Professor Sarah Blunden
MAPS, FCCLP, BA (Hons Psy), MSocSc, PhDProfessor of Clinical Psychology and Head of Peadiatric Sleep Research
School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences
Appleton Institute
Professor Sarah Blunden (MAPS, BAPsych (Hons), MSocSc, PhD) has a dual role as Head of Paediatric Sleep Research and Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at Central Queensland University, Australia and is a clinical psychologist specialising in the treatment of children’s sleep problems. Sarah is the Founder/Director of the Paediatric Sleep Clinic, Director of the Australian Centre for Education in Sleep© (www.sleepeducation.net.au) (ACES) and member of the Education Committee, Behavioural Sleep Medicine subcommittee and chair of the Indigenous Sleep Health Special Interest group, all of the Australasian Sleep Association. Her research interests include sleep education, indigenous sleep and health, sleep interventions for young children, the impact of poor sleep, on children and families and the causes of poor sleep in children and young people with an emerging interest in multi-disciplinary teaching practices for psychology. Sarah has presented over 70 conference presentations and published over 100 academic papers and books.
Background
Masters of Clinical Psychology (equivalence awarded) 2008
Doctor of Philosophy - University of South Australia 2003
Master of Social Science 1998 - Counselling - University of South Australia
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) 1996 - Psychology - University of South Australia
Bachelor of Arts 1995 - Psychology Major - University of South Australia and - French Major - Adelaide University
Universities Studied At
University of South Australia
University of Michigan (Post Doctoral Scholarship secondment)
Universities Worked At
Flinders University
University of South Australia
Central Queensland University
Awards
Dean’s Merit List
- Academic excellence 1997 (University of South Australia)
Scholarships
- Summer Study Scholarship 1996 (University of South Australia)
- Final year PhD scholarship 2002 (University of South Australia)
- Helen Bearpark Scholarship 2005 (Australasian Sleep Association)
- Supported Researcher Award 2007 (University of South Australia)
Business Awards
- Telstra Business Women of the Year 2006 (South Aust Finalist)
- Westpac Australian Business Innovation of the Year 2006 (South Aust Finalist)
Media Citations
Television
ABC: Four Corners, Radio Australia Wide
Channel 9: Sixty Minutes
Today Show
Channel 7: Morning Show
News
Channel 10: Sunrise
News
Scopus TV
Channel 44 community television
Essential media documentary ABC TV Whatever: The Science of Kids
Radio
ABC Australia Wide ( e.g 97.2 AM; 89.1 AM; 103.9 FM, 101.66 AM)
NZ Classic hits 96.6
Printed media : The Australian, The Adelaide Advertiser, Sydney Morning Herald, The Chronicle, Herald Sun.; Darwin Times
New Zealand: The Herald; The Press, Southland Times, Sunday Star-Times
Philippines: Philippine Star; Philippines People’s Tonight
Previous teaching
Flinders University
Motivational Interviewing in the context of the Chronic Condition Management: Program: Flinders Model of Chronic Condition Management. Post graduate training.
UniSA Psychology undergraduate:
Personality and Individual Differences
Developmental Psychology
UniSA Post Graduate - Clinical Psychology Masters
Psychological Assessment
CQUniversity
Psychology undergraduate:
Professional Ethics
Post Graduate - Clinical Psychology Masters and Masters of Professional Psychology
Health Psychology and Rehabilitation
Ethics for Professional Practice
Research Methods in Clinical Psychology
Thesis and Placement Coordination
Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Disorders
Professional Experience
10 years clinical psychology with specialty in sleep in children
15 years academic experience as a researcher
Professional Memberships
Australian Psychological Society - Member of the Clinical College and the Child Adolescent and Family Special Interest Group (CAFSIG)
Australasian Sleep Association (ASA) – Elected member of Education committee and Behavioural Sleep Medicine sub committee Chair Indigenous Sleep health Committee - Australasian Sleep Association (ASA)
International Pediatric Sleep Association – Invited member of International Scientific Committee of the IPSA
Australian Psychological Society - Member of the Clinical College and the Child Adolescent and Family Special Interest Group (CAFSIG)
Australasian Sleep Association (ASA) – Elected member of Education committee and Behavioural Sleep Medicine sub committee
Chair Indigenous Sleep health Committee - Australasian Sleep Association (ASA)
International Pediatric Sleep Association – Invited member of International Scientific Committee of the IPSA
Healthy Development Adelaide (HDA)
Australian Council for Children on the Media (ACCM)
International Society for Social pediatrics and Child Health
Registered Clinical Psychologist – National Psychology Registration Board
https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Practitioner-Services/Practitioner-Home.aspx
Professional Interests
Sarah Blunden's sleep research interests revolve around the effects of poor sleep on wellbeing (particularly school performance and mental health) in all age groups from baby settling, behavioural sleep interventions, sleep education in schools, the interrelationship between sleep and media usage, dietary intake, and mental health and sleep in indigenous children.
Sleep health care delivery and sleep education are also a large area of interest.
Indigenous sleep health and how this can impact closing the gap in Indigenous health is a strong area of interest
Key Achievements
Computer Software
Healthy Sleep for Healthy Schools software in development
Industry Reports
1. Blunden, S. (2012). Inclusion of sleep into Australian Health and Physical Education Curricula: Submission to Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting board (ACARA): Draft Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education
2. Blunden S, Yagoot F, Yiallourou S, Magee C. (2018). Sleep health awareness in Indigenous primary school children and adolescents: Submission to the National Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport inquiry on Sleep Health Awareness in Australia
3. Blunden S, Rigney G. (2018). Sleep education in children and adolescents: Submission to the National Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport inquiry on Sleep Health Awareness in Australia
4. Blunden S, Yagoot F, Yiallourou S, Baddock S. (2019). Sleep health in Indigenous populations: Report submitted to the Australasian Sleep Association on behalf of the Indigenous Sleep Health Working Party. (submitted to Education Committee , Australasian Sleep Association)
Consultancy Work
Workcover SA
South Australian Defence Department
Parenting SA
Raising Children's Network
Accreditation
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
- 4504 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing
- 4203 Health services and systems
- 5203 Clinical and health psychology
Current Capacity
Psychology - Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology
Sleep and its impact of neuropsychological and psycho-social functioning
Psychology - Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology
Indigenous health
