Research
Community Sleep Health Research
The Community Sleep Health research group is led by Professor Simon Smith. The group’s research focuses broadly on sleep in children and families, mental health and wellbeing of young people, and the role of sleep and circadian health across the life course.
Our team play integral roles in two Australian Research Council (ARC) Centres of Excellence:
- The Centre for Children and Families Over the Life Course (Life Course Centre). This centre leverages evidence-based research to develop new knowledge, technology and practices to benefit Australian children and families living in disadvantage.
- The Centre for the Digital Child (UQ Node). This Centre aims to support children growing up in the rapidly changing digital world, and provide strong evidence and guidance for children, families, educators, government and other stakeholders concerned with children’s wellbeing.
The team collaborate with many research groups around UQ, and broadly with other groups in the community, around issues of sleep and technology, sleep, circadian rhythms and the environment, pain, housing and environment, co-morbidities and wellbeing outcomes, and the development and implementation of novel interventions to support sleep health across different groups in the community (children, adolescents, families, young adults, older adults and special populations) and across the lifecourse.
The team utilise and implement a range of research methods and measures, including: direct physiological and behavioural measurement (including ECG, EEG, EMG, actigraphy, heart rate variability, computerised tests, simulations, environmental sensors and monitoring etc), and qualitative methods including interview and focus group methods, as well as co-design and co-conduct approaches. The team also has experience in health program evaluation.
Life Course Centre
Our research within the Life Course Centre’s People (https://lifecoursecentre.org.au/) stream examines how individual behaviours, lived experiences, and social conditions interact to shape health and wellbeing across the life course. A core focus is sleep health, which we conceptualise not just as a biological necessity but as a socially patterned behaviour shaped by inequality, opportunity, and everyday demands. Our work has advanced the emerging concept of sleep security, positioning sleep as a fundamental human need influenced by domains such as safety, environmental conditions, policy contexts, competing demands, and individual autonomy. This framework highlights how broader structural and environmental factors enable or constrain healthy sleep, providing a foundation for research, policy, and advocacy aimed at reducing inequities.
We complement this conceptual work with population-level analyses and methodological innovation. Using large-scale longitudinal data, including the HILDA Survey, we examine how sleep and related health behaviours are distributed across the population, how they change over time, and how they intersect with factors such as employment, income, family life, and mental health. In parallel, we develop novel mixed-method approaches to capture the lived realities of sleep routines within households, generating richer insights into the promoters and barriers of healthy sleep. Together, this program of work integrates theory, population evidence, and lived experience to inform more effective, equitable interventions that support health and wellbeing across the life course.
Key Outputs from our Lifecourse Centre work:
- Edmed, S., Schokman, A., Cobb-Clark, D., Tymula, A., Rossa, K., Pattinson, C., Glozier, N., Smith, S. (2026). Defining sleep security and its component domains: An expert Delphi study. Sleep Health, In Press
- Edmed, S. L., Huda, M. M., Alam, M. A., Pattinson, C. L., Rossa, K. R., Shekari Soleimanloo, S., & Smith, S. S. (2025). Housing well-being and sleep in Australia. Sleep Health, 11(4), 506–514. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2025.02.001
- Edmed, Shannon L., Huda, M Mamun, Pattinson, Cassandra L., Rossa, Kalina R., & Smith, Simon S. (2023). Perceived neighborhood characteristics and sleep in Australian adults. Health Education & Behavior, 51 (1) 155-166. https://doi.org/10.1177/10901981231177687
- Rossa, K., Pattinson, C. L., Edmed, S. L., Coles, L., Allan, A., & Smith, S. S. (2023). Understanding sleep routines: A novel mixed methods approach to understand promoters and barriers of healthy sleep (Life Course Centre Working Paper 2023–21). Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland. https://doi.org/10.14264/e03665f
The ARC Centre for the Digital Child
Our research within the Centre for the Digital Child focuses on understanding how digital technologies influence sleep health in early childhood. We take a socioecological approach, examining not only how much children use screens, but how, when, and why digital devices are embedded within family life, and how these patterns relate to sleep development during a critical early life period. A core focus of our program is the Australian Children of the Digital Age (ACODA) Study, a large national cohort examining digital media exposure and health outcomes from infancy through early childhood.
