Strathcona Girls Grammar school in Canterbury, Melbourne has undergone a whole school upgrade to cutting-edge sound technology, making every classroom from prep to year 12 more inclusive for students with hearing loss.
It said the extensive upgrade set a new benchmark for accessibility in education and cemented its commitment to inclusivity, ensuring every student could fully engage in learning, regardless of hearing ability.
The technology includes ceiling-mounted amplifiers, wireless microphones for both teachers and students, and direct connectivity to personal hearing devices via Roger technology. Audio is also amplified via classroom speakers, creating a more inclusive learning environment that benefits all students.
The system distributes sound evenly throughout the classroom, helping students hear clearly regardless of where they’re seated, especially during group discussions or when teachers move around the room. It reduces listening fatigue, improves engagement, and minimises misunderstandings that can arise from missed instructions.
Funded by a successful grant through the Beth MacLaren Smallwood Foundation, the school, in conjunction with Word of Mouth Technology, installed Frontrow Elevate Soundfield Systems hearing augmentation and speech enhancement system in every classroom, with additional integration in large collaborative learning spaces.
The school said the investment significantly enhanced Strathcona’s capacity to support students with hearing loss.
Strathcona Girls Grammar already offers The Beth MacLaren Smallwood Scholarship which was established by alumna Mrs Beth Smallwood (née MacLaren) and is awarded to girls with significant hearing impairment who would benefit from a Strathcona education.
Year 10 Strathcona student Blair said: “When you have hearing loss, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference, like being able to hear your teacher clearly in a noisy classroom or not having to pretend you caught what someone said.
“This new system helps take away that pressure. It means I can just focus on learning, like everyone else.”
Principal Ms Lorna Beegan added: “True inclusion means designing for difference, not exception.
“This upgrade ensures all students, regardless of how they hear, have access to the full richness of classroom learning and discussion. We are incredibly grateful to the Beth MacLaren Smallwood Foundation for supporting this vision.”
