In a major boost for inclusive learning, Strathcona Girls Grammar has rolled out cutting-edge audio technology across every classroom, from Prep to Year 12.
Backed by a grant from the Beth MacLaren Smallwood Foundation, the leading Melbourne school partnered with an assistive listening systems company to ensure students with hearing loss can hear every word, wherever they’re seated.
The Frontrow Elevate system features ceiling-mounted speakers, wireless mics for teachers and students, and direct links to personal hearing aids. For Year 10 student Blair, the change is simple but profound: “Now, I can just focus on learning like everyone else.”
Strathcona Girls Grammar Principal, Lorna Beegan while the new system is intuitive to use, teachers received hands-on training to ensure they felt confident with the microphones and classroom tools.
“Just as importantly, we focused on the practical impact the system has in the classroom and on how clear communication reduces fatigue and supports every learner,” Beegan told The Educator.
“Staff also took part in professional learning around inclusive language and awareness, which we deepened through direct conversations with students who spoke openly about their experiences of living and learning with hearing loss.”
Together, these efforts have meant the technology is not just another tool in the classroom, said Beegan.
“It has become part of a culture of belonging at Strathcona.”
‘We wanted inclusion to be meaningful’
Beegan said that when the College considered the investment, it was guided by two priorities.
“We wanted every student to have equal access to learning, and we wanted inclusion to be meaningful,” she said. “True inclusion happens when classrooms are designed so that all students can participate fully, without barriers.”
Beegan said the upgrade was about more than just technology – it was about continuing a legacy of inclusion and empowerment.
“In many ways, this continues the legacy of Beth MacLaren Smallwood, a proud Strathcona alumna whose own hearing loss inspired her lifelong commitment to creating opportunities for others,” she said.
“By honouring her story, we are ensuring that all students benefit from clear communication in every classroom and indeed throughout every learning space.”
For other school leaders, the case for this investment is compelling, said Beegan.
“It is not only about supporting students with hearing loss, but about creating environments where every learner can thrive,” she said.
“The technology improves engagement, reduces fatigue, and fosters equity, which benefits the entire cohort and the demands on the teacher.”
Beegan said framing it as an investment in the wellbeing and success of all students, rather than a specialist tool, can help schools demonstrate the far-reaching impact of inclusive design.
Every student benefits
Beegan said the new upgrade has changed the classroom dynamic, not just for students with hearing loss, but for the wider cohort in terms of engagement and equity.
“The difference has been remarkable. For students with hearing loss, the system removes barriers that once required constant self-advocacy,” she said. “They can now step into class with confidence, interact with their peers, and engage in classroom discussion, knowing their needs have already been considered.”
Beegan said this is more than convenience – it is a powerful reminder that inclusion works best when it is built into the environment itself.
“At the same time, every student benefits. Clearer communication strengthens focus and engagement, while teachers experience less strain and more connection with their students,” she said. “In this way, the technology does more than amplify voices.”
Beegan said the College’s upgrade also “amplifies opportunity, creating classrooms where equity is not an aspiration but a daily reality.”
“For us, it signals the kind of future we want for education: one where every child, regardless of how they hear or learn, is given the full chance to be unstoppable.”