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| Scientists aim to turn Australia's weary workers into sleeping giants | Scientists aim to turn Australia's weary workers into sleeping giants |
| (2 months later) | |
| Australia is facing a “staggering” level of economic loss from sleep disorders driven by shift work and increasing use of smartphones and tablets, a leading researcher has warned. | Australia is facing a “staggering” level of economic loss from sleep disorders driven by shift work and increasing use of smartphones and tablets, a leading researcher has warned. |
| A sleep research centre, to launched later this year, is set to investigate the country’s troubled slumbers. The centre claims to be the world’s first facility of its kind launched with the backing of universities, government and employer groups. | A sleep research centre, to launched later this year, is set to investigate the country’s troubled slumbers. The centre claims to be the world’s first facility of its kind launched with the backing of universities, government and employer groups. |
| The Co-operative Research Centre for Alertness, Safety and Productivity is led by Monash University in Melbourne, in partnership with the University of Sydney and Flinders University. | The Co-operative Research Centre for Alertness, Safety and Productivity is led by Monash University in Melbourne, in partnership with the University of Sydney and Flinders University. |
| The federal government has pledged $14.5m in funding for the centre over the next seven years in order to unearth solutions for sleep disorders. | The federal government has pledged $14.5m in funding for the centre over the next seven years in order to unearth solutions for sleep disorders. |
| Prof Shantha Rajaratnam, leader of the centre, said that the 16% of Australians engaged in shift work were particularly affected by disturbed sleep. | Prof Shantha Rajaratnam, leader of the centre, said that the 16% of Australians engaged in shift work were particularly affected by disturbed sleep. |
| “There’s a fairly substantial part of our population that is highly vulnerable to body clock disturbances and also to sleep disorders, which is almost a double whammy to their health,” he said. | “There’s a fairly substantial part of our population that is highly vulnerable to body clock disturbances and also to sleep disorders, which is almost a double whammy to their health,” he said. |
| “There is evidence that shows the prevalence of sleep disorders is increasing, as is problems with inadequate sleep. | “There is evidence that shows the prevalence of sleep disorders is increasing, as is problems with inadequate sleep. |
| “Shift work may not be going up, but body clock disturbances by inappropriate light is increasing. Light is one of the major time cues for our body clock. | “Shift work may not be going up, but body clock disturbances by inappropriate light is increasing. Light is one of the major time cues for our body clock. |
| “With the advent of the electric light and the use of devices that emit a significant amount of light, we are affecting our biological clocks.” | “With the advent of the electric light and the use of devices that emit a significant amount of light, we are affecting our biological clocks.” |
| A 2010 report by Deloitte Access Economics, commissioned by the Sleep Health Foundation, found that sleep disorders cause $4.3bn in indirect costs for Australia, a figure that Rajaratnam said is “staggering given the size of our economy”. | A 2010 report by Deloitte Access Economics, commissioned by the Sleep Health Foundation, found that sleep disorders cause $4.3bn in indirect costs for Australia, a figure that Rajaratnam said is “staggering given the size of our economy”. |
| The centre will work to better measure people’s alertness and sleep disorders. It will also look to develop solutions to disorders, as well as work with businesses to help them develop work schedules in tune with “sleep-wake” cycles. | The centre will work to better measure people’s alertness and sleep disorders. It will also look to develop solutions to disorders, as well as work with businesses to help them develop work schedules in tune with “sleep-wake” cycles. |
| “I don’t want to pre-empt any of the solutions as the whole idea of the centre is to be driven by end users, such as employees and employer groups,” Rajaratnam said. “But in seven years we want to have developed new generation tools and technologies to better manage the challenge of alertness.” | “I don’t want to pre-empt any of the solutions as the whole idea of the centre is to be driven by end users, such as employees and employer groups,” Rajaratnam said. “But in seven years we want to have developed new generation tools and technologies to better manage the challenge of alertness.” |
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