Overview
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
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours), Charles Sturt University
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Animal-assisted services
The safe and ethical incorporation of animal-assisted services including assistance animals, therapy animals and companion animals
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Supporting physical activity participation for people with disability
Methods and strategies to support regular participation in physical activity for people with disability.
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Autism spectrum disorder
Clinical reasoning and decision making for evidence based intervention, client-centered, family-centered practice
Works
Search Professor Jessica Hill’s works on UQ eSpace
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Jessica Hill is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Master Philosophy
The role of Occupational Therapy in the management of Childhood Epilepsy: Promoting Participation and Indepednence in Activities of Daily Living
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tomomi McAuliffe
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
The impact of missed Autistic diagnosis or misdiagnosis on individuals and their families
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tomomi McAuliffe
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Development and Evaluation of Medical Screening and Management Procedures for People with Disabilities and High Support Needs Commencing Competitive Sport
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Emma Beckman, Professor Sean Tweedy
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Doctor Philosophy
Failing a professional practice experience in Occupational Therapy: the student experience.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jodie Copley
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Doctor Philosophy
Advancing knowledge in the measurement of movement behaviors in children with neurodevelopmental challenges
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stewart Trost, Associate Professor Sjaan Gomersall
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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
Media
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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