Jessica Hill

Dr Jessica Hill is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, at The University of Queensland. She holds a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) from Charles Sturt University and a Doctor of Philosophy from The University of Queensland. Her PhD research examined the efficacy of canine-assisted occupational therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder. Hill has practiced as a paediatric occupational therapist in private practice since graduating from her undergraduate program. In 2015, she completed additional training in animal-assisted therapy, including canine and equine modalities. Following her PhD, she has pursued research on the effects of human-animal interactions on health and wellbeing outcomes. She serves as Co-director of The University of Queensland Animal-Assisted Interventions Alliance, Community Engagement Manager for Animal Therapies Ltd, a qualified personal trainer, and a researcher and coach in the UQ ParaSTART Program, which supports physical activity participation for people with disabilities. She also coordinates courses such as Occupational Therapy for Children & Youth I and II.

Hill's research specializations encompass the safe and ethical incorporation of animal-assisted services—such as assistance animals, therapy animals, and companion animals—strategies to facilitate regular physical activity participation for individuals with disabilities, and clinical reasoning for evidence-based, client-centered, and family-centered interventions in autism spectrum disorder. Her key publications include 'Canine-assisted speech therapy for children: caregiver and therapist perspectives' (Healthcare, 2025), 'Support needs assessment tool for people with disability wanting to participate in sport and exercise (SNAT-SE): Usability and acceptability testing' (JSAMS Plus, 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, 2025), 'Australian university students’ experience of animal-assisted education: An exploratory study' (Animals, 2024), '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, 2025), and 'Canine assisted occupational therapy for children on the autism spectrum: A pilot randomised control trial' (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2020). These works advance occupational therapy practices in paediatric care, disability support, and allied health fields.

Professional Email: jessica.hill@uq.edu.au