Melius Consulting PTY LTD

23/07/2025

Dreams remain one of the most elusive and fascinating aspects of sleep science—complex, deeply personal, and notoriously difficult to measure. Despite decades of research, dream studies have drifted from the mainstream of sleep science and medicine.

In collaboration with Dr Hailey Meaklim, Dr David Cunnington, Dr Rachel Menzies, Dr Mitchell Turner, and Malisa Burge, we set out to revisit this field, exploring the link between death anxiety and nightmare severity in Australian adults. Our findings were recently published in Dreaming: “Dreaming of Death: An Exploration of the Relationship Between Death Anxiety and Nightmare Severity in Australian Adults”.

In this first blog of a three-part series, I outline:
✨ Why dream research has become marginalised within sleep science
🧠 The tools we use to measure dreams (MADRE, TDQ, and polysomnography)
🌙 How nightmares—often linked to trauma and anxiety—may reflect deeper psychological themes, including death anxiety

This research aims to bridge the gap between subjective dream experiences and empirical science, drawing attention to the insights dreams can offer into the human psyche.

Read Part One here: https://meliusconsulting.com.au/unveiling-death-in-dreams-research-context-tools-and-discoveries-part-1/

If you’re interested in sleep health, dream research, and practical education for individuals or teams, explore our training sessions and courses: https://meliusconsulting.com.au/education/.

By Dr Ian Dunican, Melius Consulting The world of sleep has captivated my interest for over 15 years, shaping my research and professional journey. Among its many facets, dreaming stands out as a particularly enigmatic and compelling phenomenon. Yet, over the past few decades, the scientific study o...

27/05/2025

Is Australia doing enough to address sleep as a public health issue? A recent consensus statement published in the journal SLEEP suggests there’s still a long way to go.

Following the 2019 parliamentary inquiry into sleep health, researchers from the Australasian Sleep Association’s NEST Council have outlined five urgent priorities—from raising awareness and funding research to supporting shiftwork-heavy industries and promoting sleep equity.

At Melius Consulting, we’re already putting these recommendations into practice through:
📘 A Guide for Sleep Health & Shiftwork — a must-read for shift workers, managers, and health leaders
🎓 Evidence-based fatigue and sleep education tailored to your industry

If you care about brain health, performance, or safety in high-risk environments, this article is worth your time.

🔗 Read it here: https://meliusconsulting.com.au/sleep-health-awareness-in-australia-the-importance-of-education/

By: Matthew Barlow Did you know that in 2019, there was a parliamentary inquiry into sleep health awareness in Australia? This inquiry was comprehensive; it received over 130 submissions from relevant ministers, public health organisations, sleep centres, and field experts and resulted in a report t...

17/04/2025

Fatigue is a workplace hazard—so why don’t we treat it like one?
Fatigue impairs decision-making, reaction time, and safety—yet it’s often overlooked in traditional risk assessments.

At Melius, we believe fatigue should be managed with the same rigour as any other critical risk. In our latest blog post, we break down:
✅ What a fatigue risk assessment actually involves
✅ Why it’s more than just a checkbox exercise
✅ The key components of a best-practice approach
✅ How to turn fatigue data into proactive controls
Whether you’re in mining, construction, energy, or logistics—this one’s for you.

Read the full article:
https://meliusconsulting.com.au/fatigue-risk-assessments-in-the-workplace/

Fatigue management is critical for improving worker health, safety, productivity, and well-being, particularly in high-risk industries such as mining, oil and gas, healthcare, transportation, and manufacturing. Fatigue is not a minor inconvenience—it is a significant risk factor that can lead to c...

26/02/2025

Inspired by a recent performance by Max Richter and the American Contemporary Music Ensemble event, in this blog post, we delve into how classical music enriches our lives and plays a pivotal role in enhancing sleep, cognition, and potentially reduces the risk of dementia.

From Max Richter’s reflective compositions to the effects of classical tunes on relaxation and mental clarity, the evidence suggests a significant protective benefit. Understanding these impacts can transform your daily routine and health, whether you're a lifelong enthusiast or new to the genre.

For a deeper dive into this fascinating topic, check out the full blog post -https://meliusconsulting.com.au/the-protective-benefits-of-classical-music-on-sleep-cognition-and-dementia/

By: Dr Ian C Dunican Last weekend, I attended a Max Richter and the American Contemporary Music Ensemble performance at the Perth Convention Centre. The evening started with the playing of Max’s most recent album, “In a Landscape”, Listen here for a short intermission, followed by a playing of...

17/01/2025

Did you know that poor sleep hygiene is directly linked to fatigue, mental health challenges, and safety risks in the mining industry? Our recent study, published in the Journal of Sleep Research, offers groundbreaking insights into sleep health for shiftworkers in this critical sector.

Key Insights from Our Study:
▪️ Poor sleep hygiene strongly correlates with poor sleep health.
▪️ Consistent sleep schedules and optimised sleep environments lead to better mental health and recovery.
▪️ Education and awareness are crucial for managing sleep and shiftwork effectively.

Dive deeper into our research findings and discover actionable strategies to improve sleep health for shiftworkers. Read the full article at ttps://meliusconsulting.com.au/sleep-health-in-shiftworkers-in-the-mining-industry-the-importance-of-education-and-health-promotion/

Let’s prioritise safety and well-being in the mining industry—starting with better sleep.

