Rate My Professor Phil Foreman

Emeritus Professor Phil Foreman of the University of Newcastle, College of Human and Social Futures, has a distinguished career in education. He holds a PhD from Macquarie University, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Education, and Master of Letters from the University of New England. Foreman was Director of the University of Newcastle Special Education Centre from 1986 to 1999, developing its research profile with major grants. He served as Dean of Students for four years during that period, Dean of Education until 2008, Chair of the NSW Institute of Teachers from 2007 to 2013, Head of Department, Head of Division, Head of School, and Acting Pro Vice Chancellor (Teaching and Learning). He chaired the NSW Initial Teacher Education Committee, accrediting all teacher education programs in NSW, and was instrumental in linking the university with the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, establishing the Renwick Centre.

Foreman's research specializations include intellectual disability, education of students with disabilities, inclusion, multiple and severe disabilities, special education, teacher education, behaviour state analysis, and early intervention. Key publications are the edited Inclusion in Action (sixth edition, 2014), used on over 20 campuses in Australia and New Zealand, and single-authored Education of Students with an Intellectual Disability: Research and Practice (2009), with earlier editions of Inclusion in Action from 2001 to 2011. He secured 32 grants totaling $2,199,777, including ARC Discovery ($152,600, 2007) and ARC SPIRT ($125,000, 1999) projects. Awards include Member of the Order of Australia (2013), Distinguished Service Citation from the Australian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability (2003), and Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society. His 1999 research developed a support needs assessment instrument used to allocate over $30 million to regular schools. Foreman delivered keynotes on inclusion and support planning, and served as Associate Editor of the Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability and on other editorial boards.