Jessica Levick

Dr. Jessica Levick is a Lecturer in Occupational Therapy and Program Coordinator of the Associate Degree of Allied Health at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ). With over 11 years of clinical experience, she specializes in mental health, particularly enhancing leisure engagement in acute mental health settings. Her doctoral research (2022) explored stakeholder perspectives on leisure in inpatient units, integrating clinical practice with policy and quality improvement strategies. She transitioned to UniSQ in 2022, contributing to the development of the occupational therapy program and collaborating with Metro South Health Services.

Education:

• Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOccTherapy), University of the Sunshine Coast (2014)
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) (BSc(Hons)), University of the Sunshine Coast (2016)
• PhD in Occupational Therapy, University of Southern Queensland (2022)

Research Interests: Jessica’s work focuses on leisure engagement in mental health inpatient units, digital health applications, sensory processes in occupational therapy, and recovery-oriented practice. Her research emphasizes consumer and staff perspectives to improve clinical policies and therapeutic environments. She has developed assessment tools like the ‘Checklist of Leisure, Interest and Participation’ and advocates for evidence-based practice principles in mental health settings.

Grants & Awards:

• UniSQ Research Capacity Building Grant ($13,677.48) - 2023 (Crisis Support Space Evaluation)
• Centre for Health Research Small Grant ($3,343.80) - 2023 (Leisure Tools Systematic Review)
• Occupational Therapy Australia Postgraduate Research Award - 2019

Professional Roles: Jessica has held roles as an occupational therapist in Queensland Health’s mental health units, including crisis response and emergency departments. She currently collaborates with the Queensland Police Service’s Co-Responder Program and Metro South Mental Health and Addiction Services. Her teaching spans courses like Occupational Performance, Occupational Therapy in Context, and Digital Health.

Labs/Teams: Active in UniSQ’s Centre for Health Research, contributing to interdisciplinary projects on mental health service improvement and leisure-based interventions. Collaborates with John Wiley & Sons on conference publications and the Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE).