The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research

Chronic pain and poor sleep are two of the most common and challenging health concerns worldwide — and they are closely intertwined. In the first event of the Woolcock and Macquarie University 2026 Sleep Talks series, Dr Amelia Scott will explore the powerful, bidirectional relationship between sleep and pain and what that means for treatment and recovery.

Research consistently shows that sleep and pain influence each other in meaningful ways. A poor night’s sleep can heighten pain sensitivity, lower pain tolerance, and affect mood and your ability to cope generally. At the same time, ongoing pain frequently disrupts sleep continuity, reduces sleep quality and can contribute to insomnia.

Understanding this connection is critical. Chronic pain affects around one in five adults, and insomnia symptoms are highly prevalent among people living with pain conditions. Yet sleep difficulties are often treated as secondary concerns rather than central components of pain management. Emerging evidence suggests that improving sleep can lead to meaningful reductions in pain severity, improved daytime functioning and better quality of life.

In her Sleep Talk, Dr Scott will outline what we know about the links between sleep and pain, drawing on both clinical and research perspectives. She will discuss the mechanisms underlying insomnia and chronic pain and review evidence for treatments that target these shared processes. These include cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), alongside behavioural and psychological approaches used in modern pain management.

Dr Scott is a clinical psychologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Woolcock Clinic and the eCentreClinic, Macquarie University. She specialises in treating sleep disorders such as insomnia, as well as chronic pain and neurological conditions. Her work focuses on evidence-based, accessible treatments that improve both mental and physical health outcomes.

The 2026 Sleep Talks series, presented by the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in partnership with Macquarie University, brings together leading clinicians, educators and researchers in sleep and chronobiology. Across the year, monthly talks will explore a range of topics spanning sleep health, circadian rhythms, clinical sleep disorders and the broader impact of sleep on individuals and society.

Dr Scott will open the 2026 series on Thursday 19 March. Registration is now open for her talk and for all events in the Sleep Talks program.

View the full series and register here.

Find out more

• Sleep Research at the Woolcock