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ARTICLE · 14 SEPTEMBER 2025

Sleep Apnoea and Shift Work – what NSW workers need to know

Carroll & O'Dea
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This article outlines how sleep apnoea is linked to shift work, the process of making a claim and what evidence is needed to establish sleep apnoea is work related.

AustraliaEmployment and HR
Jacqueline Pearce
Jacqueline Pearce
Scott Dougall
Scott Dougall
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Sleep apnoea is often dismissed as a personal health issue, however for many Australians shift workers it may be an occupational disease — caused or aggravated by years of disrupted sleep patterns.

Many workers suffering from sleep apnoea are not currently accessing the medical support and compensation entitlements potentially available under the NSW workers compensation legislation.

This article outlines how sleep apnoea is linked to shift work, the process of making a claim and what evidence is needed to establish sleep apnoea is work related.

Understanding Sleep Apnoea

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) occurs when the airway repeatedly closes during sleep, causing breathing to stop and start. This results in:

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