Professor Simon Smith
Professor

Simon Smith

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Background

My group works to understand and improve sleep for children and families. Sleep is a key ‘pillar of health’ alongside nutrition and activity. It is critical for healthy development, growth, learning, social and emotional functioning, and community participation.

I am the UQ Node Director for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course (the Life Course Centre). The Life Course Centre is committed to understanding and overcoming the problems of disadvantage, and to helping improve the lives of disadvantaged children and families. The Centre brings together researchers across multiple disciplines in four leading Universities, and significant government and non-government agencies to address these questions.

I am also the UQ Node director for the ARC centre of Excellence for the Digital Child. The Digital Child aims to support children growing up in the rapidly changing digital world, and provide strong evidence and guidance for children, families, educators, government and other concerned with children’s wellbeing.

We collaborate with many other groups around broader issues of sleep and technology, sleep and the environment (including disasters), mental health and wellbeing, pain, disability, and new technologies and approaches. Our work has been supported by the ARC, NHMRC, the MRFF, the NIH, and the DSTG. We use a wide range of methods and measures, including direct physiological and behavioural measurement (inc. ECG, EEG, EMG, actigraphy, computerized tests, simulations, environmental monitoring etc.), quantitative methods (inc. experimental and secondary data approaches), and qualitative methods including co-design and co-conduct approaches.

My team has additional expertise in evaluation of health and other services for government and other agencies, the design of complex interventions, and community consultation and engagement.

https://lifecoursecentre.org.au

https://digitalchild.org.au

Availability

Professor Simon Smith is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Adolescent health Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Cardiovascular medicine and haematology Clinical sciences Infant and child health Paediatrics Pain Respiratory diseases

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), Monash University
  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, University of Melbourne
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Melbourne

Search Professor Simon Smith’s works on UQ eSpace

287 works between 2000 and 2025
All (287) Journal Article (132) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (133) Book (2) Other Outputs (17)

161 - 180 of 287 works

2015

Journal Article

Assessment method influences the severity and type of symptoms reported after self-reported mild traumatic brain injury

Edmed, Shannon L., Sullivan, Karen A., Allan, Alicia C. and Smith, Simon S. (2015). Assessment method influences the severity and type of symptoms reported after self-reported mild traumatic brain injury. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 37 (6), 641-652. doi: 10.1080/13803395.2015.1038984

Assessment method influences the severity and type of symptoms reported after self-reported mild traumatic brain injury

2015

Journal Article

Napping, development and health from 0 to 5 years: a systematic review

Thorpe, Karen, Staton, Sally, Sawyer, Emily, Pattinson, Cassandra, Haden, Catherine and Smith, Simon (2015). Napping, development and health from 0 to 5 years: a systematic review. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 100 (7), 615-622. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-307241

Napping, development and health from 0 to 5 years: a systematic review

2015

Conference Publication

Meeting the National Quality Standards for sleep and rest

Staton, S., Thorpe, K., Irvine, S. and Smith, S. (2015). Meeting the National Quality Standards for sleep and rest. C&K Queensland Early Childhood Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, May 2015.

Meeting the National Quality Standards for sleep and rest

2015

Journal Article

The role of psychological resilience and mTBI as predictors of postconcussional syndrome symptomatology

Sullivan, Karen A., Edmed, Shannon L., Allan, Alicia C., Smith, Simon S. and Karlsson, Lina J. E. (2015). The role of psychological resilience and mTBI as predictors of postconcussional syndrome symptomatology. Rehabilitation Psychology, 60 (2), 147-154. doi: 10.1037/rep0000037

The role of psychological resilience and mTBI as predictors of postconcussional syndrome symptomatology

2015

Journal Article

Mandatory naptimes in child care and children's nighttime sleep

Staton, Sally L., Smith, Simon S., Pattinson, Cassandra L. and Thorpe, Karen J. (2015). Mandatory naptimes in child care and children's nighttime sleep. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 36 (4), 235-242. doi: 10.1097/DBP.0000000000000157

Mandatory naptimes in child care and children's nighttime sleep

2015

Conference Publication

Postconcussion symptoms after mild TBI (mTBI): influence of pre-morbid and current sleep-wake disturbances

Sullivan, K. A., Edmed, S. L., Allan, A. C., Karlsson, L. and Smith, S. S. (2015). Postconcussion symptoms after mild TBI (mTBI): influence of pre-morbid and current sleep-wake disturbances. 2015 AACN Scientific Poster Session, Unknown, Unknown. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge.

