This Helen Bearpark Memorial Lecture was recorded during Sleep DownUnder 2024. It brings together a panel of experts with diverse backgrounds to discuss how improving sleep health can be a step towards achieving health equity. The session highlights barriers that lead to poor sleep, evidence-based strategies, and the socioecological path towards tailored and inclusive interventions for promoting sleep health across various communities.

Sleep is critical for health and wellbeing, but often overlooked in public health. Research shows that sleep health is unevenly distributed across populations and aligns with social disadvantage. Therefore, poor sleep is a key indicator of extensive disparities in physical and mental health, especially in First Nations people, culturally diverse communities and minoritised, underrepresented groups.

Presentations

• Why do people not seek treatment for sleep disorders? Case studies and patient perspectives - Jenny Haycock
• Using an intersectional lens to understand and address sleep health disparities in culturally diverse and minoritised communities - Prerna Varma
• Sleep health service access and uptake: Challenges in rural, remote and First Nations communities - Yaqoot Fatima
• Breaking down barriers: enhancing support and access to sleep health services for mothers in New Zealand - Zoe Walsh

This learning activity takes approximately 1.5 hours and earns 1.5 CPD points.

Enrolment costs $30 for ASA members and $60 for others.