Not all customers are comfortable in busy service centres due to the noise, lights and number of people, especially those with a sensory disability and the elderly. Many would prefer to visit centres before they open or go to a private counter with less people.
Providing a welcoming environment
Service NSW is committed to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone. Quiet Hour is currently being trialled in select service centres to make it easier for customers who have trouble with sensory regulation or prefer a quieter environment. During a specific time, lighting and background noise is reduced, quieter speaking tones are used and mobile phones are switched to silent mode. The centres also have fewer people in them during these times through the use of a queuing system and by reducing the amount of social interactions.
Three-month pilot
Quiet Hour is being piloted from 20 June 2022 for 3 months at 8 Service Centres across NSW:
- Auburn
- Dubbo
- Edmondson Park
- Engadine
- Erina
- Forbes
- Lithgow
- Queanbeyan.
This program may be continued or expanded based on the outcomes and success of the pilot.
Positive customer experience
Providing a calmer space creates a more positive experience of doing business with Service NSW.
Find out more about Quiet Hour.
Learn more about how we are working towards achieving an inclusive society. NSW Disability Inclusion Plan 2021-2025.
“Some customers can find it difficult to process sensory information from the world around them. This can then be excruciating for not only autistic customers but all people who suffer from sensory disorders.”