The Sleep Health Foundation applauds the inclusion of healthy sleep in the updated Australian 24-hour Movement Guidelines for Adults and Older Adults.
Healthy sleep is an essential component of health and is central to the ability of people to engage in healthy physical activity.
These guidelines are however limited in that they only focus on sleep duration and the importance of limited screen-time for healthy sleep to contribute to a healthy 24-hour day for an individual.
There are other factors that influence healthy sleep that need to be taken into account. This approach overlooks the extensive scientific evidence linking sleep quality and sleep disorders to chronic disease, mental health conditions, workplace and road accidents, and reduced quality of life.
“Sleep is not simply the absence of wakefulness- it is a biological necessity that underpins every aspect of physical and mental health,” says Health Psychologist and inaugural CEO of the Sleep Health Foundation, Moira Junge. “By only addressing how long Australians should sleep, the guidelines miss the opportunity to provide meaningful direction on sleep quality, sleep timing, sleep disorders, and the behaviours and policies required to support healthy sleep.”
Sleep problems affect millions of Australians, within adequate sleep costing the nation an estimated $66.3 billion annually in lost productivity, healthcare expenditure, and accident‑related costs. Poor sleep is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, anxiety, obesity, dementia, impaired immune function and other chronic conditions. Yet, unlike physical activity and nutrition, sleep still lacks its own comprehensive national guidelines, or public awareness campaigns or policy settings.
Sleep is a core component of overall physical and mental health and wellbeing. The Sleep Health Foundation is calling for the development of dedicated, evidence‑based National Sleep Guidelines and implementation of policy recommendations (already presented to government) that go beyond sleep duration and screen use to address:
- Sleep quality, timing and consistency
- The increased risk of chronic health problems via inadequate sleep
- Recognition and management of common and uncommon sleep disorders
- Environmental and behavioural environments and policies that support healthy sleep
- The impact of shift work and modern work patterns
- The role of technology and artificial light, well beyond ‘screen use’
- Sleep across diverse populations, including culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disabilities, and those in high‑risk occupations
“Australia has world‑leading sleep researchers and clinicians,” Dr Junge says. “We are ready to contribute to a set of national sleep guidelines that reflect the science and give Australians the tools they need to protect their long‑term health.”
The Foundation emphasises that integrating sleep into a 24‑hourframework is a welcome start, but it must be the beginning, not the end, of national action on sleep health. The evidence is clear and the time is now.
Please direct media enquiries to Liv Patterson via admin@sleephealthfoundation.org.au