Exploring Human-Animal Relationships in Occupational Therapy

About this project

Are you passionate about the role animals play in people’s lives and curious about how they influence health and wellbeing? 

This innovative project offers the opportunity to explore how occupational therapists can better recognise and respond to human-animal relationships in everyday practice—beyond formal animal-assisted therapy. 

You will work alongside experienced researchers and a growing community of occupational therapists and allied health professionals who are part of a vibrant Community of Practice established in January 2025. This network is actively exploring how animals can be integrated into therapy in ethical, practical, and person-centred ways. 

The project involves introducing a simple three-question framework to practising occupational therapists, evaluating its clinical relevance, and generating evidence-based recommendations for practice. It is well suited to applicants with an interest in occupational science, mental health, human-animal interaction, or innovative assessment tools. You will gain experience in qualitative research methods, co-design, and professional engagement. 

Benefits of this project include: 

• Supervision by experienced and supportive occupational therapy researchers 
• Opportunity to work with real clinicians in applied settings 
• Connection to an active Community of Practice 
• Development of expertise in a growing and socially meaningful area of OT practice 
• A project that is flexible, applied, and grounded in everyday life

What you’ll do

You will undertake a series of coordinated activities to implement and evaluate the use of a three-question framework designed to explore human-animal relationships in occupational therapy practice. 

Key activities will include: 

• Socialising the project with a group of occupational therapists via a presentation or workshop to introduce the rationale, background, and aims of the project. This will include discussion of ethical considerations and practical use of the three-question tool. 
• Coordinating with occupational therapists across various practice settings (e.g. mental health, aged care, disability) who will trial the framework with selected clients as part of their routine assessment processes. Travel to practice sites may be required to support participant engagement, facilitate training, or observe implementation (local/regional, as needed). 
• Collect qualitative data through follow-up semi-structured interviews with participating occupational therapists to explore their experiences using the tool, its perceived value, limitations, and suggestions for improvement. 
• Thematic analysis of interview data using an inductive coding approach to identify patterns in how human-animal relationships influence occupational engagement. 
• Ongoing engagement with the Community of Practice, involving students and practitioners, to support reflection, knowledge sharing, and potential refinement of the framework based on emerging findings.

Where you’ll be based

You will be situated within a mature and research-active occupational therapy program at the University of South Australia, known for its strong emphasis on practice-based inquiry, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement. The program has a long-standing reputation for producing innovative, real-world research that bridges clinical practice and academic scholarship. In support of this project, a dedicated Community of Practice (CoP) was established in January 2025, bringing together occupational therapy students, practitioners, and other allied health professionals with a shared interest in the role of animals in therapy. This group meets regularly to explore ethical, practical, and relational dimensions of human-animal interaction in therapeutic settings. The CoP provides a fertile ground for knowledge exchange, reflective practice, and collaborative research development. This environment—anchored by academic leadership, a network of engaged clinicians, and student involvement—offers a strong foundation for piloting the three-question framework. It also fosters sustained inquiry into how animals can be meaningfully integrated into person-centred occupational therapy across mental health, aged care, disability, and community practice settings. Financial Support 

This project is funded for reasonable research expenses. Additionally, a living allowance scholarship of $35,200 per annum is available to Australian and New Zealand citizens, and permanent residents of Australia, including permanent humanitarian visa holders. Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants will be eligible to receive an increased stipend rate of $52,352 per annum (2025 rate). A fee-offset or waiver for the standard term of the program is also included. For full terms and benefits of the scholarship please refer to our scholarship information. International applicants are not invited to apply at this time.

Eligibility and Selection

This project is open to applications from Australian or New Zealand citizens, and Australian permanent residents or permanent humanitarian visa holders. International applicants are not invited to apply at this time.

Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for entrance into a Master of Research. 

Additionally, applicants must meet the project selection criteria: 

• Applicant must be a registered occupational therapist in Australia

All applications that meet the eligibility and selection criteria will be considered for this project. A merit selection process will be used to determine the successful candidate.

The successful applicant is expected to study full-time and to be based at our City East campus in the heart of Adelaide. 

Essential Dates 

Applicants are expected to start in a timely fashion upon receipt of an offer. Extended deferral periods are not available. Applications close on Sunday, 7 September, 2025.