Kiwi academic Roma Forbes, a renowned physiotherapy lecturer at the University of Queensland, has been named Australia's top university teacher. Forbes, who was born in Ōpōtiki, New Zealand, has been living in Australia for 16 years. She shared her journey with RNZ's Afternoons, expressing her surprise at her longevity in the country, "I studied physiotherapy at AUT in New Zealand and then came over to the University of Queensland to be a clinical educator, and I thought I'd last five minutes in Australia, but here I am 16 years later."
Her innovative teaching approach, which prioritizes individual student experiences and perspectives, was recognized with the 2025 Australian University Teacher of the Year award. Forbes believes that understanding students' personal views on chronic pain, for instance, makes teaching more engaging and effective. She said, "The area that I teach is pain, and particularly chronic pain. And so many people have misconceptions about what chronic pain is, so to actually hear from students, what do they understand about chronic pain? What's been their experiences for them and maybe with their families or even their grandparents?"
Forbes' acceptance speech, delivered in her distinct Kiwi accent and incorporating te reo, highlighted the importance of student voices. She emphasized the value of hearing students' perspectives, stating, "To really hear what their views are, it's so much easier, more fun to teach when we know the perspectives they're coming in with."
Despite her success in Australia, Forbes hasn't ruled out a return to New Zealand. She shared, "I left for personal reasons; my partner was actually over here. So, I miss New Zealand a lot. I'm very tempted all the time to come home and be able to help with universities there."
Forbes' journey is a testament to the impact of student-centered teaching and the potential for personal and professional growth across borders. Her story invites us to consider the importance of individual perspectives in education and the global exchange of knowledge.
