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Dr Rebekah Scotney
Dr

Rebekah Scotney

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 54601 952

Overview

Background

I graduated from The University of Queensland Gatton Campus in 1994, taking my first position within the School of Veterinary Science in October 1994. I am an experienced Veterinary Technical Officer, qualified Veterinary Nurse and Workplace Trainer and Assessor. I have a strong background in animal husbandry and welfare, behaviour, applied animal ethics, and sustainable wellbeing with more than 30 years’ experience in varied animal and veterinary research paradigms.

Following 18 years as Manager of the Clinical Studies Centre (CSC) within the School of Veterinary Science, I moved into a Level A academic position and was appointed Academic Program Coordinator for the Bachelor of Veterinary Technology degree at UQ (2013 - 2019). Concurrently, I held the position of Director of the CSC from 2013 – 2018. I teach primarily into the BVetTech and BVSc programs but also contribute to several other animal-related programs at the UQ Gatton Campus.

My passion for teaching, and commitment to instil a desire in all students to embrace life-long learning underpins my teaching and mentoring philosophy.

I gained my PhD in 2017 and have expanded my areas of speciality research to include the psychology of human – animal relationships, animal behaviour and animal-related occupational trauma and healing. I am a Compassion Fatigue Specialist Therapist, and recieved my Graduate Diploma in Psychological Sciences in 2022. Having lived experience of occupational trauma and compassion fatigue, I present extensively in these subject areas as well as in psychological wellbeing and emotional intelligence. Further to presentations, I also provide interactive, thought-provoking seminars and workshops within all sectors of animal-related industries and occupations.

Availability

Dr Rebekah Scotney is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Veterinary Studies, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
  • Graduate Diploma in Psychology, Deakin University

Research interests

  • Mental Health Ergonomics

    Occupational Stress, Trauma and Compassion Fatigue Emotional Intelligence, Sustainable Wellbeing

  • Human-Animal Bond

    The psychology of human – animal interactions

  • Animal Welfare and Behaviour

  • Veterinary Social Psychology

Research impacts

My pioneering research broke new ground in understanding occupational stress and compassion fatigue within animal-related professions, such as veterinary and animal science, biomedical research, animal welfare, and conservation in Australia. Specifically, my work was the first of its kind published in Australia and has forged a path for countless research and publication since. My research explores the complex interplay between occupational stress, compassion fatigue, and sustainable wellbeing in animal-related professions and extends into the psychology of human-animal connectedness.

Further, my work in exploring the psychological and ethical challenges inherent in human–animal interactions uses the OneWelfare Framework to stretch the contribution of my work beyond academia and animal-related occupations; - it has paved the way for the addition of sustainable wellbeing and self-care into veterinary and vocational education in Australia - it positively impacts the economy by helping to reduce psychosocial risks within the workplace and broader community - it influences policy relating to environmental impacts and societal culture around cat management practices

By integrating psychological, organisational, and ethical dimensions, my work identifies the unique emotional burdens faced by people who work with and interact with animals. Through interdisciplinary methodologies, I have developed evidence-based strategies and frameworks that support resilience, reduce burnout, and promote long-term wellbeing among professionals in high-empathy, high-demand animal facing roles.

Works

Search Professor Rebekah Scotney’s works on UQ eSpace

22 works between 2010 and 2025

1 - 20 of 22 works

2025

Journal Article

Urban cat management in Australia—Evidence-based strategies for success

Cotterell, Jennifer, Rand, Jacquie and Scotney, Rebekah (2025). Urban cat management in Australia—Evidence-based strategies for success. Animals, 15 (8) 1083, 1-28. doi: 10.3390/ani15081083

Urban cat management in Australia—Evidence-based strategies for success

2025

Journal Article

Rethinking urban cat management—Limitations and unintended consequences of traditional cat management

Cotterell, Jennifer, Rand, Jacquie and Scotney, Rebekah (2025). Rethinking urban cat management—Limitations and unintended consequences of traditional cat management. Animals, 15 (7) 1005, 1-18. doi: 10.3390/ani15071005

Rethinking urban cat management—Limitations and unintended consequences of traditional cat management

2025

Journal Article

Feline farmhands: The value of working cats to Australian dairy farmers — A case for tax deductibility

Crawford, Caitlin, Rand, Jacquie, Forge, Olivia, Rohlf, Vanessa, Bennett, Pauleen and Scotney, Rebekah (2025). Feline farmhands: The value of working cats to Australian dairy farmers — A case for tax deductibility. Animals, 15 (6) 800, 1-25. doi: 10.3390/ani15060800