By Dr. Ian Dunican Director and Chief Adviser, Melius Consulting [email protected] The Australian mining industry is valued at over 352 billion Australian dollars. It encompasses over 350 operational mining sites producing commodities such as iron ore, coal, lithium, etc. To maximise returns...

11/10/2024

ONLINE COURSE: Sleep to Win: Maximising Recovery and Performance in Combat Sport Athletes

Unlock your full potential with the ultimate recovery tool—sleep. Designed specifically for martial arts enthusiasts, this course is perfect for anyone involved in the sport, from athletes and coaches to managers and physiologists.

Discover how to optimise your sleep to enhance performance, accelerate recovery, and prevent injuries. Whether you’re an amateur or a professional, this course will empower you to achieve better results in training, competition, and overall well-being.

Use: MELIUS20 to get 20% off.

Unlock your full potential with the ultimate recovery tool—sleep. Designed specifically for martial arts enthusiasts, this course is perfect for anyone involved in the sport, from athletes and coaches to managers and physiologists. Discover how to optimise your sleep to enhance performance, accele...

04/10/2024

This November I will participate in a 9 hr swim as part of Swim For Life, brought to you by Mens Talk.

Mens Talk aims to encourage and normalise conversations around hashtag health and wellness and support the prevention and intervention of hashtag amongst our Australian Men.

If you want to donate, please click the link and select our team Lane4. We appreciate all donations of any amount

04/10/2024

👨‍🏫 Our new online course at Melius Consulting is out now 🥊 🥋 🤼‍♂️

Sleep in Combat Sports Athletes: Understand sport and non-sport factors affecting sleep and performance.

Topics in this course include
Sleep Science: Learn sleep fundamentals and their impact on health.
Chronobiology: Explore biological rhythms that shape sleep patterns.
Weight-Cutting: Discover how weight-cutting techniques affect sleep and performance.
Sleep Problems and Disorders: Identify and address common sleep issues.
Managing Shiftwork: Strategies to reduce shiftwork’s impact on health.
Sleep Health and Hygiene: Practical tips for improving sleep quality.
Travel, Jet Lag & Altitude: Learn to manage travel fatigue, jet lag, and altitude effects.
Planning: Take a phased approach to sleep, training, and travel for optimal performance.

24/07/2024

🚦 Unpacking Sleep Loss in the Hungarian F1 Race 🏎️

Were you glued to the screen for last week's Hungarian F1 race? McLaren's incredible one-two finish was spectacular, but did you notice Max Verstappen's uncharacteristic struggles?

Our expert, Dr Ian Dunican, dives into how sleep loss could have impacted his performance. From sim racing until 3 am to visible frustration during the race, sleep might have played a bigger role than we think. Discover the science behind sleep loss and cognitive performance and how it affects not just F1 drivers, but all of us.

👉 Read the full article here: https://meliusconsulting.com.au/the-potential-impact-of-sleep-loss-on-cognitive-performance-in-the-hungarian-f1-race/

Author: Dr Ian Dunican If you were watching the F1 race last week in Hungary, you might have been glued to the screen with the one-two finishing positions of the McLaren F1 team as they continue to improve. As a fan of the McLaren team and as someone who has completed sleep, fatigue management and [...

28/02/2024

Our previous post delved into how GDP, health, and well-being intertwine. Now, we're dissecting the relationship between GDP per capita and sleep health. Does more money mean better sleep? Or does a relentless pursuit of economic growth sacrifice our precious rest?

Discover intriguing insights from recent studies:
📊 Large-scale research analyzing sleep patterns across 11 countries.
📈 Inconsistent findings from cross-sectional studies in China.
⏰ Longitudinal studies uncovering shifts in sleep durations over time.

From Tokyo's sleep struggles to global trends in work-life balance, we uncover the complex dynamics between money and sleep. If you're curious about the secrets hidden in sleep data and its ties to economic prosperity, click the link below:
https://meliusconsulting.com.au/does-monetary-wealth-equal-sleep-health-part-2-gdp-and-population-sleep/

In the previous blog, we discussed relationships between Gross Domestic Product or GDP per capita and population health. We discussed that while population health improvements (measured through life expectancy) and GDP per capita tend to rise concurrently over time, this is a trend with exceptions,....

01/02/2024

Ever wondered if a country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) truly reflects the health and wellbeing of its population?

Dive into our latest blog to explore the nuanced relationship between GDP and sleep health and wellbeing. Discover why GDP might not be the perfect gauge of a nation's overall wellbeing. Unearth fascinating trends between GDP per capita and life expectancy across various nations. Meet the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) - a rising star challenging GDP thinking.

Unlock the Full Story Here: https://meliusconsulting.com.au/does-monetary-wealth-equal-sleep-health-part-1-gross-domestic-product-and-population-health/

Stay Tuned for Part 2!

By Dr Tim Smithies and Dr Ian Dunican Unless you’re incredibly good at dodging the news (and if so, congratulations), you would have heard discussions about countries’ Gross Domestic Product or GDP. According to the wisdom reservoir that is ChatGPT (yes, ChatGPT came up with that flattering desc...

01/11/2023

In our latest post, we explore research that suggests that spending time in natural environments like parks can lead to better sleep quality and duration. Activities like forest walks and indoor gardening also have positive effects on sleep. Find out more on our website

By Philipp Beranek and Dr Ian C Dunican Sleep impacts how we feel and perform at work or other tasks [1-3]. Sleep is also crucial for our health, such as mental health [4]. Yet, many people regularly experience sleep difficulties [5]. These can include difficulty falling asleep or frequent awakening...