Frequently asked questions

  • Sleep problems can be complicated. Accessing care should be simple.

    Sleep problems can have complex causes, including physical, mental and lifestyle factors. Good sleep health requires a multidisciplinary approach, often requiring expertise from various medical and health fields to provide comprehensive care.

    The digisleep platform provides you with direct access to some of Australia’s leading sleep experts across a range of disciplines. On the platform, you can easily connect with a practitioner whose skills match your requirements, and access a range of treatment options.

    We also offer multi-night home tests designed to measure sleep quality and detect sleep-disordered breathing, delivered directly to your door, helping you avoid an overnight stay in a laboratory.

  • 1. Take our online assessment

    Take our brief, confidential online assessment. It’s the first step towards accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

    2. Book consultations with the sleep experts

    Get access to Australia’s leading sleep experts, including doctors, specialists, psychologists and dietitians. All consultations are held online via secure and easy-to-use telehealth technology. No more travel time and waiting rooms. It’s healthcare on your terms.

    3. Convenient testing and treatment options

    Have a multi-night home sleep test delivered directly to your door, helping you avoid an overnight stay in a laboratory.

    Recent scientific advances in insomnia therapy, and in weight loss programs for sleep apnea, have opened up new treatment options for chronic sleep problems.

  • Sleep experts on the platform span a range of fields, and include medical practitioners, sleep specialist physicians, sleep coaches, psychologists, psychiatrists and dietitians.

    You can read the bios of the sleep experts in the Practitioner Network and book appointments.

  • All you need is an internet-connected device (such as a desktop, laptop or smartphone) with a camera, microphone and speakers.

  • Yes. You are welcome to make an appointment with any sleep expert on the platform.

    To help you make this decision, we offer a brief, confidential online assessment.

    About digisleep

    Sleep disorders and sleep problems

    • Sleep disorders (or sleep-wake disorders) are medical disorders that impact when, how long and how well you sleep. More than 1 in 5 Australians live with a sleep disorder.

      Sleep disorders can be physical, mental or both. Common disorders include:

      • obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): when breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep due to airway obstruction;

      • insomnia: difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early;

      • restless legs syndrome (RLS): an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, often worse at night;

      • circadian rhythm disorders: misalignment between the body’s internal clock and the external environment, often due to shift work;

      • narcolepsy: excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks; and

      • parasomnias: unusual behaviours during sleep, such as sleepwalking or nightmare disorder.

      Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to have more than one sleep disorder at the same time. Some sleep disorders are also often comorbid with other health problems such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, anxiety and depression.

      Our platform is host to a multi-disciplinary group of sleep experts, capable of providing warm and high-quality care across the spectrum of sleep disorders.

    • Sleep disorders can disrupt daily functioning, reduce energy levels, and impair focus, memory and mood. These effects often impact interpersonal relationships, work performance, and overall quality of life.

      Many individuals experience more than one sleep disorder at the same time, and they are strongly associated with other health conditions, creating a cycle that impacts both physical and mental wellbeing.

      Mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion are associated with sleep disorders like insomnia.

      Physical health issues like obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and reduced immune function are linked to sleep disorders like sleep apnea, and may increase the risk of other serious complications.

    • Even without a sleep disorder, environmental factors (such as noise, light and temperature) and lifestyle practices (such as when you work, exercise, drink caffeine, and use electronic devices) can all lead to sleep problems.

      Sleep experts on our platform can help you practice better sleep habits.

    Treatments and ongoing medical care

    • Clinicians on our platform are driving the latest research in sleep health.

      They can offer you a wide range of treatments depending on, and tailored to, your needs, including:

      — cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia;
      — pharmacological treatments;
      — medical weight-loss programs; and
      — sleep hygiene and relaxation techniques.

      Under Australian law, we are restricted from advertising specific treatment options. You will need a consultation with a health practitioner to determine what treatments, if any, are appropriate for you.

    • Doctors on the digisleep platform provide prescriptions electronically.

      For more information about eScripts, you can visit the Australian Digital Health Agency’s information page.

    • All sleep experts using the platform are committed to working alongside your regular GP, or any other healthcare professionals you may have.

      You can let your sleep expert know if you would like them to coordinate with your regular GP at any stage.

