Sally Staton

Key Examples of Research Impact:

• Informing legislation and regulation: Research on children's sleep, rest and relaxation practices in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) contributed to national legislative and regulatory changes in 2017, 2021 and 2025, including requirements for all ECEC services to maintain documented sleep and rest policies and procedures.

• Shaping regulatory practice: Development of the Assisting Observations Toolkit for the Queensland Government Department of Education, which has been adopted to support the assessment and rating practices of Authorised Officers responsible for regulating ECEC services across Queensland.

• Transforming professional practice: Development and delivery of the SLEEP Professional Development Program, with resources adopted by government agencies, regulators, peak bodies and service providers nationally.

• Advancing understanding of sleep development: Leadership of a landmark program of research examining sleep development from infancy through early childhood, generating evidence on the role of social, physical and educational environments in shaping children's sleep, health, learning and wellbeing.

• Informing the design of children's environments: Leading the ARC-funded Building Futures program, which is generating evidence to inform the design of early childhood learning environments and support future policy, regulatory, and infrastructure decisions relating to places and spaces where children learn and develop.

• Strengthening policy and systems: Research has informed national and international policy and advisory documents, including contributions cited by organisations such as ACECQA, the Productivity Commission, OECD and WHO.

• Building workforce capability: Development of evidence-informed resources, training programs, toolkits, webinars, podcasts and professional learning materials used by educators, government agencies, child and family services, and community organisations across Australia.

• Leading brain development translation: Lead of the Brain Builders Initiative, a cross-sector research and translation program applying contemporary knowledge of brain development across government, non-government, health, education and community systems supporting children and families.

• National and international science communication: Research featured in more than 200 media reports globally, including coverage by the BBC, Reuters, NBC, CBS, The New York Times, Washington Post, ABC, and Australian Financial Review. Sally has also contributed to major science engagement initiatives through the Queensland Chief Scientist, ABC Radio National's Big Ideas, Words Grow Minds, and other public-facing platforms.

• Recognition for impact and translation: Recipient of the Young Tall Poppy Science Award for excellence in science communication and engagement, and awards recognising excellence in research translation, partnership and collaboration with government, industry and community organisations.

• Informing sector-wide practice and policy: Leadership of major reports, evaluations and evidence reviews for government, NGOs and peak bodies, including the State of Early Learning in Australia Report, launched at Parliament House, to inform national discussion and policy development in the early years sector.

• Influencing professional and public understanding: Delivery of more than 100 invited presentations, keynote addresses and workshops for scientific, policy, professional and public audiences.