New year advocacy update

A quick update on the latest advocacy news, including our joint pre-budget submission with the Sleep Health Foundation, and regulatory advice for the Department of Health and Aged Care.

Australia's Sleep Revolution with Michael Mosley

Commencing Wednesday 6 March, SBS TV is screening a three-part documentary starring Dr Michael Mosley that turns attention to Australia’s sleep health crisis and innovative approaches to treatment conducted by the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health at Flinders University.
 
Australia’s Sleep Revolution follows 30 patients including Michael Mosley, and tracks the results of using new methods and novel treatments in the management of sleep disorders. 

Ready for a new project in 2024? Volunteers wanted

With the start of a new year, opportunities abound to get more involved with your professional community. ASA is looking for new members for a number of internal and external committees and working groups. 

Members from all locations, career stages and backgrounds are encouraged to get involved to help us reflect the values in our Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

World Sleep Society updates

The World Sleep Society (WSS) has shared a number of new updates with society members:

Keeping Time: The World Sleep Society Community Update:WSS has introduced a new special quarterly publication for Associate Society Members of WSS. View Keeping Time: The World Sleep Society Community Update here

Membership discount: Members of ASA can use a US$10 discount when purchasing an individual membership in World Sleep Society (WSS). The regular price of $70 annual membership is reduced to $60. Memberships can be purchased via the WSS online store with coupon code 10OFF2024 before checking out. 

Sleep Medicine: To access Sleep Medicine online, including back issues, ASA members should complete the form here 

Register for the Singapore Sleep Conference 2024!

Singapore Sleep Conference 2024, Better sleep for a healthier life
22-23 March 2024 
Academia, 20 College Road, Singapore

Program highlights
Plenary Talk: The Past, Present and Future of Sleep Medicine:The Vital Role of Philosophy and Ethics - Prof Teofilo L. Lee Chiong

Paediatric Sleep Disordered Breathing Lecture: Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation (HGNS) in Children with Down’s Syndrome - Prof Christopher Hartnick

Full details

Webinars in March

Melatonin use in children : the good, the bad, and the ugly
Chaired by Jasneek Chawla, this session will provide evidence and guidance on the use of melatonin in children based on recent comprehensive review by melatonin task force of the International Pediatric Sleep Association with an upcoming position statement. In addition, preliminary findings by from an Australian study will be delivered.  Finally, case-based scenarios will be used to stimulate discussion about what families are reading on media coverage and professional organizations are advising.

Speaker: Professor Sarah Blunden 

Date: Wednesday 6 March, 2024
Time: 6pm -NSW, ACT, TAS and VIC
          5pm - QLD
          4:30pm  - NT
          5.30pm - SA
          3pm - WA 
          8pm - New Zealand 
Cost: Members free, non-members $25

Health equity in sleep: #WorldSleepDay

We know that Indigenous health inequities are unacceptable, and that the status quo can’t continue, but what do we know about inequities in sleep health for Indigenous populations? In this talk we will define health disparities and frameworks to understand them, identify sleep inequity and its determinants and identify current trends and opportunities for future research and resources.

Speaker: Dr Rachelle Love 

Date: Friday 15 March, 2024
Time: 12pm - New Zealand
          10am - NSW, ACT, TAS and VIC
           9.30am - SA
           9am - WA
           8:30am - NT 
           7am - WA 
Cost: free

Insider insights on navigating the PhD journey
For those looking into or are amid a PhD, it can at times feel like a journey without clear signposts. The first NEST webinar of 2024 aims to help you put together or strengthen your flight plan to navigate through your PhD journey.

This webinar will seek to provide prospective and current PhD students with some nuggets of wisdom to guide them through their PhD. Key topics include juggling your PhD with other commitments/responsibilities, dealing with and overcoming the inevitable yet unanticipated setbacks you encounter, and some tips on how to go about your transition from PhD life to academia or industry. The aim is not to regurgitate information commonly taught by supervisors or in courses, but to provide some Easter (or NEST!) eggs from those who are still in or have recently left the PhD roost!

Following presentations from our 3 exceptional speakers, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a Q+A with the speakers.

Chair: Aislinn Lalor
Speakers: Dr Hannah Thorne, Bindiya Shenoy, Mitchell Turner

Date: Friday 22 March, 2024
Time: 12pm - NSW, ACT, TAS and VIC
          11am - QLD
          10.30am - NT
          11.30am - SA
          9am - WA 
          2pm - New Zealand 
Cost: Members free, non-members $10