Sunlight, sleep and mental health

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Event

Discover the latest bright ideas to support your body clock, enhance sleep and naturally nurture your mind.

Wednesday 9 April 2025
11:30am - 12:30pm ACST

Expert Speaker

Dr Emiliana Tonini
Postdoctoral Research Associate, The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine & Health, Translational Research Collective, Brain and Mind Centre, Youth Mental Health & Technology (NSW)

Dr Emiliana Tonini is a postdoctoral research associate in the Youth Mental Health and Technology team at the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney.

She received a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2016, a Master of Science in Neuroscience in 2018, and a PhD in Neuroscience in 2023.

Her research aims to better characterise and understand pathophysiological mechanisms of emerging mood disorders in young people, with a focus on sleep and circadian disturbances, using clinical, behavioural, genetic, and wearable data.

Moderator

Dr Sadhbh Joyce
Senior Psychologist, MAPS, Co-Founder of Mindarma, Meditation Teacher, External Fellow, Black Dog Institute/UNSW Medicine & Health (NSW)

Sadhbh has over 19 years’ experience working in Mental Health. She has supported those struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, bereavement and workplace injury. Sadhbh is passionate about supporting those who work in service-to-others occupations. Sadhbh has specialist expertise in holistic interventions, mindfulness-based therapies and mindful self-compassion.

In 2021 Sadhbh was awarded the Australian Psychological Society Significant Contribution Award in recognition of her successful translational research. You can read more about Sadhbh’s work here.

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The Mental Health and Wellbeing Program is an initiative of the Government of South Australia’s Office for Small and Family Business and the South Australian Small Business Strategy 2023 - 2030.

Dr Valerie O’Keeffe
Senior Research Fellow (Human Factors) (MAPS), College of Business, Government and Law, Flinders University

Dr Valerie O’Keeffe has 30 years’ experience in human factors, ergonomics and WHS practice, research and policy development and is passionate about designing safe, productive and satisfying work, adopting a people-centred, systems approach. An allied health professional by training, Valerie worked in clinical and occupational rehabilitation, focused on returning injured workers to work. She has a background in the psychology of work, examining culture and work organisation to improve performance and wellbeing for individuals and organisations, servicing the healthcare, aged care, manufacturing, food and beverage, construction and transport industries.

Valerie was also Chief Advisor and WHS inspector with the SA WHS regulator and represented SA in developing Codes of Practice (e.g. manual tasks, working hours, fatigue), and guidance material including how to manage risks to work-related psychological health and safety. Valerie’s recent multi-disciplinary research examines the human and social dimensions of digital technologies in the workplace.

Previous projects involved designing and evaluating interventions to improve safety in culturally and linguistically diverse workplaces, preventing harms from alcohol and drugs in male dominated workplaces, and minimising the risk of psychological and musculoskeletal injuries in residential aged care.

Dr Sara Howard
Senior Research Fellow (Human Factors), Organisational Psychologist (MAPS), College of Business, Government and Law, Flinders University

Sara has more than 16 years of applied research experience. She is a Registered Psychologist and is an Organisational Psychologist.

She has an extensive background in quantitative research methods including the design of questionnaires, statistical analysis and reporting.

Sara is experienced in and enjoys liaising with a range of stakeholders and industry representatives spanning private and not-for-profit businesses and government within education, defence, finance, health, agriculture and manufacturing settings.

She has strong expertise in human factors, psychological assessment and debriefs, workshops and training, 360-degree feedback reviews and engagement surveys. Sara is passionate about helping people build more meaningful connections and work more effectively.