Providing essential support and health checks for new parents and their children, the Maternal & Child Health Nurse (MCHN) services at Hume City Council are a vital community resource. When the Council refurbished its MCHN suites at the Aitken Hill and Greenvale sites, the goal was to create a modern, high-quality environment for these sensitive consultations.
The Challenge: Acoustic Gaps in a Modern Fitout
While the refurbishment included an acoustically rated fitout, a significant issue remained: the lack of background sound. Sometimes, due to the absence of ambient noise, even whispered conversations could be overheard in adjacent waiting areas or offices. Despite the physical barriers, the suites did not allow for the complete privacy required for MCHN services.
The Solution: A Creative Retrofit
To bridge this privacy gap, Soundmask was engaged to implement an acoustic sound masking system. The goal was to increase the privacy rating and ensure that confidential conversations remained truly private.
Because the project was a retrofit, the installation required a more creative approach than a standard ceiling-mounted system. Working with installers JAK Audiovisual, Soundmask utilised under-floor transducers placed discreetly on floating shelves within the suites. This clever placement allowed the system to remain virtually invisible while effectively distributing sound masking throughout the space.
The Outcome: Safe and Effective Results
Completed in January 2020, the installation provided an unobtrusive and safe solution for both staff and visitors. By introducing a gentle, calibrated background sound, the Soundmask system successfully masked speech frequencies, protecting the sensitive nature of the consultations.
This project highlights how Soundmask can adapt to unique architectural constraints to deliver effective acoustic privacy, ensuring that community services like Hume City Council’s MCHN suites remain a secure and comfortable space for all.