      To maintain continuity of care, you should keep your regular GP informed about the advice and treatments you receive from sleep experts using digisleep.

    Home sleep test

    • Sleep tests are commonly used by doctors to measure sleep quality and diagnose sleep-disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep apnea.

      For most people, a home sleep test is the accurate, convenient and comfortable option where more complex lab testing isn’t needed.

    • The home sleep test includes a finger sensor device and 3 sleep study nights, which can be used consecutively or non-consecutively.

      It’s simple to use: start testing quickly with a single finger sensor and mobile app. The device is designed to be comfortable, with no wires, no straps, and nothing on your face.

      The finger sensor collects multiple channels of data during sleep, which is then streamed via Bluetooth to your mobile device and securely uploaded to a cloud-based clinical portal, where it can be reviewed.

      Unlike many other home sleep tests, this device is reusable. You can purchase extra sleep study nights for follow-up testing to track your progress over time.

    • The home sleep test has been clinically evaluated to output measurements comparable to those calculated during a polysomnography (PSG) study, like in a sleep lab.

      By measuring sleep across multiple nights, and designed to be comfortable, the home sleep test can capture a more representative picture of your usual sleep patterns than a single night in a sleep lab.

      We recommend that you first consult one of the sleep experts on our platform about the best way to investigate your sleep problem, before purchasing the device, as in some cases more complex testing may be required.

    • You should receive your home sleep test report in 5 to 7 business days after the successful completion of a study.

    Pricing, referrals and claiming

    • It’s free to take our online assessment. You’ll see possible sleep problems linked to your stated profile and reported symptoms, what your next steps on the platform could look like, and what to expect along the way.

      The sleep experts on our platform are independent practitioners and set their own rates. The cost of a consultation will vary depending on the sleep expert, and the nature and length of the appointment. You can see the estimated cost of any consultation with a practitioner on their profile page. Sleep experts may require a deposit or payment in advance of a consultation.

      Pricing for our affordable and convenient home sleep tests can be found on the store page.

    • No, you do not need a referral to book any consultation through the platform.

      For consultations with specialists, such as sleep specialist physicians or psychiatrists, a referral is required to access any available Medicare rebate.

      For consultations with psychologists, both a referral and mental health treatment plan (MHTP) is required to access any available Medicare rebate.

      The medical practitioners (non-specialist) on our platform can provide you with a referral to a specialist or psychologist, if needed. You can also use a referral from your regular GP.

      After booking a consultation with a sleep expert, a link will be sent to you via email to upload any referral and/or MHTP.

      If you have any further questions about referrals, feel free to contact us.

    • Medicare rebates can be claimed for certain consultations offered by some sleep experts through our platform. This will depend on the kind of sleep expert you are speaking with, and the nature of the consultation.

      For consultations with specialists, such as sleep specialist physicians or psychiatrists, a referral is required to access any available Medicare rebate.

      For consultations with psychologists, both a referral and mental health treatment plan is required to access any available Medicare rebate.

      For consultations with medical practitioners (non-specialist), Medicare eligibility can depend on whether the telehealth appointment is in relation to a mental health disorder. In sleep health, this can sometimes be difficult to determine prior to a consultation. If you contact us after completing the online assessment, we can provide general information about factors that may be relevant, but only the practitioner can assess during your appointment whether your problem meets this definition.

      If you have any questions about whether or not a consultation is eligible to receive the Medicare rebate, feel free to contact us.

    • Whether you can claim on private health insurance will depend on your policy and the type of consultation, so you should confirm this with your insurer.

    Eligibility

    • You can be any age to access the digisleep platform. However, you may be required to provide us with certain consents or directives, including from your parent(s) or guardian(s).

      If you are accessing the platform as the parent or guardian of another person, you must bring this to the attention of any sleep expert, and be present for all communications between the sleep expert and your dependent.

      For more information, please see the Terms and Conditions.

    • Digisleep can be accessed from anywhere in Australia.

      Unfortunately, digisleep is not available for use outside of Australia at this time.

    Privacy and data security

    • We take our privacy and data security obligations seriously. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.

    • Your telehealth consultations may only be recorded with your consent.

      Sleep experts must always ask your permission before recording a consultation (for instance, to assist them with preparing their clinical notes).