Another key focus of our work is understanding the mechanistic role of light exposure from digital devices, particularly its potential influence on circadian processes and sleep. Together, our research in this Centre spans epidemiological, experimental, and qualitative approaches, providing an integrated understanding of how digital technology affects early childhood development and wellbeing.
Key outputs from our Digital Child work:
Pattinson, C.L., Allan, A.C., Edmed, S.L….Rossa,K.,… Smith, S.S. (2026) Screen use and sleep in early childhood: a national survey of Australian families. BMC Public Health 26, 1840. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-27580-1
Pattinson, C., Edmed, S., Roberson, T., Smith, S. on behalf of the Digital Child (2025), Policy, Practice, and Futures: A Report of the Priorities Arising from the Second Annual Digital Childhoods Summit 2025. ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5204/rep.eprints.259936
Understanding Light, Technology, and Environments of Children: The LighTECh Study (Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award)
This study examines how light exposure from screen-based technology and the environment affects sleep, cognitive function, and wellbeing in children aged 5 – 8 years.
Light plays a vital role in keeping us healthy. Light helps us to regulate our sleep, alertness, mood, and cognition. However, light through digital screens and the environment, have changed the light profiles of children. We want to look at these changes.
Project Aims
- To understand the light profiles (spectrum and intensity) that children aged 5–8 years are exposed to during their normal daily lives.
- To assess the relationship between light exposure, sleep, cognitive function, and the wellbeing of children, now and as they grow over time.
Project Design
This study will recruit participants aged 5 to 8 years from across Australia for a 12-month study (baseline and 12-month follow-up).
At the two time points we will ask participants to complete the following research activities:
Children:
- Wear a light sensor (spectrometer) for 7 days
- Wear a wrist-watch activity monitor (actigraph) for 7 days
- (where possible) complete some short thinking and problem-solving activities during an in-person session.
Parents:
- Complete a survey (at any point during the 7-day testing period)
- Complete a daily Diary for the 7-days.
Call for Participants
We are seeking ACODA families with a child aged 5 – 8 years.
Participating Families will receive a $30 gift voucher (x 2, for each study period), a prism (a fun small tool for children to investigate light), a light activity book, and a “Light Scientist” Certificate after participating in the research study.
Study Contact
Email: healthydigitalchild@uq.edu.au
Phone: 07 3343 8743
To Participate please click the link: https://uniofqueensland.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8lgj6rzv0Iooqea?Link=CCHR
Let's Yarn About Sleep Study
The Lets Yarn About Sleep program aims to achieve sleep health equity for First Nations Australians. The program began as a ground-up movement on Kalkadoon Country in Mt Isa. Let’s Yarn About Sleep brings together communities, researchers, and health professionals to co-design culturally-responsive sleep health programs, tools, and resources. This program is led by Professor Yaqoot Fatima from the University of the Sunshine Coast. Our team contributes to research on a number of Let’s Yarn About Sleep projects.
For more information please see: https://letsyarnaboutsleep.org/
Key Outputs:
Fatima Y, Edmed SL, Von Senden R, Bucks RS, Nasir B, Sullivan DP, Potia AH, Maddison K, Williams W, Woodroffe T, Joosten S, Olaithe M, Robinson M, Lawson LP, Coussens S, Wallace R, Solomon S, Chai-Coetzer CL, Eckert D, Machan EA, Dunne N, King S, Nicholls C, Mann D, Terrill P, Fanti M, Ashby C, Hava A, Skinner T. Obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis and management in First Nations communities: protocol for the Let's Yarn About Sleep-Obstructive Sleep Apnea Program. Sleep Adv. 2025 Sep 10;6(4):zpaf061. doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpaf061.
Fatima Y, Olaithe M, Edmed S, Nasir B. From process to publication: the conduct and reporting of co-design in health research in the Western Pacific region. Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2025 Dec 5;65:101766. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101766.