Postconcussion symptoms after mild TBI (mTBI): influence of pre-morbid and current sleep-wake disturbances

2015

Journal Article

Postpartum sleepiness and sleepy driving in Australian mothers

Armstrong, Kerry, MacKenzie, Janelle and Smith, Simon (2015). Postpartum sleepiness and sleepy driving in Australian mothers. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 53 (2), 76-86. doi: 10.1080/14635240.2014.944669

Postpartum sleepiness and sleepy driving in Australian mothers

2015

Journal Article

"Do I really need a nap?": the role of sleep science in informing sleep practices in early childhood education and care settings

Staton, Sally L., Smith, Simon S. and Thorpe, Karen J. (2015). "Do I really need a nap?": the role of sleep science in informing sleep practices in early childhood education and care settings. Translational Issues in Psychological Science, 1 (1), 32-44. doi: 10.1037/tps0000011

"Do I really need a nap?": the role of sleep science in informing sleep practices in early childhood education and care settings

2015

Journal Article

Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare

Smith, S., Neil, E., Thorpe, K., Pattinson, C. and Staton, S. (2015). Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare. Sleep, 38, A391-A391.

Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare

2015

Conference Publication

If given the opportunity would you want your child to sleep in childcare?

Thorpe, K., Sinclair, D., Staton, S., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2015). If given the opportunity would you want your child to sleep in childcare?. Conference of the American Sleep Physicians Association, Seattle, WA, United States, June 2015. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger .

If given the opportunity would you want your child to sleep in childcare?

2015

Conference Publication

Characterizing Sleep-Wake Behaviour after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Edmed, S., Allan, A., Sullivan, K., Karlsson, L. and Smith, S. (2015). Characterizing Sleep-Wake Behaviour after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. 35th Annual Conference of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, , , Austin, TX United States, November 4-7, 2015. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

Characterizing Sleep-Wake Behaviour after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

2015

Conference Publication

Mandatory naptimes for preschool aged children in early childhood education settings and duration of children's nighttime sleep

Staton, S., Pattinson, C., Smith, S. and Thorpe, K. (2015). Mandatory naptimes for preschool aged children in early childhood education settings and duration of children's nighttime sleep. Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA, United States, April 2015.

Mandatory naptimes for preschool aged children in early childhood education settings and duration of children's nighttime sleep

2015

Conference Publication

Napping, development and health from 0-5 years: A systematic review

Thorpe, K., Staton, S., Sawyer, E., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2015). Napping, development and health from 0-5 years: A systematic review. Conference of the American Sleep Physicians Association, Seattle, WA, United States, June 2015. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger .

Napping, development and health from 0-5 years: A systematic review

2015

Conference Publication

The effects of light on cognitive performance of partially sleep-deprived young drivers

Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi, Simon Smith, Melanie White, Veronica Garcia-Hansen and Matthew Leong (2015). The effects of light on cognitive performance of partially sleep-deprived young drivers. 27th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 22-24 October 2015. London, United Kingdom: Springer.

The effects of light on cognitive performance of partially sleep-deprived young drivers

2015

Conference Publication

Dim light duration predicts body mass index of young children

Pattinson, C., Allan, A., Thorpe, K., Staton, S. and Smith, S.S. (2015). Dim light duration predicts body mass index of young children. SLEEP 2015, Seattle, WA United States, 6-10 June 2015. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger.

Dim light duration predicts body mass index of young children

2015

Conference Publication

Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare

Smith, S., Neil, E., Thorpe, K., Pattinson, C. and Staton, S. (2015). Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare. SLEEP, Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS), Seattle, WA United States, 2015.

Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare

2015

Conference Publication

Group napping patterns in relation to duration of mandatory naptimes in childcare settings

Staton, S., Hurst, C., Pattinson, C., Smith, S. and Thorpe, K. (2015). Group napping patterns in relation to duration of mandatory naptimes in childcare settings. 29th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, Seattle, WA, United States, 6 - 10 June 2015. Cary, NC, United States: Oxford University Press.

Group napping patterns in relation to duration of mandatory naptimes in childcare settings

2015

Conference Publication

Mandatory naptimes in childcare: Associations with day and night sleep patterns

Staton, S., Smith, S., Pattinson, C., Hurst, C. and Thorpe, K. (2015). Mandatory naptimes in childcare: Associations with day and night sleep patterns. European Conference on Developmental Psychology (ECDP), Braga, Portugal, 2015.

Mandatory naptimes in childcare: Associations with day and night sleep patterns

2015

Conference Publication

Sleep and weight status of Australian children: what are the sleep parameters at play?

Pattinson, C., Smith, S., Staton, S. and Thorpe, K. (2015). Sleep and weight status of Australian children: what are the sleep parameters at play?. Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA, United States, April 2015.

Sleep and weight status of Australian children: what are the sleep parameters at play?

2015

Conference Publication

Parent preferences regarding napping for their preschool children

Thorpe, K., Sinclair, D., Staton, S., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2015). Parent preferences regarding napping for their preschool children. European Conference on Developmental Psychology (ECDP), Braga, Portugal, 2015.

Parent preferences regarding napping for their preschool children

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2030
    Untapping the potential of sleep health to improve prevention and management of mental health problems in First Nations Children
    NHMRC MRFF Childhood Mental Health Research
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    Comparative effectiveness of exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy, and their combination for people with chronic musculoskeletal pain and poor sleep
    United States Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs - Chronic Pain Management Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    Sleep for Strong Souls (3S): Multisectoral partnership and codesigned solutions to improve the sleep health of First Nations Adolescents
    NHMRC Partnership Projects
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    What causes low back pain to flare: Has a major opportunity to understand back pain been missed?
    United States National Institutes of Health
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2028
    ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child (ARC Centre of Excellence administered by Queensland University of Technology)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2027
    ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course
    ARC Centres of Excellence
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    The developmental significance of sleep transition in early childhood.
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    Impact of circadian and endocrine disruption on the pathogenesis of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (2023 MSHRSS Co-funded Collaboration Grant led by MSH).
    Metro South Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    Wearable Predictive Diagnostics for Warfighter Maintenance (Commonwealth Defence Science and Technology Group project administered by QUT)
    Commonwealth Defence Science and Technology Group
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    BALANCE: Promoting wellBeing in AdoLescent and young Adult cancer survivors
    NHMRC Partnership Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Prediction of crash risk of school children at school zones via a machine learning approach
    Road Safety Innovation Fund
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Deep learning and physiology based approach to derive and link obstructive sleep apnoea phenotypes and symptomatology
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    'We need to talk' : Genomics and disability
    MRFF Genomics Health Futures Mission, Project Grant administered by AusIndustry
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Co-designed sleep health program to achieve better sleep and improved mental health symptoms in Indigenous adolescents
    NHMRC MRFF - Indigenous Health Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Evaluation Framework for the Keeping Queenslanders Healthy Priority
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Assessing Sleep, Activity and Behaviour in Children and Adolescents with Prader-Willi Syndrome (BDHP grant administered by CHQHHS)
    Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Reducing Crash Risk For Young Drivers: A Randomized Control Trial To Improve Sleep
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Evaluation of the national support for child and youth mental health program and longitudinal research plan
    Commonwealth Department of Health
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Sleep measurements in Friedreich's ataxia, Huntington's disease patients and healthy volunteers
    Wesley Medical Research Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Equipment for naturalistic sleep-wake, circadian rhythm, and stress measurement
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Professional Development Package and Resources for Guiding Sleep Practices in Early Childhood Education and Care Services (through the State of QLD (acting through the Dept of Education and Training))
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Choosing rest: finding effective alternatives to mandates rest-times in ECEC services
    Education Horizon
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Designing healthy and efficient luminous environments in Green Buildings (ARC Linkage Project Administered by Queensland University of Technology)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Treating Insomnia Co-morbid with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (COMISA): A randomized controlled clinical effectiveness trial (NHMRC Project Grant administered by Flinders University of South Australia)
    Flinders University
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2010
    Motivational Interviewing (MI) to improve adherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (OSAS): a randomized control clinical trial
    ResMed Foundation Limited
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Bright light effects on sleepiness and hazard perception
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2007
    Nurse implemented motivational interviewing to improve adherence to CPAP therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: A randomised control
    Prince Charles Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2007
    Sleepiness and hazard perception while driving
    Australian Transport Safety Bureau
    Open grant
  • 2005
    Motivational Interviewing to Improve Adherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome: A Randomized Control Clinical Trial
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2004
    Mental Health In Obstructive Sleep Apnoea-Hypopnea Syndrome
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Simon Smith is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Role of Heart Rate Variability in Fatigue Assessment: A Multimodal Approach

