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

39 works between 2019 and 2025
All (39) Journal Article (33) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (1) Other Outputs (2)

21 - 39 of 39 works

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

2024

Book Chapter

Global Best Practices in Applying AAIs: Snapshots of Unique Programs - Snapshot Thirteen: Choice, Relationship, and Confidence: Incorporating Animal-Assisted Therapy as a Method of Supporting the Self-Determination of Children in Therapy

Gorczyca, Ken, Nofech-Kanari, Efrat, Shani, Gabi, Gee, Nancy R., Binfet, John-Tyler, Green, Freya L.L., Flaherty-Fischette, Patricia, Binder, Amy Johnson, Hediger, Karin, Kinoshita, Miyako, Yam, Phoebe, Winkle, Melissa, Rath, Grace, Dell, Colleen Anne, Kang, Timothy, Chalmers, Darlene, Olsen, Christine, Leslie, Alison, Hill, Jessica and Pendry, Patricia (2024). Global Best Practices in Applying AAIs: Snapshots of Unique Programs - Snapshot Thirteen: Choice, Relationship, and Confidence: Incorporating Animal-Assisted Therapy as a Method of Supporting the Self-Determination of Children in Therapy. Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy. (pp. 449-488) London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-443-22346-4.00028-7

Global Best Practices in Applying AAIs: Snapshots of Unique Programs - Snapshot Thirteen: Choice, Relationship, and Confidence: Incorporating Animal-Assisted Therapy as a Method of Supporting the Self-Determination of Children in Therapy

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

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

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

2023

Journal Article

A Place for Attachment Theory in Exercise Science and Exercise Physiology

Meredith, Pamela, Hill, Jessica and Stanton, Robert (2023). A Place for Attachment Theory in Exercise Science and Exercise Physiology. Journal of Clinical Exercise Physiology, 12 (1), 27-35. doi: 10.31189/2165-6193-12.1.27

A Place for Attachment Theory in Exercise Science and Exercise Physiology

2023

Journal Article

Understanding the occupational role of dog ownership through the lens of attachment theory: a survey study

Meredith, Pamela, Strong, Jenny, Condon, Lara, Lindstrom, Danica and Hill, Jessica (2023). Understanding the occupational role of dog ownership through the lens of attachment theory: a survey study. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 86 (3), 205-214. doi: 10.1177/03080226221133036

Understanding the occupational role of dog ownership through the lens of attachment theory: a survey study

2022

Journal Article

Commentary on "Development of LDPAQ: learning disability physical activity questionnaire"

Brooker, Katie and Hill, Jessica (2022). Commentary on "Development of LDPAQ: learning disability physical activity questionnaire". Tizard Learning Disability Review, 27 (2), 122-126. doi: 10.1108/tldr-07-2022-0013

Commentary on "Development of LDPAQ: learning disability physical activity questionnaire"

2021

Other Outputs

Canine-assisted occupational therapy for children on the autism specturm

Hill, Jessica (2021). Canine-assisted occupational therapy for children on the autism specturm. PhD Thesis, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/a214312

Canine-assisted occupational therapy for children on the autism specturm

2020

Journal Article

“The connection just happens”: therapists’ perspectives of canine-assisted occupational therapy for children on the autism spectrum

Hill, Jessica Rachel, Ziviani, Jenny and Driscoll, Carlie (2020). “The connection just happens”: therapists’ perspectives of canine-assisted occupational therapy for children on the autism spectrum. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 67 (6) 1440-1630.12680, 550-562. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12680

“The connection just happens”: therapists’ perspectives of canine-assisted occupational therapy for children on the autism spectrum

2020

Journal Article

Canine assisted occupational therapy for children on the autism spectrum: a pilot randomised control trial

Hill, Jessica, Ziviani, Jenny, Driscoll, Carlie, Teoh, Ai Lin, Chua, Jia Min and Cawdell-Smith, Judy (2020). Canine assisted occupational therapy for children on the autism spectrum: a pilot randomised control trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50 (11), 4106-4120. doi: 10.1007/s10803-020-04483-7

Canine assisted occupational therapy for children on the autism spectrum: a pilot randomised control trial

2020

Journal Article

Canine-assisted occupational therapy for children on the autism spectrum: parents’ perspectives

Hill, Jessica Rachel, Ziviani, Jenny and Driscoll, Carlie (2020). Canine-assisted occupational therapy for children on the autism spectrum: parents’ perspectives. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 67 (5), 427-436. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12659

Canine-assisted occupational therapy for children on the autism spectrum: parents’ perspectives

2020

Book Chapter

Animal-assisted occupational therapy

Hill, Jessica (2020). Animal-assisted occupational therapy. Animal-Assisted Interventions for Health and Human Service Professionals. (pp. 271-293) Hauppauge, NY United States: Nova Science Publishers.

Animal-assisted occupational therapy

2020

Book Chapter

Minimum standards for the conduct of animal-assisted interventions

Driscoll, Carlie, Coghlan, Simon, Cawdell-Smith, Judy, Diamantakos, Evangelos, Hill, Jessica and Irwin, Tangela (2020). Minimum standards for the conduct of animal-assisted interventions. Animal-assisted interventions for health and human service professionals. (pp. 467-473) New York, NY United States: Nova Science Publishers.

Minimum standards for the conduct of animal-assisted interventions

2019

Journal Article

Canine assisted occupational therapy: protocol of a pilot randomised control trial for children on the autism spectrum

Hill, Jessica, Ziviani, Jenny, Cawdell-Smith, Judy and Driscoll, Carlie (2019). Canine assisted occupational therapy: protocol of a pilot randomised control trial for children on the autism spectrum. Open Journal of Pediatrics, 09 (03), 199-217. doi: 10.4236/ojped.2019.93020

Canine assisted occupational therapy: protocol of a pilot randomised control trial for children on the autism spectrum

2019

Journal Article

Canine-assisted occupational therapy for children on the autism spectrum: Challenges in practice

Hill, Jessica, Ziviani, Jenny, Driscoll, Carlie and Cawdell-Smith, Judy (2019). Canine-assisted occupational therapy for children on the autism spectrum: Challenges in practice. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 83 (4), 030802261985885-219. doi: 10.1177/0308022619858851

Canine-assisted occupational therapy for children on the autism spectrum: Challenges in practice

2019

Journal Article

Can canine-assisted interventions affect the social behaviours of children on the autism spectrum?: s systematic review

Hill, Jessica, Ziviani, Jenny, Driscoll, Carlie and Cawdell-Smith, Judy (2019). Can canine-assisted interventions affect the social behaviours of children on the autism spectrum?: s systematic review. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 6 (1), 13-25. doi: 10.1007/s40489-018-0151-7

Can canine-assisted interventions affect the social behaviours of children on the autism spectrum?: s systematic review

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2026
    Digitalisation of the Support Needs Assessment Tool Sports and Exercise
    Beyond Sports Foundation
    Open grant
  • 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

Enquiries

Contact Dr Jessica Hill directly for media enquiries about:

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

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