NEXTSENSE HERALDS
NEW ERA FOR HEARING AND VISION LOSS
The NextSense Centre for Innovation is a nationally significant piece of social infrastructure redefining what inclusive design can achieve. Purpose-built for people with hearing and vision loss, the centre integrates education, research, clinical care and professional training within one connected environment designed to change lives. Supported by a $12.5 million investment from the Australian Government, the project responds to a growing national need while positioning Australia as a global leader in sensory disability innovation and research.
Located alongside Macquarie University, the centre has been designed as a gateway for collaboration between researchers, educators, industry and government both nationally and internationally. It creates opportunities for new partnerships, knowledge sharing and innovation while strengthening Australia’s leadership in hearing and vision services, research and professional education.
The 9,520sqm development is organised across two interconnected pavilions that bring together education, therapy, research and workplace functions. Guided by the principles of Sensory, Network and Sense of Purpose, the design delivers a tactile, intuitive and therapeutic environment tailored to people with hearing and vision loss through exceptional acoustics, high-contrast interiors, tactile materials and custom wayfinding.
Connection to landscape and natural light was central to the architectural response. Classrooms, therapy spaces and shared environments are arranged around landscaped courtyards, creating strong visual and physical links to the outdoors that support wellbeing and orientation. The double-height public foyer forms the social heart of the centre, bringing together clients, staff and researchers within a vibrant multi-sensory hub.
The centre continues NextSense’s 164-year legacy of innovation and advocacy while establishing a future-focused model for integrated service delivery. Through its “living model” approach, the project enables ongoing research, collaboration and best-practice learning that will influence sensory disability services across Australia and internationally for generations to come.