Feline farmhands: The value of working cats to Australian dairy farmers — A case for tax deductibility

2025

Journal Article

A purr-suasive case for sterilization: How sterilizing working cats supports dairy farmers’ wellbeing, improves animal welfare, and benefits the environment

Crawford, Caitlin, Rand, Jacquie, Forge, Olivia, Rohlf, Vanessa, Bennett, Pauleen and Scotney, Rebekah (2025). A purr-suasive case for sterilization: How sterilizing working cats supports dairy farmers’ wellbeing, improves animal welfare, and benefits the environment. Animals, 15 (6) 766, 1-25. doi: 10.3390/ani15060766

A purr-suasive case for sterilization: How sterilizing working cats supports dairy farmers’ wellbeing, improves animal welfare, and benefits the environment

2024

Journal Article

A Situational Analysis of Attitudes toward Stray Cats and Preferences and Priorities for Their Management

Rand, Jacquie, Scotney, Rebekah, Enright, Ann, Hayward, Andrea, Bennett, Pauleen and Morton, John (2024). A Situational Analysis of Attitudes toward Stray Cats and Preferences and Priorities for Their Management. Animals, 14 (20) 2953, 2953. doi: 10.3390/ani14202953

A Situational Analysis of Attitudes toward Stray Cats and Preferences and Priorities for Their Management

2024

Journal Article

Situational analysis of cat ownership and cat caring behaviors in a community with high shelter admissions of cats

Rand, Jacquie, Scotney, Rebekah, Enright, Ann, Hayward, Andrea, Bennett, Pauleen and Morton, John (2024). Situational analysis of cat ownership and cat caring behaviors in a community with high shelter admissions of cats. Animals, 14 (19) 2849, 1-22. doi: 10.3390/ani14192849

Situational analysis of cat ownership and cat caring behaviors in a community with high shelter admissions of cats

2024

Journal Article

Wellbeing predictors in animal shelter workers: exploring the roles of job demands, job resources, and job crafting

Rohlf, Vanessa I., Scotney, Rebekah, Monaghan, Holly and Bennett, Pauleen (2024). Wellbeing predictors in animal shelter workers: exploring the roles of job demands, job resources, and job crafting. Anthrozoos, 37 (5), 997-1013. doi: 10.1080/08927936.2024.2351277

Wellbeing predictors in animal shelter workers: exploring the roles of job demands, job resources, and job crafting

2024

Journal Article

Impact of a local government funded free cat sterilization program for owned and semi-owned cats

Cotterell, Jennifer L., Rand, Jacquie, Barnes, Tamsin S. and Scotney, Rebekah (2024). Impact of a local government funded free cat sterilization program for owned and semi-owned cats. Animals, 14 (11) 1615, 1-26. doi: 10.3390/ani14111615

Impact of a local government funded free cat sterilization program for owned and semi-owned cats

2023

Journal Article

Solutions-based approach to urban cat management—case studies of a one welfare approach to urban cat management

Crawford, Caitlin, Rand, Jacquie, Rohlf, Vanessa, Scotney, Rebekah and Bennett, Pauleen (2023). Solutions-based approach to urban cat management—case studies of a one welfare approach to urban cat management. Animals, 13 (21) 3423, 3423. doi: 10.3390/ani13213423

Solutions-based approach to urban cat management—case studies of a one welfare approach to urban cat management

2023

Journal Article

The impact of lethal, enforcement-centred cat management on human wellbeing: exploring lived experiences of cat carers affected by cat culling at the Port of Newcastle

Scotney, Rebekah, Rand, Jacquie, Rohlf, Vanessa, Hayward, Andrea and Bennett, Pauleen (2023). The impact of lethal, enforcement-centred cat management on human wellbeing: exploring lived experiences of cat carers affected by cat culling at the Port of Newcastle. Animals, 13 (2) 271, 271. doi: 10.3390/ani13020271

The impact of lethal, enforcement-centred cat management on human wellbeing: exploring lived experiences of cat carers affected by cat culling at the Port of Newcastle

2022

Conference Publication

Dairy labour shortages: Could we use UN Sustainability Goals and related frameworks to explore, explain and reduce high dairy workplace attrition rates? 

Eats, Patricia and Scotney, Rebekah (2022). Dairy labour shortages: Could we use UN Sustainability Goals and related frameworks to explore, explain and reduce high dairy workplace attrition rates? . Australasian Dairy Science Symposium, Twin Waters, QLD, Australia, 30 November 2022 - 2 December 2022. Australasian Dairy Science Symposium.