Sharper Minds
The Sharper Minds research program is a multi-component, evidence-based prevention initiative designed to support university students’ mental health, wellbeing, and academic success. Developed through extensive student–staff co-design, the program integrates self-paced online modules, facilitated group courses, and brief workshops that target key domains such as sleep, mood, physical activity, nutrition, study skills, and social connection. Our team led the development of the Sharper Minds Better Sleep domain, which centres on building skills and knowledge around sleep health for university students.
Key outputs:
Dingle, G. A., Han, R., Huang, K., …Edmed, S., Rossa, K., Smith, S... & Tanksale, R. (2025). Sharper minds: Feasibility and effectiveness of a mental health promotion package for university students targeting multiple health and self-care behaviours. Journal of Affective Disorders, 378, 271-280.
Dingle, G. A., Han, R., Alhadad, S. S. J., …Rossa, K., Smith, S. S., Walter, Z. C., Williams, E., & Wright, O. (2024). Data from four consecutive cohorts of students in Australia (2019–2022) show the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic and international university students’ mental health. Australian Psychologist. https://doi.org/10.1177/00048674241233111\
For more information please see: Sharper Minds - my.UQ - University of Queensland
Professor Simon Smith
Professor Smith is an international expert in sleep and circadian health. His research spans sleep, circadian rhythms, mental health, wellbeing, recovery and performance, and implementation science.
Dr Shannon Edmed
Dr Edmed’s research examines social and environmental effects on sleep (including household and neighbourhood characteristics), and mental health and wellbeing.
Dr Cassandra Pattinson
Dr Pattinson’s research examines the effect of light exposure and digital media use on sleep, learning and wellbeing.
Dr Kalina Rossa
Dr Rossa’s research examines the role of sleep health and stress on mental health and wellbeing.
Dr Alicia Allan
Dr Allan’s research focuses on how sleep occurs in context, and how aspects of the physical environment (particularly light) influence sleep, circadian function and behaviour.
Dr Pranavan Somaskandhan
Dr Somaskandhan’s research focuses on applying artificial intelligence techniques across sleep research, physiological signal analysis, and light and digital screen exposure.
PhD Candidates
Ms Sheethal Kalmadka
PhD Candidate, Child Health Research Centre, UQ
PhD Thesis Title: Challenges and Opportunities in Sleep Health Service Provision Within Primary Care Settings in Australia.
Ms Ishrat Jahan
PhD Candidate, Child Health Research Centre, UQ
PhD Thesis Title: Sleep health of First Nations adolescents: Opportunities for early intervention for improved health and wellbeing outcomes
Ms Elena Bild
PhD Candidate, Child Health Research Centre, UQ
PhD Thesis Title: Co-design of a Psychology Intervention for People Living with a Central Disorder of Hypersomnolence
Mr Louis DeWaal
Research Assistant, LighTECh Study, Child Health Research Centre, UQ
The CoSH group has significant links across UQ, Nationally, and Internationally. This list reflects current funded projects, publications, collaborations, and works that are underway or have been completed within the last 5-years.
University of Queensland
- The School of Information Technology & Electrical Engineering
- School of Education
- School of Psychology
- Poche Centre for Indigenous Health
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
- Queensland Brain Institute
- School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences
- Medical School (Rural Clinical School)
National
- University of Sunshine Coast
- Griffith University
- Curtin University
- Edith Cowan University
- Queensland University of Technology
- The University of Sydney
- University of Melbourne
- Deakin University
- University of Wollongong
- The University of Western Australia
- University of New England
- The Kids Research Institute, Australia
- The Black Dog Institute
- Flinders University
Community, Industry, and Government partners
Funders and Commonwealth Bodies:
- Australian Research Council (ARC)
- National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
- Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), Department of Defence
- Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
Government, industry and community:
- Health and Wellbeing Queensland
- Queensland Department of Education
- Logan Together
- Lives Lived
- Well Telstra Foundation
- UNICEF Australia
- Canteen
- Day of AI
- C&K
- Social Ventures Australia / Evidence for Learning
International Academic and Government Partners
- Walter Reed National Military Medical Center — TBI Center of Excellence
- Uniformed Services University
- US National Institutes of Health / NINR
- Johns Hopkins University
- VA Portland / Oregon Health & Science University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Stony Brook University
- Seattle Children's / University of Washington
- Kuopio University Hospital