Emeritus Prof. Philip ( Phil ) Foreman

Biography

Emeritus Professor Phil Foreman has an extensive publication record in intellectual disability, with research grants totalling over $390,000 since 2000. He was Director of the University of Newcastle Special Education Centre from 1986-1999. During this time the Centre developed a significant research profile, supported by a number of major research grants. He is a member of the Centre for Special Education and Disability Studies at the University of Newcastle. He was instrumental in the development of the link between the University of Newcastle and the Royal Institute for Deaf & Blind Children, which led to the establishment of the Renwick Centre, a research centre in the education of students with a sensory disability. This link led to Professor Foreman’s previous ARC Linkage grant. The fifth edition of his edited text-book, Inclusion in Action, was published in 2011. The book has been set as a text on over 20 university campuses in Australia and New Zealand. His single-authored book, Education of Students with an Intellectual Disability: Research and Practice, was published in 2009.

Professor Foreman’s research profile has been combined with a significant administrative load for over 20 years. He was Director of the University’s Special Education Centre for 14 years, and for four of those years was also Dean of Students. He then became Dean of Education for six years until 2008, and is currently Chair of the NSW Institute of Teachers.

Qualifications

• PhD, Macquarie University
• Master of Letters, University of New England
• Master of Education, University of New England
• Bachelor of Arts, University of New England

Research

Research keywords

• Behaviour state analysis
• Inclusion
• Intelllectual disability
• Severe disability

Research expertise

Extensive publication record in the area of the education of students with a disability, having received research grants totalling well over $500,000 in the last 10 years. In 1999, led research team that developed an instrument to assess the support needs of students with a disability in regular classes. The instrument was used by the Department of Education and Training to allocate over $30m to regular schools, to support integrated students. Has also collaborated extensively with Dr Ian Dempsey on research related to the enrolment of students with disabilities in regular classes. Instrumental in the development of the link between the University of Newcastle and the Royal Institute for Deaf & Blind Children, which led to the establishment of the Renwick Research Centre. This led to previous SPIRT grant with highly successful outcomes. Has worked closely with Dr Michael Arthur-Kelly on research into the effective education of students with multiple and severe disabilities. In recent collaborative research between the NSW DET and The University of Newcastle, Foreman and Arthur-Kelly identified important differences between students with multiple and severe disabilities enrolled in segregated and inclusive settings which form basis of current research program.

Collaboration

Professor Foreman works closely with A/Prof Michael Arthur-Kelly on research into the education of students with multiple and severe disabilities. They were recently consultants to the Royal Institute for Deaf & Blind Children in an evaluation of the Institute’s educational programs for students with multiple disabilities. Foreman and Arthur-Kelly recently completed an ARC-Discovery Grant investigating the impact of training communication partners on the communication interactions of students with multiple and severe disabilities. They are among a small number of researchers in Australia working in the area of multiple and severe disabilities.

Fields of Research

Centres and Groups

Centre

Memberships

Body relevant to professional practice.

• Member - Australian Association of Special Education
• Life Member - Australian College of Educators
• Fellow - Australian Psychological Society
• Life Member - Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children

Committee/Associations (relevant to research).

• Member - Australian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability

Editorial Board.

• Reviewer - International Journal of Development, Disability and Education
• Associate Editor - Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability
• Member - Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
• Member - Special Education Perspectives

Appointments

Research Advisory Board Member National Institute for People with Disabilities Research Institute, New York. (United States)	01/01/2006
Chair NSW Initial Teacher Education Committee (Australia)	01/01/2007

Awards

Recognition.

2003	Distinguished Service Citation Australian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability (Australia) Awarded for contribution to intellectual disability research as Editor of the Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 1991-2002.

Invitations

Public Seminar Series ACT Department of Education, Australia (Public address)	2006
Catholic Special Education Conference Mater Dei, Camden, Australia (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2004
Special Indeed Conference Independent Education Union, Australia (Conference Presentation - non published.)	2003

---

Administrative

Administrative expertise

Extensive administrative experience over more than 20 years including Head of Department, Head of Division, Dean, Head of School, Acting Pro Vice Chancellor (Teaching and Learning), also as leader of several large research projects inclusing ARC-linkage grant, ARC-discovery grant and consultancies. Current discipline-related administrative activity includes Chairmanship of NSW Initial Teacher Education Committee, responsible for accreditation of all teacher education programs in NSW.

---

Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Special Education
• Teacher Education

Teaching expertise

Long teaching career focussing primarily on special education, with major focus on early intervention, students with intellectual and multiple disability, and inclusive practices. Editor of leading university text-book on inclusive practice, about to be published in its 4th edition.