Dairy labour shortages: Could we use UN Sustainability Goals and related frameworks to explore, explain and reduce high dairy workplace attrition rates? 

2022

Conference Publication

OneWelfare: a possible skeleton key to new, more productive narratives about animal agriculture?

Eats, Patricia and Scotney, Rebekah (2022). OneWelfare: a possible skeleton key to new, more productive narratives about animal agriculture?. TropAg, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 31 October-2 November 2022. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: TropAg.

OneWelfare: a possible skeleton key to new, more productive narratives about animal agriculture?

2022

Conference Publication

Exploring employee voice and leader responsiveness in Australian GP veterinary clinics

Gray, Haidee, Neall, Annabelle, King, Eva, Parker, Donna and Scotney, Rebekah (2022). Exploring employee voice and leader responsiveness in Australian GP veterinary clinics. Australian Veterinary Association National Conference, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 22-27 May 2022.

Exploring employee voice and leader responsiveness in Australian GP veterinary clinics

2021

Journal Article

Predictors of professional quality of life in veterinary professionals

Rohlf, Vanessa I., Scotney, Rebekah, Monaghan, Holly and Bennett, Pauleen (2021). Predictors of professional quality of life in veterinary professionals. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 49 (3), 372-381. doi: 10.3138/jvme-2020-0144

Predictors of professional quality of life in veterinary professionals

2020

Book Chapter

Welfare of dogs and humans in animal-assisted interventions

Scotney, Rebekah and Clay, Liam (2020). Welfare of dogs and humans in animal-assisted interventions. Animal-Assisted Interventions for Health and Human Service Professionals. (pp. 139-164) Hauppauge, NY United States: Nova Science Publishers.

Welfare of dogs and humans in animal-assisted interventions

2020

Journal Article

Compassion fatigue in people who care for animals: an investigation of risk and protective factors

Monaghan, Holly, Rohlf, Vanessa, Scotney, Rebekah and Bennett, Pauleen (2020). Compassion fatigue in people who care for animals: an investigation of risk and protective factors. Traumatology, 30 (1), 77-85. doi: 10.1037/trm0000246

Compassion fatigue in people who care for animals: an investigation of risk and protective factors

2019

Journal Article

An investigation of the prevalence of compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction and burnout in those working in animal-related occupations using the Professional Quality of Life (ProQoL) Scale

Scotney, Rebekah L., McLaughlin, Deidre and Keates, Helen L. (2019). An investigation of the prevalence of compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction and burnout in those working in animal-related occupations using the Professional Quality of Life (ProQoL) Scale. The Veterinary Nurse, 10 (5), 276-284. doi: 10.12968/vetn.2019.10.5.276

An investigation of the prevalence of compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction and burnout in those working in animal-related occupations using the Professional Quality of Life (ProQoL) Scale

2017

Other Outputs

Occupational Stress & Compassion Fatigue: The effects on workers in animal-related occupations

Scotney, Rebekah (2017). Occupational Stress & Compassion Fatigue: The effects on workers in animal-related occupations. PhD Thesis, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2017.502

Occupational Stress & Compassion Fatigue: The effects on workers in animal-related occupations

2016

Journal Article

Requirements for systematic reviews - respond

Scotney, Rebekah (2016). Requirements for systematic reviews - respond. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 248 (2), 145-145. doi: 10.2460/javma.248.2.144

Requirements for systematic reviews - respond

2016

Journal Article

The authors respond:

Scotney, Rebekah (2016). The authors respond:. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 248 (2), 144-146.

The authors respond:

Supervision

Availability

Dr Rebekah Scotney is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Master Philosophy

    Exploring the impacts on animal and human welfare and wellbeing in the Queensland Racehorse Industry: a OneWelfare approach

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Exploring the use of employee voice and leader responsiveness in Australian veterinary clinics

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    An exploration of adult survivors of childhood experiences of trauma: A retrospective study of the impact of companion animals.

    Principal Advisor

  • Master Philosophy

    Exploring the impacts on animal and human welfare and wellbeing in the Queensland Racehorse Industry: a OneWelfare approach

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Comprehensive use of whole body computed tomography,microbiome and metabolomics analysis to measure the effects ofdietary and exercise interventions on body fat content in dogs a stepforward in the understanding of obesity and overweight in dogs

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Deirdre Mikkelsen, Professor Joerg Henning, Dr Erika Meler, Dr Justine Gibson

Media

Enquiries

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communications@uq.edu.au