New grant will upskill pharmacists on insomnia and sleep health

28 September 2023

The Australasian Sleep Association has won a two-year Commonwealth grant to increase the knowledge and skills of pharmacists on insomnia and sleep health. .

“The Quality Use of Medicines for Insomnia and Sleep Health (QUMISH) grant is a major win for the association, allowing us to work with pharmacy peak bodies to deliver education and training to thousands of pharmacists,” said ASA CEO, Marcia Balzer.

“Pharmacists provide millions of consultations to people with insomnia each year. Providing evidence-based training to pharmacists about quality use of medicines for insomnia and sleep health, and ‘first line’ non-pharmacological strategies is a clear priority to improve the health and quality of life of Australians, and reduce healthcare costs.

"This work builds on our existing Commonwealth grant program that is educating and training GPs, psychologists and primary care nurses," Marcia said.

The Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Hon. Mark Butler MP, announced the grant this week under the Quality Use of Diagnostics,Therapeutics and Pathology program. 

The ASA is leading a consortium including the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the Sleep Health Foundation and the University of Sydney to deliver the QUMISH program, funded over two years for a total of $1.05 million.