The Client
The Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) is a premier venue for conferences, exhibitions, and events, serving a diverse clientele with varying needs. Committed to enhancing accessibility and user experience, GCCEC continually invests in state-of-the-art technologies to meet and exceed client expectations.
The Challenge
Traditional assistive hearing systems, such as induction loops and infrared-based technologies, were falling short of modern standards. These systems were prone to technical issues, such as connectivity dropouts, physical wear, and limited accessibility for broader audiences. With the rise of wi-fi and Bluetooth-based solutions, GCCEC sought to implement an assistive hearing system that was reliable, user-friendly, and seamlessly integrated with their existing AV infrastructure.
During November, GCCEC hosted the 2024 Australian Assistive Technology Conference run by the Australian Rehabilitation & Assistive Technology Association (ARATA). It was clearly the ideal event to launch its new assistive hearing system – not only to have it fully ready for action but to canvass expert feedback from delegates around its performance and ease of use.
The Solution
For Chris Davey, Executive Manager of Technology at GCCEC, a big investment in Sennheiser MobileConnect made sense on a number of fronts: “Induction loops often don’t last – they’re prone to damage, especially when embedded in carpets; and infrared systems struggle with connectivity and require a clear line of sight, which leads to frequent dropouts and user issues.
“We evaluated all the various options at the Integrate Expo and remained focused on MobileConnect because of its usability, adaptability, and the way it integrates with our existing systems.”
GCCEC invested in the Sennheiser MobileConnect system, a cutting-edge wi-fi-based assistive listening solution. This decision aligned with their recently upgraded wi-fi infrastructure and their commitment to an all-Dante-enabled audio-over-IP environment. The integration with Q-SYS DSP and control systems allowed for effortless audio routing, enabling spaces to be reconfigured with ease.
Chris Davey: “MobileConnect dovetails nicely with our current systems. We have full Dante and Q-SYS integration, which means audio can be routed wherever needed and automatically adjusts as rooms change, making it work seamlessly with MobileConnect. Having an API is also incredibly beneficial.”
MobileConnect offered attendees a simple two-step process to access audio streams via a smartphone app and QR code. GCCEC ensured a seamless connection by prioritising network optimisation and automation. The system’s API integration further enhanced usability by automating room reconfigurations and minimising the need for technical intervention.
The system was deployed during the Australian Assistive Technology Conference, where experts, including ARATA’s Strategic Executive Advisor Libby Callaway, praised its usability and potential for broader adoption. The feedback highlighted the system’s benefits for not just individuals with hearing impairments but also neurodiverse attendees, older adults, and anyone seeking personalised audio experiences.
“The recent Disability Royal Commission highlighted the need for mainstream services to be accessible for and usable by people with disabilities,” observes Libby Callaway. “With high representation of individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities in Australia, the kind of technology that Sennheiser MobileConnect represents could be invaluable. My hope is to see this type of technology available not just in exhibition centres or schools but in a whole variety of spaces allowing people who use hearing products, or have specific sensory preferences, to fully participate in public life.”
ASL (Audio Systems Logic) played a pivotal role in specifying and validating Sennheiser’s MobileConnect system for the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre (GCCEC), ensuring compliance with Australia’s hearing augmentation standards. Sam Dockrill of ASL highlighted the extensive work involved in integrating Wi-Fi-based assistive listening solutions, particularly in aligning them with AS1428.5. “There are two big challenges with Wi-Fi technology;” he explained. “One is compliance with the hearing augmentation standards, which were updated in recent years to include specific latency requirements for Wi-Fi solutions. The second is meeting BCA requirements around the number of receivers venues need to provide, which were originally based on older technologies like infrared.”
ASL worked closely with GCCEC’s AV and IT teams to ensure the network infrastructure could support MobileConnect effectively. To validate performance, ASL worked closely with the AV and IT teams at GCCEC to conduct extensive latency testing across a range of mobile devices to determine compliance levels and establish an acceptable reduction in the number of venue-provided receivers. “Sennheiser suggested we could provide a lot of benefit to GCCEC by helping them put forward a performance solution that would be less onerous but still meet the requirements of the standards,” Dockrill said. ASL’s rigorous testing and collaboration with GCCEC ultimately led to a compliant, future-ready assistive listening solution that significantly reduced the venue’s hardware burden while maintaining accessibility.
ASL’s confidence in specifying Sennheiser’s MobileConnect stems from the manufacturer’s clear commitment to compliance and performance validation. “Sennheiser is currently the only manufacturer that states it complies with the standard and has data to back that up,” Dockrill explained. “We’ve spoken to other distributors of similar systems, and their response to the question around latency compliance is, ‘we have a good product and everyone likes it’—which is code for ‘we don’t necessarily comply.’” This level of transparency, combined with extensive real-world testing, has made Sennheiser the go-to choice for ASL across multiple large-scale projects, including Powerhouse Parramatta and a major education facility in Canberra. “Hearing loops and IR have their place, but they’re antiquated compared to what we can achieve with newer technologies,” Dockrill added. By working closely with GCCEC’s AV and IT teams, ASL ensured MobileConnect was not only compliant but also optimised for the venue’s infrastructure, setting a new benchmark for hearing augmentation solutions in convention centres.
The Results
The implementation of Sennheiser MobileConnect at GCCEC represents a transformative approach to assistive hearing. Moving beyond compliance, GCCEC has delivered an intuitive and accessible solution that enhances event experiences for all attendees. The system’s flexibility opens new possibilities, from sensory support to silent stage applications, underscoring its value beyond traditional assistive hearing needs.
Assistive hearing has traditionally been mostly about compliance to the relevant standard. But as Libby Callaway so passionately advocates for, assistive hearing systems, when done well, can make for a more successful event:
“Worst-case: if hearing devices don’t integrate with the environment, people miss out on connecting with others, gaining new knowledge, and experiencing events fully. This exclusion limits professional and social opportunities. Best-case: accessible environments allow everyone to access information equally, connecting people with varied sensory preferences or needs with the experience as any other attendee.”
By integrating innovative technologies like MobileConnect, GCCEC has set a benchmark for inclusivity and innovation in event spaces, ensuring every attendee feels heard and included. This project not only aligns with regulatory standards but also redefines what accessible environments can achieve.
Chris Davey and his team can also see the possibilities: “We view MobileConnect as much more than compliance. Beyond hearing augmentation, the technology has applications for silent stages, sensory support, and areas where noise can be an issue. Its flexibility was a key reason for our choice.
“We are also very interested in exploring MobileConnect’s TalkBack feature – we can see this being a valuable enhancement for our clients, not having to pass microphones around for Q&A.”
Conclusion
The Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre’s adoption of Sennheiser MobileConnect signals a shift in how assistive hearing technology is approached – going beyond box-ticking compliance to delivering a seamless, intuitive experience for users. By tapping into their upgraded wi-fi infrastructure and deeply integrating with Dante and Q-SYS, GCCEC has shown what’s possible when accessibility meets innovation. The Australian Assistive Technology Conference provided the perfect testing ground, and the results speak for themselves. With systems like MobileConnect, the focus moves from simply meeting standards to unlocking new possibilities for inclusion, connection, and richer event experiences for everyone.
