In This Issue...

What did you say?

Join the Board of Reviewing Editors – SLEEP Advances

Time to renew your ASA subscription

Most recent update of the COVID consensus

Sleep DownUnder 2021 news

What’s on next? 

World Sleep 2022

Education Centre - what's popular in 2021?

What did you say?

The ASA has been active in the last few months speaking out on behalf of members. Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the things we’ve had to say.

 Our commentary on the Draft National Preventive Health Strategy highlighted the serious omission of sleep health as a key priority for the national health agenda from now until 2030. 

The Research Committee prepared a submission to the audit of the Medical Research Future Fund sought a shift in emphasis to allocate a greater proportion of research funding to chronic health conditions. It also raised the alarming fact that over 65% of grant funds were awarded without peer review.

The ASA joined forces with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and other sleep societies to critique a draft report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The report indicated that there are no significant benefits, short- or long-term, from CPAP treatment, when this conclusion does not reflect the totality of available evidence. It was thought that this report could have been misconstrued and resulted in serious impacts on OSA treatment and patient health globally.

The ASA and Sleep Health Foundation were consulted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on the sleep components to be included in the latest iteration of the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (a component of the upcoming Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study).

Read more about recent ASA advocacy

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Join the Board of Reviewing Editors – SLEEP Advances

You may have seen our recent announcement about our new official ASA journals – SLEEP and SLEEP Advances. 

The Editor-in-Chief of SLEEP Advances, Mary Carskadon, is inviting ASA members to join the journals Board of Reviewing Editors. Check the website for the lists of Editorial Board members and members of the Board of Reviewing Editors to identify whether your expertise might fill a content gap. The journal especially welcomes members from underrepresented minority groups.  If interested, please email your CV to SRS Executive Director and Mary Carskadon

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Time to renew your ASA subscription

It’s renewal time!

It’s been an eventful year, and there’s more good news for members coming in the next 12 months. Here’s a taste of what to expect:

• Our free webinar program is back and in full swing   
• Hypersomnolence masterclass
• State meetings 
• Our first-ever hybrid event, Sleep DownUnder, will be held 10-13 October 2021 in person and online!

To pay now, log in to the ASA website with your member details and renew through your profile (read how). Alternatively, call 02 9920 1968 to renew by phone with your credit card.

To make renewing even easier we have introduced the auto-renew feature. Simply set it up when you renew this year and you will be billed automatically next year – don’t worry, we’ll let you know before we charge you. 

And while you’re renewing, please take a moment to make sure your details are up to date and check your preferences tab. It is particularly important to review the permissions statements so that we comply with our new privacy policy.   

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Most recent update of the COVID consensus

The ASA’s statement on the safe use of respiratory therapies to minimise spread of CoVID-19 was updated on 31 March 2021. Key changes include:  

• Emphasis on assessing risk in each situation, including risk of the individual having CoVID-19, risk of the current setting and risk of cessation of treatment 
• Highlighting the importance of seeking expert input to ensure that cessation of therapy is safe, and if not determining where appropriate care can be provided 
• Specific recommendations for hospital, home and hotel quarantine settings 

You can find an updated copy of the statement here.

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Sleep DownUnder 2021 news

Abstracts
The deadline for general abstract submissions is 18 June 2021.To view the abstract submission instructions click here. 

The deadline for Advanced Trainee submission is 6 July 2021. Click here to view the Advanced Trainee instructions.

To submit an abstract or for full details click here

Early bird registration

Have you got your early bird registration yet? Early bird registration closes 6 August.

Awards

The following awards are open for submissions with applications closing Friday 30 July:

• Helen Bearpark Scholarship
• Nick Antic Career Development Award
  
• Fisher & Paykel Sleep Research Travel Award

Successful applicants will be announced at the annual scientific conference - Sleep DownUnder 2021 in Brisbane 10-13 October.  

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What’s on next?

Keep up to date on the latest visit our events page.

From Registrar to Sleep Physician: navigating the transition to create a thriving sleep medicine practice

Are you an Advanced Trainee and finishing up your sleep medicine training but now you aren't sure what your next steps should be? Well this webinar is for you! 

Almost no structured information is provided to Advanced Trainees in sleep medicine to assist with planning and managing their transition from Registrar to Sleep Medicine Physician. With the majority of newly minted physicians entering at least some non-salaried private practice, a knowledge gap has emerged, impacting on this key career moment. When: 10 June 2021, 7PM AEST

COVID-19: Sleep, mental health and our response to the outbreak

The effects of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health are evident. However, the links between sleep and mental health during the pandemic require further explication. It is also important to discuss the government and public health response to the disease outbreak. This webinar aims to provide further understanding on government’s response to the COVID-19 outbreaks and the mental health changes arising from the pandemic. Join A/Professor Sutapa Mukherjee and Dr Melinda Jackson as they lead a discussion on our response to COVID-19 and its effects on our sleep, mental health. When: 7 July 2021, 4PM AEST

Hypersomnolence masterclass

A virtual clinical masterclass for sleep and respiratory physicians, general physicians, advanced trainees (in particular respiratory, sleep, neurology, psychiatry, general medicine), psychiatrists, neurologists, psychologists and general practitioners. When: 31 July 2021, 9:30am - 3:30pm AEST.

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World Sleep 2022

World Sleep 2022 will be an in-person meeting in Rome, Italy 11 - 16 March 2022. The Program Committee are pleased to announce 14 keynote speakers from institutions around the world, presenting exciting new research in sleep medicine and science. Learn about the speakers and their topics here. 

View the preliminary program

Symposia submissions are still being accepted until June 30. Click here for full details or to submit a proposal.

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Education Centre - what's popular in 2021?

The Education Centre is your gateway to online education and resources. So what's everyone watching? Here's the top 5 so far in 2021 - all recent webinars: 

• Ask us anything! The Dental Sleep Medicine webinar to answer all your burning questions for adult patients  
• CPAP is not tolerated – what to do next?
• Bruxism, temporomandibular disorders and occlusal changes in dental sleep medicine 
• Managing shift work 
• Sleep in women: normal sleep and circadian rhythms across the female lifespan

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