Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697637049040.pdf (Australia)
Submission to the Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport’s inquiry into sleep health awareness in Australia from Michael Adeney – Psychologist, FatigueSafety Overview I am a Psychologist with a keen interest in sleep health, wellbeing and safety.

Over the past twenty years I have consulted with over sixty organisations across Australia on sleep health awareness.
Sectors covered include transport, mining, healthcare, education, petrochemical, emergency services, rail, manufacturing, aviation, education, the legal profession, community services and schools.

My consultancy FatigueSafety specialises in sleep health coaching and awareness programs.

Over 10,000 people have been through our programs.

I have authored the book BEDucation – the simple guide to better sleep.
I have prepared numerous educational resources for employees and children on the importance of sleep and developing better sleep habits.

These have included online programs, classroom-based programs, brochures, posters booklets, mp3 audio files, workshop presentations and policy and procedural guidelines.

While I network closely with researchers in academia my focus for the past twenty years is as a practitioner working face to face with people and groups in workplace settings.
I have gained extensive experience into the needs organisations and individuals face regarding sleep health awareness and also what type of interventions have and have not been effective in addressing the needs in sleep health.

I have the following points to make based on my experience: Sleep Health in Australian Organizations 1.

About 30-40% of adults in the workforce have some form of sleeping problem, from mild insomnia through to more serious sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea.
The percentages are higher for shift workers.

These figures, based on psychometrically valid screening tools, have been seen consistently across many sectors over the past 20 years.

2.

The general level of awareness of the importance of sleep to health, wellbeing and safety/fatigue is very low.

People “get” that sleep is important, but they still believe it is OK to “burn the candles at both ends” and not suffer any serious consequences.

3.
3.

People are surprised to hear of the links between poor sleep and health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease and stress and depression.

Inquiry into Sleep Health Awareness in AustraliaSubmission 75 4.

In general, employees are responsive to education and awareness training sessions on sleep health.

5.

People with sleep problems are usually very responsive to receiving support.

6.
6.

Our sleep coaching program, involving a structured correspondence course and brief phone coaching with a psychologist has produced consistent positive results with most participants making significant and sustainable improvements in their sleep quality.

We have consistently seen results where people are achieving an increase in sleep length on 1-2 hours per night.

7.

Improvements in sleep quality for sleep issues that are non-medical, take between 4-6 weeks to achieve.

8.
8.

Shift work significantly disrupts sleep and produces high levels of fatigue.

Shifts workers are a special subset of the community that require extra support in sleep health.

9.

Day workers are susceptible to impairment from sleep loss and sleep disorders including a.

Development and exacerbation of mental health issues b.

Reduced productivity at work c. Increased likelihood of errors and accidents Sleep Health in Schools 10.
School children, especially teens, often experience sleep loss due to a combination of factors including; a.

A changing body clock that naturally shifts to later sleep onset time and later waking.

b.

Requirements to be up early for school or extra-curricular activities.

c. Changing sleep behaviours with the introduction of smart phones and social media.

11.
11.

The impact of poor sleep for teens is linked to increased stress and vulnerability to mental health issues and significantly reduced academic performance.

Should you require further information, feel free to contact me.
Inquiry into Sleep Health Awareness in AustraliaSubmission 75 how individuals and organisations respond to The potential and known causes, impacts and costs (economic and social) of inadequate sleep and sleep disorders on the community;  Access to, support and treatment available for individuals experiencing inadequate sleep and sleep disorders, including those who are: children and adolescents, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, living in rural, regional and remote areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander;  Education, training and professional development available to healthcare workers in the diagnosis, treatment and management of individuals experiencing inadequate sleep and sleep disorders;  Workplace awareness, practices and assistance available to those who may be impacted by inadequate sleep or sleep disorders, with a focus on: rostering practices for shift workers, heavy-work requirements, and the transport industry as compared to international best practice; and  Current national research and investment into sleep health and sleeping disorders.
Inquiry into Sleep Health Awareness in AustraliaSubmission 75