Jessica Hill
Source: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/29928 Parent: https://about.uq.edu.au/faculties-institutes/hmbs/schools-institutes-centres/qcops/initiatives
Dr
Jessica Hill
Email: : jessica.hill@uq.edu.au
Phone: : +61 7 344 33772
Positions
Senior Lecturer : School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences : Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
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.
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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
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Animal-assisted services
The safe and ethical incorporation of animal-assisted services including assistance animals, therapy animals and companion animals
Read more Read less - #### Supporting physical activity participation for people with disability
Methods and strategies to support regular participation in physical activity for people with disability.
Read more Read less - #### Autism spectrum disorder
Clinical reasoning and decision making for evidence based intervention, client-centered, family-centered practice
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Search Professor Jessica Hill’s works on UQ eSpace
All (46) Journal Article (39) Other Outputs (2) Conference Publication (2) Book Chapter (3)
2025
Journal Article
Canine-assisted speech therapy for children: caregiver and therapist perspectives
Zhang, Zhao Yue, Driscoll, Carlie, Hill, Jessica, Howell, Tiffani and Ward, Genevieve (2025). Canine-assisted speech therapy for children: caregiver and therapist perspectives. Healthcare, 13 (24) 3299, 3299. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13243299
Canine-assisted speech therapy for children: caregiver and therapist perspectives
2025
Journal Article
Support needs assessment tool for people with disability wanting to participate in sport and exercise (SNAT-SE): Usability and acceptability testing
Hill, Jessica, Clanchy, Kelly, Trost, Stewart, Fleming, Jennifer, Beckman, Emma, Tweedy, Sean, Dutia, Iain and Gomersall, Sjaan (2025). Support needs assessment tool for people with disability wanting to participate in sport and exercise (SNAT-SE): Usability and acceptability testing. JSAMS Plus, 6 100111, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jsampl.2025.100111
2025
Journal Article
An analysis of people with disabilities in Australia by age, sex, disability type and severity – Implications for leveraging the 2032 Paralympic games to increase physical activity participation
Tweedy, Sean, Fortnum, Kathryn, Thomas, George, Cole, Damien, Demetriou, Bridget, Dutia, Iain, Hill, Jessica, Cairney, John and Beckman, Emma (2025). An analysis of people with disabilities in Australia by age, sex, disability type and severity – Implications for leveraging the 2032 Paralympic games to increase physical activity participation. JSAMS Plus, 6 100110, 100110. doi: 10.1016/j.jsampl.2025.100110
2025
Conference Publication
Physical activity environments and behaviours in Outside School Hours Care
Stylianou, Michalis, Woodforde, James, Duncombe, Stephanie, Thomas, George, Lee, Jessica, Hill, Jessica and Gomersall, Sjaan (2025). Physical activity environments and behaviours in Outside School Hours Care. Asia-Pacific Society for Physical Activity, Newcastle, NSW Australia, 25-27 November 2025.
