities, with recent work on temporomandibular disorders, cultural safety, and feedback literacy. She leads national initiatives to improve private practice clinical placements and educator development frameworks.

Her 15 most recent publications span musculoskeletal physiotherapy, patient education, cultural safety, and clinical placement innovation, reflecting collaborations with universities and industry stakeholders. Key trends include workforce readiness, telehealth integration, and diagnostic uncertainty management.

• Scientific Awards: 12 accolades from 2018–2023, including Advance Higher Education Global Impact Award, HERDSA Fellow, and multiple citations for teaching excellence.

She supervises PhD/Master's projects on topics like new graduate physiotherapist readiness, First Nations cultural safety, and private sector preparation. Current funding includes NHMRC MRFF grants for integrated psychological-physical care post-road trauma.