OHS: (Symposium session) Managing sleep loss, fatigue, and performance in military settings
Tracks
Track 3
| Saturday, October 11, 2025 |
| 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM |
| Hall N |
Details
Participants will gain an understanding of the history and challenges of sleep in military operations from World War I to the present day.
Participants will gain an understanding of effective methods to monitor cognitive function and fatigue in multi-stressor environments.
Participants will examine evidence-based strategies to optimise sleep and alertness, drawing from research on circadian-based scheduling, biomathematical fatigue modelling, and environmental interventions.
Participants will explore challenges and applied approaches to develop skills for sleeping in adverse conditions and build fatigue agility in individuals.
Speaker
Dr Raymond Matthews
Director
Operational Performance and Safety Australia
Chair / Introduction
3:30 PM - 3:33 PMBiography
Dr Ian Dunican
Chief Adviser
Melius Consulting
The history and science of sleep, dreams, visions, stress and working hours in military forces since WWI
3:33 PM - 3:51 PMBiography
Ian Dunican was born and raised in Ireland. He served five years in an Infantry unit in the Irish Army. After leaving the military, he spent two years working in the health and fitness industry and moved to Perth, Western Australia. He worked for ten years in the mining industry, in health, safety, fatigue, human performance, and business improvement in Australia and worldwide. In 2017, he founded Melius Consulting, a scientific consultancy based in Perth, Western Australia. Additionally, he is involved in numerous research projects worldwide related to sleep and regularly publishes in academic journals. He has also completed over 20 ultramarathons, swum solo and in duos to Rottnest Island (20km), and holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Prof Siobhan Banks
Professor
University of South Australia
Optimizing sleep and performance in submarine operations
3:51 PM - 4:09 PMBiography
Siobhan Banks is a Professor of Psychology at UniSA and Director of the Behaviour-Brain-Body Research Centre. Her research focuses on the interactions between biology, behaviour, and technology. She collaborates with 24/7 industries like healthcare, transportation, defence, and aerospace to enhance individual and team performance, health and well-being. She has received over $21M in research funding, awarded the 2019 Australian Council Graduate Research Award for Industry Engagement and was a 2021 finalist for the Australian Defence Magazine Women in Defence Awards – R&D Category.
Dr Luana Main
Associate Professor
Deakin University
Enhancing military readiness: Exploring the impact of stress and fatigue on soldier performance
4:09 PM - 4:27 PMBiography
A/Prof Luana Main is an accredited exercise scientist specializing in human performance. Her interdisciplinary research examines how cumulative operational stressors, including environmental extremes, affect physiological resilience, job performance, health, and well-being. She integrates wearable technology and circulating biomarkers to detect early signs of performance decline and support workforce resilience. With over $2.2 million in external funding and more than 80 publications, her work has informed international policy and delivered practical tools for high-demand environments. Renowned for translating complex science into actionable outcomes, she fosters industry collaboration to address real-world challenges.
Dr Raymond Matthews
Director
Operational Performance and Safety Australia
Combating defence workforce fatigue by optimising readiness, resilience and recovery
4:27 PM - 4:45 PMBiography
