Roma Forbes: 2025 Australian University Teacher of the Year and Champion for Student Success
Associate Professor Roma Forbes from the University of Queensland's (UQ) School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences has been named the 2025 Australian University Teacher of the Year, the highest honor in the Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT). This prestigious accolade, announced recently, recognizes her innovative approach to health education that emphasizes belonging, resilience, and real-world preparedness.
Forbes, a titled musculoskeletal physiotherapist with extensive clinical experience in managing persistent pain, brings a unique perspective shaped by her rural New Zealand roots where higher education seemed out of reach. Her citation highlights a 'health education leader who has drawn on her personal and intercultural perspective to reimagine belonging and success in health education.'
In her acceptance, Forbes stressed that great teaching goes beyond content delivery: 'Great teaching isn't about what we say or what we do, it's about the impact we have on our students and their communities.' Her methods integrate authentic patient stories into assessments, fostering confidence and person-centered care skills essential for modern physiotherapy practice.
Innovative Teaching Methods Transforming Physiotherapy Education
Forbes' pedagogy centers on bridging the gap between theory and practice. Drawing from her own navigation of complex healthcare systems, she designs curricula that simulate real-world challenges. Students engage with genuine case studies from patients with persistent pain, learning to communicate effectively, handle uncertainty, and build therapeutic relationships.
One key innovation is her open-access textbook, Patient Education Essentials for Physiotherapy, which equips students with skills for effective patient communication. Grounded in evidence-based practices, it uses case studies to address common challenges across physiotherapy settings. This resource, freely available, democratizes access to high-quality educational materials.
- Authentic assessments using real patient narratives to build clinical reasoning.
- Focus on graduate transition programs enhancing resilience and employability.
- Intercultural approaches promoting belonging for diverse student cohorts.
Her influence extends nationally, shaping professional standards and policy for health workforce development. Collaborators, including educators, clinicians, and industry partners, praise her reciprocal commitment to community impact. For aspiring physiotherapy professionals, her model offers a blueprint for success—check out career advice tailored for health roles.
The Backbone of Physiotherapy Training: Mandatory Clinical Placements
Clinical placements, often called 'prac' in Australia, are the cornerstone of physiotherapy education. Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) programs require at least 1,000 hours of supervised practice, spread across urban hospitals, rural clinics, and private practices. These unpaid blocks—typically 4-6 weeks full-time—immerse students in patient care, honing skills like manual therapy, exercise prescription, and multidisciplinary teamwork.
Accredited by the Australian Physiotherapy Council, these placements ensure graduates meet entry-level competencies. However, they demand full-time commitment without pay, often far from home. Rural and remote placements, vital for addressing workforce gaps, exacerbate challenges due to limited transport and housing.
High Living Costs: Deterring Students from Vital Placements
Australia's cost-of-living crisis is hitting physiotherapy students hard. With rents soaring 10-15% annually in major cities and food inflation at 5%, many cannot afford unpaid prac without side jobs. Average costs per placement exceed $1,500, covering travel ($400-800), accommodation ($600-1,200), and uniforms/equipment ($200).
Forbes warns: soaring expenses keep students from campus and placements, juggling multiple jobs to survive. Surveys show 70% of allied health students face financial stress during prac, leading to 11% first-year attrition in physiotherapy—higher than the university average.
Real impacts include delayed graduations, mental health strain, and underrepresented groups (low-SES, regional) opting out. One study found health students' total placement costs average $6,000 over a degree, pushing some into debt or low-wage jobs post-graduation.
Commonwealth Prac Payment: A Step Forward, But Not Enough
The government's Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP), launched July 2025, provides $338.60 weekly (indexed to Austudy) for eligible students in teaching, nursing, midwifery, and social work during mandatory placements. Valued at $427 million over four years, it aims to end 'placement poverty' for these fields.
Administered via universities, payments stack with Youth Allowance. Yet, physiotherapy and other allied health—requiring similar unpaid hours—are excluded. Critics argue this overlooks 15 allied health professions training 20,000+ students annually.
Campaign for Prac Cash Extension: Allied Health United
Forbes joins Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) in advocating CPP expansion. Their petition, co-sponsored by MPs Helen Haines and David Pocock, has 17,000+ signatures in weeks, demanding inclusion for all allied health and medicine bachelor's/master's students.
The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and Occupational Therapy Australia back it, noting placements cost physio students $10,000+ total. MPs highlight: 'Placement poverty forces dropouts, starving the workforce.' Expansion could boost retention by 20%, per modeling.
Physiotherapy Workforce Crisis: Shortages Demand Action
Australia faces acute physiotherapy shortages, with 47,900 practitioners against rising demand from aging populations and chronic diseases. Jobs and Skills Australia projects 17.6% growth by 2028, but rural/aged care gaps persist—1 physio per 1,500 in remote areas vs. 1:800 urban.
Unpaid prac contributes: 11% attrition linked to finances. Without reform, shortages could hit 5,000 by 2030, rationing services. CPP extension would pipeline more graduates, esp. regional ones.
Stakeholder Perspectives: Students, Clinicians, Policymakers
Students report skipping rural prac due to $2,000+ costs, perpetuating urban bias. Clinicians value placements for recruitment but note host burdens. Policymakers cite budget constraints, but AHPA counters: $1 invested saves $3 in shortages.
| Stakeholder | View |
|---|---|
| Students | Financial strain leads to debt, dropouts |
| Educators (e.g., Forbes) | Prac essential but barriers undermine training |
| Industry (APA) | Extend CPP to build workforce |
| Govt | Initial CPP success; expansion under review |
Solutions Beyond Prac Cash: Holistic Support
Short-term: Scholarships, travel subsidies, virtual placements. Long-term: Paid prac models, HECS exemptions for allied health. Universities like UQ offer hardship funds; expand them. Explore scholarship opportunities for health students.
Future Outlook: A Stronger Health Workforce Ahead
Forbes envisions resilient graduates via inclusive education. With CPP extension, Australia could graduate 2,500+ more physios yearly, easing shortages. Momentum builds—petition success could prompt 2026 budget inclusion.
For career changers, physiotherapy booms: explore higher ed jobs or Australian university roles. Rate professors at Rate My Professor.
Exploring Physiotherapy Careers: Next Steps
Interested? UQ and peers offer world-class programs. Visit lecturer paths or faculty positions. Share experiences in comments below.