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Dwayne Mann, Dr Cassandra Pattinson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Return to safe driving after upper limb surgery

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Shamsi Shekari Soleimanloo

  • Master Philosophy

    The impact of digital technology use on sleep and wellbeing in young children

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Signifiance of Nap Cessation for Children's Social-emotional Functioning

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Peter Rankin, Professor Karen Thorpe, Associate Professor Sally Staton

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Sleep, Health, and Social Consequences of Precarious Employment.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Dwayne Mann, Dr Kalina Rossa

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Improving sleep health in young adults

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Pattinson, Dr Kalina Rossa

  • Master Philosophy

    The 24 hour movement behaviours and the impact on children's developmental outcomes

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Role of Heart Rate Variability in Fatigue Assessment: A Multimodal Approach

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Dwayne Mann, Dr Cassandra Pattinson, Dr Shamsi Shekari Soleimanloo

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Improving sleep health in young adults

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Pattinson, Dr Kalina Rossa

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Improving sleep health in young adults

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Pattinson, Dr Kalina Rossa

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Sleep, Health, and Social Consequences of Precarious Employment.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Dwayne Mann, Dr Kalina Rossa

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Return to safe driving after upper limb surgery

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Sleep, Health, and Social Consequences of Precarious Employment.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Kalina Rossa, Dr Dwayne Mann

  • Master Philosophy

    The impact of digital technology use on sleep and wellbeing in young children

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Sleep, cognition and cerebrovascular functioning across the lifespan

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Dwayne Mann, Dr Jenna Taylor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Developmental Significance of Sleep Transitions in Early Childhood

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Dwayne Mann, Associate Professor Sally Staton

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Co-design of a Psychological Therapy for Hypersomnia: Feasibility, Acceptability and Preliminary Effectiveness

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Shannon Edmed

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Disentangling the relationship between sleep, stress and pain.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Paul Hodges, Dr Manuela Besomi Molina, Dr David Klyne

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Sleep health promotion in Indigenous Australian communities: Untapped potential of Indigenous youth workers as 'Sleep Coaches'

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Janin Chandra, Dr Ahmed Mehdi

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Sleep health promotion in Indigenous Australian communities: Untapped potential of Indigenous youth workers as 'Sleep Coaches'

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Janin Chandra, Dr Ahmed Mehdi

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Sleep, cognition and cerebrovascular functioning across the lifespan

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Dwayne Mann, Dr Jenna Taylor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Sleep health promotion in Indigenous Australian communities: Untapped potential of Indigenous youth workers as 'Sleep Coaches'

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Janin Chandra, Dr Ahmed Mehdi

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Sleep, cognition and cerebrovascular functioning across the lifespan

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Dwayne Mann, Dr Jenna Taylor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Health and social impacts of precarious work: the role of sleep and fatigue.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Dwayne Mann, Dr Kalina Rossa

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Simon Smith directly for media enquiries about:

  • Biological Rhythms
  • Children's Health
  • Digital Child
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep
  • Sleep Disorders

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