Dr Jessica Hill
Dr

Jessica Hill

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Phone: 
+61 7 344 33772

Background

Jess has worked as a paediatric occupational therapist in private practice since graduating from her undergraduate degree. She gained additional training in animal-assisted therapy (canine and equine) in 2015 and became interested in the role animals could play in facilitating client motivation and engagement within therapy sessions. This interest led Jess to complete her PhD exploring the efficacy of canine-assisted occupational therapy with autistic children. Since completing her PhD Jess has continued her research into the impact of human-animal interaction to human and animal health and wellbeing resulting in a number of publications. In line with this research Jess is also the Co-director of The University of Queensland Animal-Assisted intervention Alliance, and the Community Engagement Manager for Animal Therapies Ltd. Jess is also qualified as a personal trainer and has clinical and research experience working to support people with disability engage in physical activity. Jess is a current researcher and coach within the UQ ParaSTART Program.

Availability

Dr Jessica Hill is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences Allied health and rehabilitation science Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Health Sciences Occupational therapy Veterinary sciences

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours), Charles Sturt University
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Animal-assisted services

    The safe and ethical incorporation of animal-assisted services including assistance animals, therapy animals and companion animals

  • Supporting physical activity participation for people with disability

    Methods and strategies to support regular participation in physical activity for people with disability.

  • Autism spectrum disorder

    Clinical reasoning and decision making for evidence based intervention, client-centered, family-centered practice

Search Professor Jessica Hill’s works on UQ eSpace

32 works between 2019 and 2024
All (32) Journal Article (27) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (1) Other Outputs (2)

1 - 20 of 32 works

2024

Other Outputs

Australian children with disabilities’ unmet support needs: Evidence from the Better Support for Kids with Disabilities survey

O'Flaherty, Martin, Hill, Jessica and Smith-Merry, Jennifer (2024). Australian children with disabilities’ unmet support needs: Evidence from the Better Support for Kids with Disabilities survey. LCC Working Paper Series. 2024-37. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland Australia. doi: 10.14264/db88eeb

Australian children with disabilities’ unmet support needs: Evidence from the Better Support for Kids with Disabilities survey

2024

Journal Article

Animal-assisted services for adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders: a scoping review

McSween, Marie-Pier, Day, Tasman, Hill, Jessica and Wallace, Sarah J (2024). Animal-assisted services for adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders: a scoping review. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 59 (6), 2858-2877. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.13119

Animal-assisted services for adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders: a scoping review

2024

Journal Article

An acceptability and feasibility investigation of a community-based motor program for autistic children with moderate and high support needs

Svensson, Lee, Stylianou, Michalis, Hill, Jessica, Trost, Stewart G. and Cairney, John (2024). An acceptability and feasibility investigation of a community-based motor program for autistic children with moderate and high support needs. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 118 102495, 102495. doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102495

An acceptability and feasibility investigation of a community-based motor program for autistic children with moderate and high support needs

2024

Conference Publication

Development of a support needs assessment tool for people with disability wanting to participate in sport and exercise

Hill, J., Fleming, J., Beckman, E., Tweedy, S., Trost, S., Dutia, I., Clanchy, K. and Gomersall, S. (2024). Development of a support needs assessment tool for people with disability wanting to participate in sport and exercise. 2024 SMA & ACSEP Conference, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 16-19 October 2024. Chatswood, NSW, Australia: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2024.08.105

Development of a support needs assessment tool for people with disability wanting to participate in sport and exercise

2024

Journal Article

Australian university students’ experience of animal-assisted education: An exploratory study

Hill, Jessica, Waldby, Lucy, Quinlan, Teresa, Fleming, Jennifer, Hoyle, Melanie and Driscoll, Carlie (2024). Australian university students’ experience of animal-assisted education: An exploratory study. Animals, 14 (19) 2792, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/ani14192792

Australian university students’ experience of animal-assisted education: An exploratory study

2024

Journal Article

Understanding the Relationship Between Attachment Orientation and Physical Activity Participation: An Exploratory Study

Hill, Jessica, Meredith, Pamela, Forrester, Grace, Shirley, Julia and Gomersall, Sjaan R. (2024). Understanding the Relationship Between Attachment Orientation and Physical Activity Participation: An Exploratory Study. Journal of physical activity & health, 21 (10), 1-8. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2023-0717

