www.sleepshop.com.au
Dr Sarah Blunden, psychologist (BA Psychology Honours, MSocSc, PhD, MAPS), is the founder and director the Australian Centre for Education in Sleep.
Dr Blunden has spent the past 10 years researching, treating and lecturing on children's sleep both nationally and internationally, as well as delivering education and information sessions to the community, educators and health care professionals. Dr Blunden is recognised as an authority on children's sleep and is widely published in the field. She is a member of:
- The Australian Psychological Society
- The Australasian Sleep Association
- International Pediatric Sleep Association
Dr Blunden is passionate about communicating the importance of sleep to communities. This passion developed during her early years of sleep research and it became apparent that there was a need for sleep education in the community. The ACES programs for junior and high school students have been delivered and trialed in South Australian Schools. 100% of high school students who attended the sleep education sessions commented that the sleep program should be compulsory learning for all students.
She also directs the Paediatric Sleep Clinic based in Adelaide, South Australia (email contact: clinic@sleepeducation.net.au) for diagnosing and managing sleep problems in children and young people.
Dr Blunden has an interest in all areas of child wellbeing and currently has current research in:
- Focus Education - John Joseph - Wake up to the Impact of Sleep (www.focuseducation.com.au)
- Young Media Australia - The relationship between media use and children's development (www.youngmedia.org.au)
- The effects of media on development and psychological wellbeing in general and media in the bedrooms in particular (with The Australian Council for Children and the Media (ACCM))
- The effects of diet on sleep and performance (with CSIRO Children's Wellbeing Group)
- The effects of sleep loss on biological markers in adolescents (with School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia)
- Whether sleep education improves sleep and also wellbeing and quality of life (with SA Health)