This is a joint position statement of the Australasian Sleep Association, Sleep Health Foundation, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Australian Psychological Society, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, and Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association. It has been published in the journal Sleep Advances, the Open Access journal of the Sleep Research Society and the Australasian Sleep Association.
It provides information to healthcare providers on the management of adults with insomnia symptoms in Australia, including on insomnia identification, assessment, treatment, and referral in the Australian healthcare system, with a particular focus on primary care. It integrates input from people with lived experience, clinicians, researchers, and representatives of professional sleep and primary care organisations. Links are provided to resources for consumers and clinicians.
The position statement emphasises the importance of health professionals prioritising insomnia assessment and management in their practice. Clinicians are advised to consider Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) as the “first-line” treatment option for insomnia. However, there is a need for improved access to CBTi in the Australian health system.
The importance of collaboration between people with insomnia and clinicians is discussed. Findings have contributed to ongoing collaboration between the APS and other sleep and primary care organisations, including in the development and implementation of healthcare provider education programs on insomnia assessment and management.
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