Anna Hilyard (she/her)
PhD Candidate | Mental Health + Exercise Research Group, School of Human Sciences – University of Western Australia
Physiotherapist |Perth Children’s Hospital
Can you tell us a little about your work with MHEX?
My research focuses on supporting children and young people who experience severe disabling pain that is resistant to usual treatment. In particular my research aims to build knowledge to help these young people improve their physical function, recognising the significant role that physical activity plays in long-term physical and mental health. As part of this work, I am exploring the complex interplay between physical and psychological functioning.
What inspired you to get into this field of research?
Having experienced chronic pain myself as a young person, I understand firsthand how deeply it can affect every aspect of life. Too often, people are told they simply have to live with it. I became fascinated by the neuroscience of pain—particularly how we can harness the brain’s own processing systems to “turn down the volume” of pain, allowing us to re-engage in activities that once felt impossible. I initially worked with adults to help them develop these skills, and later adapted the approach for young people, leading to the development of a paediatric pain program at Perth Children’s Hospital.
What’s the part of your work you enjoy the most?
I love witnessing the “light bulb moment” when young people realise they have the power to influence how they feel—it’s incredibly empowering for them. Many of the young people we see are significantly disabled by their pain and often struggle to attend school or participate socially. Watching them regain confidence and function is deeply rewarding. I also really enjoy collaborating with paediatric pain researchers around the world. They are, almost without exception, compassionate and dedicated clinicians who are committed to improving care in this field and generously share their time and ideas to help drive progress.
And the most challenging?
Statistics! Luckily I have a fantastic biostatistician in my research team.
What’s one project or piece of work you’re most excited about right now?
I’m currently working on a project that explores the best way to measure physical function in young people with pain. Traditionally, we’ve relied on self-reported questionnaires, but our findings suggest these can be unreliable, as they’re often influenced by factors such as emotional health. We’re investigating the use of a standardised walking test, which offers a more objective and accurate measure of physical capacity. This type of test has rarely been used in paediatric pain research, largely because it hasn’t been thoroughly studied in this context until now. Accurate measurement is essential—without it, we can’t reliably assess whether treatments are effective. Our research will help clinicians and other researchers more accurately evaluate their treatment programs and improve outcomes for young people living with pain.
What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
I enjoy sailing, lifting weights, walking with my dog.
If you weren’t in research, what job could you see yourself doing?
I almost became a marine biologist but changed my mind at the last minute and signed up for physiotherapy training instead—just a week before the course began.
Do you have a favourite quote, motto, or piece of advice that guides you?
Have an ambitious Plan A, and a rock solid Plan B
Finally, what would you say to someone interested in starting a career in research?
Choose a topic you’re genuinely passionate about. Research has its ups and downs, and that passion will help keep you motivated when things get challenging. Just as important is finding a supportive and engaged supervisor—having the right mentor can make a huge difference to your research experience and success.
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