Understanding the Relationship Between Attachment Orientation and Physical Activity Participation: An Exploratory Study

2024

Journal Article

What supports do autistic adolescents and adults need? Perspectives of self‐reporting adults and caregivers

Hill, Jessica, Copley, Jodie, Donovan, Sophie, Ashburner, Jill, Taylor, Jennifer and Bobir, Natasha (2024). What supports do autistic adolescents and adults need? Perspectives of self‐reporting adults and caregivers. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 71 (6), 981-997. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12979

What supports do autistic adolescents and adults need? Perspectives of self‐reporting adults and caregivers

2024

Journal Article

In Search of a Good Person-to-Job Fit: Perspectives of Autistic Clients, Their Family Members, and Employers of a Pilot Autism-Specific Employment Program

Ashburner, Jill, Glastonbury, Emily, Bobir, Natasha, Sanders, Davina, Swift, Elena, Rietberg, Emily and Hill, Jessica (2024). In Search of a Good Person-to-Job Fit: Perspectives of Autistic Clients, Their Family Members, and Employers of a Pilot Autism-Specific Employment Program. Autism in Adulthood. doi: 10.1089/aut.2023.0075

In Search of a Good Person-to-Job Fit: Perspectives of Autistic Clients, Their Family Members, and Employers of a Pilot Autism-Specific Employment Program

2024

Journal Article

Perceptions and beliefs of community-based fitness professionals working with people with disability: a qualitative study

Hill, Jessica, Gaukroger, Kate, Gomersall, Sjaan, Tweedy, Sean, Gullo, Hannah and Beckman, Emma (2024). Perceptions and beliefs of community-based fitness professionals working with people with disability: a qualitative study. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-8. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2375062

Perceptions and beliefs of community-based fitness professionals working with people with disability: a qualitative study

2024

Journal Article

Understanding the experience of assistance dog providers supporting people with disability: an exploratory study

Hill, Jessica, Gui, Jessie, Moodley, Kiara and Driscoll, Carlie (2024). Understanding the experience of assistance dog providers supporting people with disability: an exploratory study. Disability and Rehabilitation 2354512, 1-8. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2354512

Understanding the experience of assistance dog providers supporting people with disability: an exploratory study

2024

Journal Article

Exploring the relationship between persons with hearing loss/deafness and their hearing dogs

Driscoll, Carlie J., Hill, Jessica, Torre, Anna and Pachana, Nancy (2024). Exploring the relationship between persons with hearing loss/deafness and their hearing dogs. Animals, 14 (11) 1527, 1-12. doi: 10.3390/ani14111527

Exploring the relationship between persons with hearing loss/deafness and their hearing dogs

2024

Journal Article

Animal-assisted services and occupational therapy: A survey study

Hill, Jessica, Driscoll, Carlie and Pearse, Kelly (2024). Animal-assisted services and occupational therapy: A survey study. People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice (PAIJ), 7 (1), 1-16.

Animal-assisted services and occupational therapy: A survey study

2024

Journal Article

The physical activity advice continuum-a guide for physical activity promotion in health care

Freene, Nicole, Barrett, Stephen, Cox, Emily R., Hill, Jessica, Lay, Roger, Seymour, Jessica, Szeto, Kimberley and Gomersall, Sjaan R. (2024). The physical activity advice continuum-a guide for physical activity promotion in health care. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 21 (4), 1-5. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2023-0748

The physical activity advice continuum-a guide for physical activity promotion in health care

2024

Journal Article

Failing professional practice placements in allied health: What do we understand about the student experience? A scoping review

Milgate, Wendy, Copley, Jodie and Hill, Jessica (2024). Failing professional practice placements in allied health: What do we understand about the student experience? A scoping review. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 29 (1), 301-327. doi: 10.1007/s10459-023-10243-w

Failing professional practice placements in allied health: What do we understand about the student experience? A scoping review

2024

Journal Article

Canine-assisted occupational therapy for children within a student-led university clinic: the influence on child engagement from the perspectives of student and parent participants

Hill, Jessica, Mensforth, Sophie, Waldby, Lucy, Fleming, Jennifer, Quinlan, Teresa and Driscoll, Carlie (2024). Canine-assisted occupational therapy for children within a student-led university clinic: the influence on child engagement from the perspectives of student and parent participants. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 44 (3), 444-459. doi: 10.1080/01942638.2023.2273281

Canine-assisted occupational therapy for children within a student-led university clinic: the influence on child engagement from the perspectives of student and parent participants

2023

Journal Article

Understanding the experience of community-based fitness professionals supporting people with disability to engage in sport and exercise: a national survey

Hill, Jessica, Massey, Elise and Gullo, Hannah (2023). Understanding the experience of community-based fitness professionals supporting people with disability to engage in sport and exercise: a national survey. Disability and Rehabilitation, 46 (14), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2023.2246890

Understanding the experience of community-based fitness professionals supporting people with disability to engage in sport and exercise: a national survey

2023

Journal Article

Community-based physical activity promotion confers broad-spectrum benefits for military veterans with chronic and complex conditions: evidence from 4 years of rehabilitation consultant referrals

Clanchy, Kelly, Hill, J., Fenning, M. and Tweedy, S. (2023). Community-based physical activity promotion confers broad-spectrum benefits for military veterans with chronic and complex conditions: evidence from 4 years of rehabilitation consultant referrals. BMJ Military Health e002375. doi: 10.1136/military-2023-002375

Community-based physical activity promotion confers broad-spectrum benefits for military veterans with chronic and complex conditions: evidence from 4 years of rehabilitation consultant referrals

2023

Journal Article

Investigating dog welfare when interacting with autistic children within canine-assisted occupational therapy sessions: a single case study

Hill, Jessica, Driscoll, Carlie, Cawdell-Smith, Judy, Anderson, Stephen and Ziviani, Jenny (2023). Investigating dog welfare when interacting with autistic children within canine-assisted occupational therapy sessions: a single case study. Animals, 13 (12) 1965, 1-15. doi: 10.3390/ani13121965

Investigating dog welfare when interacting with autistic children within canine-assisted occupational therapy sessions: a single case study

2023

Journal Article

Occupational therapists' understanding of supporting physical activity participation when working with children and adolescents: a national survey

Hill, Jessica, Vogler, Jessica and Gullo, Hannah (2023). Occupational therapists' understanding of supporting physical activity participation when working with children and adolescents: a national survey. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 70 (3), 303-313. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12854

Occupational therapists' understanding of supporting physical activity participation when working with children and adolescents: a national survey

2023

Journal Article

Building Expertise in the Workplace: Occupational Therapists Learning Upper Limb Hypertonicity Practice

Copley, Jodie, Turpin, Merrill, Justins, Emma, Colclough, Sarah and Hill, Jessica (2023). Building Expertise in the Workplace: Occupational Therapists Learning Upper Limb Hypertonicity Practice. Australian Journal of Clinical Education, 12 (1). doi: 10.53300/001c.75473

Building Expertise in the Workplace: Occupational Therapists Learning Upper Limb Hypertonicity Practice

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2026
    Implementation and evaluation of a co-designed capability and capacity building training package to support autistic young people participate in grassroot sports.
    AUS Department of Social Services Information, Linkages and Capacity Building Social and Community Participation
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    Implementation and scale-up of a consumer co-designed physical activity promotion program for people with moderate-to-profound disabilities
    NHMRC MRFF PPHR - Effective Treatments and Therapies
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Jessica Hill is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Effectiveness of an Occupational Therapy intervention using a sensory enriched and parent coaching approach with toddlers (18 to 42 months) with tactile defensiveness and their caregivers.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jacqui Barfoot

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Failing a professional practice experience in Occupational Therapy: the student experience.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Jodie Copley

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding and influencing sedentary time in workers with a disability

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy, Dr Ana Goode, Professor Genevieve Healy

  • Master Philosophy

    Understanding the OT role in the process of psychiatric assistance dog placement

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Melanie Hoyle

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Interventions to increase physical activity in children and youth with Autism

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Stewart Trost, Dr Michalis Stylianou, Professor John Cairney

Enquiries

Contact Dr Jessica Hill directly for media enquiries about:

  • animal-assisted therapy
  • assistance animals
  • autims
  • disability
  • paediatrics
  • physical activity
  • sport

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au