Physical activity environments and behaviours in Outside School Hours Care
2025
Journal Article
Correction: Description and evaluation of a co-design process involved in the creation of a workforce training package aiding sport and exercise professionals work with autistic young people
Hill, Jessica, Williams, Brittany, McKeown, Gilly and Gomersall, Sjaan R. (2025). Correction: Description and evaluation of a co-design process involved in the creation of a workforce training package aiding sport and exercise professionals work with autistic young people. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 55 (10), 3784-3784. doi: 10.1007/s10803-025-06977-8
2025
Journal Article
Bone health in autistic children: evidence from a population-representative Australian Cohort Study
O'Flaherty, Martin, Gomersall, Sjaan, Hill, Jessica, Fortnum, Kathryn, Bourke, Matthew, Cairney, John, Munns, Craig, Simm, Peter and Erlandson, Marta (2025). Bone health in autistic children: evidence from a population-representative Australian Cohort Study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi: 10.1007/s10803-025-07051-z
Bone health in autistic children: evidence from a population-representative Australian Cohort Study
2025
Journal Article
Understanding Inequality Within a Personalised System of Disability Support: Australian Children With Disabilities' Unmet Support Needs
O'Flaherty, Martin, Hill, Jessica and Smith‐Merry, Jennifer (2025). Understanding Inequality Within a Personalised System of Disability Support: Australian Children With Disabilities' Unmet Support Needs. Australian Journal of Social Issues ajs4.70062. doi: 10.1002/ajs4.70062
2025
Journal Article
Description and evaluation of a co-design process involved in the creation of a workforce training package aiding sport and exercise professionals work with autistic young people
Hill, Jessica, Williams, Brittany, McKeown, Gilly and Gomersall, Sjaan R. (2025). Description and evaluation of a co-design process involved in the creation of a workforce training package aiding sport and exercise professionals work with autistic young people. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-16. doi: 10.1007/s10803-025-06912-x
2025
Journal Article
Comparing trajectories of sport participation for autistic- and non-autistic-youth: a group-based multi-trajectory modelling approach
O’Flaherty, Martin, Hill, Jessica, Bourke, Matthew, Gomersall, Sjaan, Tweedy, Sean and Cairney, John (2025). Comparing trajectories of sport participation for autistic- and non-autistic-youth: a group-based multi-trajectory modelling approach. Autism, 29 (10) 13623613251345345, 13623613251345345-2587. doi: 10.1177/13623613251345345
2025
Journal Article
Ayres Sensory Integration® with children ages 0 to 12: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Acuña, Carolina, Gallegos-Berrios, Sebastian, Barfoot, Jacqui, Meredith, Pamela and Hill, Jessica (2025). Ayres Sensory Integration® with children ages 0 to 12: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79 (3) 7903205180. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2025.051023
2025
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. (2025). 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, 171 (2) e002375, 105-109. doi: 10.1136/military-2023-002375
2025
Journal Article
Unpacking the relationship between autism, sport participation, and adolescent health: a causal mediation analysis
O'Flaherty, Martin, Hill, Jessica, Bourke, Matthew, Fortnum, Kathryn, Thomas, George, Gomersall, Sjaan R. and Cairney, John (2025). Unpacking the relationship between autism, sport participation, and adolescent health: a causal mediation analysis. Disability and Health Journal, 18 (3) 101832, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101832
2025
Journal Article
Assessing the support needs of people with disability wanting to participate in physical activity: a scoping review
Hill, Jessica, McDormand, Emily, Watson, Rachael and Gomersall, Sjaan (2025). Assessing the support needs of people with disability wanting to participate in physical activity: a scoping review. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 42 (3), 4447-478. doi: 10.1123/apaq.2024-0034
2025
Journal Article
Development of the Hearing Dog Evaluation and Reporting Overview (HERO): a novel measure for hearing dog welfare
Koh, Charis, Chillingworth, Holly, Driscoll, Carlie, Hill, Jessica and Narayan, Edward (2025). Development of the Hearing Dog Evaluation and Reporting Overview (HERO): a novel measure for hearing dog welfare. Animals, 15 (6) 785, 785. doi: 10.3390/ani15060785
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
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
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
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
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
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 Health, Disability and Ageing 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
Availability
Dr Jessica Hill is: : Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
- Doctor Philosophy
##### Developing new approaches to pressure injury mitigation for athletes with spinal cord injury
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy, Associate Professor Emma Beckman, Associate Professor Sjaan Gomersall - 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
##### To explore the factors influencing the formal diagnosis of high masking autistic people and the impact on self-identity and self-concept
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tomomi McAuliffe - 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 - 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 - Doctor Philosophy
##### Advancing knowledge in the measurement of movement behaviors in children with neurodevelopmental challenges
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Martin O'Flaherty, Professor Stewart Trost, Associate Professor Sjaan Gomersall - Doctor Philosophy
##### Belonging in Health Professions Practice Placements
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Roma Forbes, Dr Adriana Penman - 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 - 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 - Doctor Philosophy
##### Failing a professional practice experience in Occupational Therapy: the student experience.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jodie Copley
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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External profiles
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