Member Since 2017
The Australia and New Zealand Sleep Science Association currently has over 300 members, from Australia and New Zealand. ANZSSA comprises sleep technologists working in clinical and research settings. The Association is administered by a board, and there are several active committees working on such tasks as professional standards, conference, education, professional registration, continuing education credit granting, and education. There is a sub-branch in each state, with a local state representative in all of the major states. Regular meetings are held at the sub-branch level, and an annual national scientific meeting held, in conjunction with the Australasian Sleep Association. Members communicate via a closed Facebook page as well as regular emails sent out to all members.
Mission: Our mission is to advocate for and elevate sleep science by connecting those who work in the field with the knowledge, skills and professional network they need for excellence.
Vision: ANZSSA will be the leader in sleep science through professional development and recognition, collaboration and advocacy.
Activities and Accomplishments
- ANZSSA have recently established the ANZSSA Certification Exam (an online exam designed for members working in Australia and New Zealand within the field of sleep medicine). The first exam session is in March 2024.
- Held an annual scientific meeting in conjunction with the Australasian Sleep Association, for the past 29 years; with plans for this collaboration to be ongoing. In recent years approximately 25% of conference delegates were ANZSSA members.
- ANZSSA administers a number of scholarships to members to attend conferences and training opportunities. In previous years, members have been sponsored to attend education courses on scoring and advanced sleep technology as well as to attend the conference itself. Additionally, ANZSSA assists in administering scholarships provided by external sources, such as the Helen Bearpark scholarship (to assist new researchers to travel overseas to learn techniques) and the Fisher & Paykel scholarship (to assist New Zealand members to travel to Australia to attend meetings)
- ANZSSA has developed our own continuing education credit approval system for Australia/New Zealand based education programmes, in order for members to maintain their RPSGT credential.
- ANZSSA members have been involved in the process of setting up accreditation standards for Australian sleep laboratories as well as being involved in the development of guidelines documents pertaining to conducting sleep studies and home oximetry testing.