Adriana Penman

Dr. Adriana Penman is a Senior Teaching-Focused Lecturer in Speech Pathology and the Head of Speech Pathology within the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences at The University of Queensland. She earned a Bachelor of Education (Primary) from Queensland University of Technology, a Bachelor of Speech Pathology from The University of Queensland, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Speech Pathology from The University of Queensland in 2021. Her doctoral research investigated the use of simulation-based learning to prepare speech pathology students for clinical practice. With extensive clinical experience as a speech pathologist in adult swallowing and communication disorders across the continuum of care, as well as stuttering or fluency disorders across the lifespan, Adriana transitioned into academia where she shares her expertise through teaching and research. She serves as an elected Academic member of the UQ Academic Board for 2026-2028 and has held roles as an ITaLI Affiliate Academic and representative on the UQ Fitness to Practise Working Party review.

Adriana's research program centers on teaching and learning practices in speech pathology and health science professions, with a focus on simulation-based learning, graduate preparedness for placement and transition to professional practice, stuttering across the lifespan, practice education, and interprofessional education. She maintains national and international collaborations within a learning community of academics focused on the scholarship of teaching. Key publications include 'Becoming through simulation-based learning: Lived experiences of occupational therapy students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds' (2025, Journal Article), 'Speech–language pathologists’ perceptions of their competence in managing stuttering: a systematic review with narrative synthesis' (2025, Journal Article), 'Understanding simulation-based learning for health professions students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds: a scoping review' (2025, Journal Article), 'Telesimulation for training in infant feeding: a randomized controlled trial' (2024, Journal Article), and 'Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy Students’ Perceptions and Experiences of an Interprofessional Simulation' (2024, Journal Article). Her contributions to teaching excellence have been honored with the Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2025), UQ Award for Teaching Excellence (2024), Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences Award for Teaching Excellence (2023), Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2019), and multiple citations for outstanding contributions to student learning (2018, 2017, 2016). Adriana's work enhances student engagement, confidence, and readiness for professional practice through innovative experiential learning opportunities.

Professional Email: adriana.penman@uq.edu.au