Navigate the way to better sleep
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A PATHWAY to better sleep is now available to residents of Yorke Peninsula Council area who suffer from sleep problems.
Direct access to support through Patient Navigator, has been created by the Sleep Health team from Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute to connect people in the region with clinical services for problems such as insomnia[AR1].
Participants who express interest through the brief referral form will first have a phone call with a clinical sleep psychologist, who will talk them through the steps to access suitable services based on answers to a quick questionnaire.
Lack of sleep and poor-quality sleep can have lasting health impacts.
Project chief investigator Associate Professor Amy Reynolds said Patient Navigator could connect people with innovative intervention techniques developed to address sleep disorders.
“With the right support, this doesn’t have to mean coming to Adelaide to get help,” she said.
The most common sleep difficulties for Australians were insomnia, sleep apnoea and restless legs syndrome and by middle age, almost one in every two adults met the criteria for a sleep disorder.
“People might notice that they wake up feeling tired or they struggle to get to sleep or stay asleep,” Associate Professor Reynolds said.
“For some it can impact mental health and, for others, physical health.
“We know it can have serious implications for our safety on the road and for how well we are able to do our jobs.”
The development of Patient Navigator follows preliminary research work by the team with YP residents and a series of community education sessions held in the region in November 2025.
The team also presented Sleep Ninja for the Classroom sessions to students from years 8, 9, 10 and 11 at Minlaton District School and Yorketown Area School in August and September.
Sleep Ninja for the Classroom was provided for free to schools in Yorketown and surrounds, after community consultation showed teens in the area needed more information about sleep.
“There is also an evidence-based smart phone app available online which has been shown to be effective in helping young people with sleep problems,” Associate Professor Reynolds said.
“Good quality sleep is essential for learning, wellbeing and mental health, yet as many as 40 per cent of students experience sleep difficulties.”
See advertisement this page for more information on Patient Navigator.
