Her research interests focus on maximising intellectual potential and she is particularly interested in issues of social justice. Ongoing research projects include an international study of effective teachers of the gifted, a longitudinal study of adolescent academic and social-emotional outcomes, the development of expertise in competitive Scrabble players, and the development of spiritual understanding in children. Wilma has published extensively on gifted education topics and was presented the Eminent Australian award by the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented in 2006 for her services to gifted education.