Dr Jessica Hill
Lecturer
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
+61 7 344 33772
Researcher biography
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.
Book Chapters
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.
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.
Journal Articles
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
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
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, 2792. doi: 10.3390/ani14192792
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
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. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12979
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Conference Paper
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
Thesis
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