The need for agile hearing augmentation in education
In Australia, one of the constants is the high quality of regulation and policy around inclusive learning spaces. This includes hearing augmentation in education, ensuring that learners, teachers, and visitors who are hard of hearing have equal access to classroom audio.
Another constant is that hearing technology keeps evolving. Schools must therefore adopt solutions that adapt to new hearing aids, transmission platforms, and compliance standards.
UConnect and Roger: flexible solutions for schools
The Hear and Learn UConnect family of hearing augmentation solutions is designed for flexibility and future-proofing. Each UConnect system is supplied with transmitters to hearing aids, including the widely used Phonak Roger Media Hub.
This provides schools with reliable Roger hearing augmentation, ensuring that learners using Phonak Roger-enabled hearing aids can connect seamlessly. At the same time, UConnect supports Auracast transmitters, T Switch devices, and other platforms — delivering cross-brand compatibility that most legacy solutions cannot match.
While some schools may rely on a separate Roger soundfield setup or basic hearing loop Australia systems, UConnect goes further. It integrates all classroom audio — teacher microphones, PA messages, and multimedia sources — and makes that audio available both through soundfield speakers for the whole class and directly into personal hearing aids via Roger, Auracast, or T Switch.
Beyond Perspex boxes: durable, best-of-breed design
Some older augmentation solutions use Perspex box designs that are less durable and not engineered for modern compliance. By contrast, the UConnect Mini is built from steel and polycarbonate, making it the best-of-breed choice for a GLA Minimum Hearing Augmentation Package. It is robust enough for busy classrooms and aligned with long-term performance standards.
Meeting state standards and best practice
Hear and Learn solutions align with national and state requirements, including:
- Queensland QED Design Standards (Version 5.0, October 2024) — mandating that all audio-emitting devices, including screen audio, must connect to a hearing augmentation solution with multiple transmitter compatibility.
- Victorian School Building Authority’s Building Quality Standards Handbook (BWSH) — stating that:
- “Different brands and types of personal hearing devices use different transmission platforms and methods.”
- “Assistive hearing technologies are constantly evolving, which means installed hearing augmentation and soundfield solutions must be as agile as possible.”
This performance-based approach shows why schools can no longer rely on one-size-fits-all systems such as a basic hearing loop Australia installation.
The advantage for schools
By adopting a GLA Minimum Hearing Augmentation Package built around UConnect, schools can ensure:
- Compatibility with Roger, Auracast, and T Switch receivers.
- Integration of both hearing augmentation and soundfield distribution.
- Compliance with VSBA, QED, and national regulations.
- Durable, future-proof design that outperforms Perspex box setups.
Want to learn how Hear and Learn can tailor a hearing augmentation solution for your school? Contact us today.