This Working Life The power of a good night’s sleep
Jan 16, 2026
Moira Junge, CEO of the Sleep Health Foundation, and Dr. Charlotte Gupta, a sleep research expert at CQ University, dive into the critical role sleep plays in our work lives. They reveal alarming statistics: four in ten Australians struggle with sleep, often due to work stress and irregular hours. The duo shares practical tips on improving sleep hygiene, emphasizes the importance of employer responsibility in fostering a healthy work environment, and explains the intricate link between sleep and nutrition. Their insights offer a roadmap to better sleep for a healthier workplace.
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Sleep Is More Than Hours
- Experts recommend seven to nine hours for most adults but recognise individual variation between about six and ten hours.
- Sleep timing, quality and consistency matter as much as total duration.
Huge Economic Cost
- A 2017 Deloitte study estimated inadequate sleep cost Australia $66.3 billion in one year from lost productivity and health costs.
- Moira says renewed national focus is needed and the problem may be growing.
Work and Sleep Feed Each Other
- Work commonly harms sleep via non-standard hours, stress and blurred boundaries from remote work.
- Sleep loss amplifies emotional reactivity, worsens cognition and increases accident risk.