Take a breather
A sensory space is a place where you can relax, unwind, and take a break from sensory overload.
This space offers sensory-based experiences designed to both stimulate and calm your senses, using elements such as lighting, music, colours, aromas, tactile materials, and interactive objects.
Location: Level 2, Waranara Library, 16 Macquarie Walk
Our sensory space
As a student, you can experience added pressures and stress, especially during exam time or when completing assessments. You may feel overwhelmed or anxious and need a place to relax and decompress.
Our sensory space provides a safe and inclusive environment where you can unwind featuring:
Low lighting: Help your brain shift out of high alert mode by reducing visual processing demands.
Varied furniture: Sit, stretch out or position your body comfortably.
Moving sand art: Calm your mind watching the coloured sand gently tumble to form new patterns.
Wobble cushions: Channel your excess energy and maintain focus on the cushion’s gentle moving surface.
Fidget tools: Free yourself from anxiety and restlessness with small, tactile handheld items.
Weighted cushions: Relax and feel grounded under the comforting weight and cosy texture.
Sensory overload
Sensory overload is when your five senses are overly stimulated and taking in more information than your brain can cope with. Sensory overload may leave you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, irritable, stressed, fearful or panicked or may trigger symptoms such as restlessness, physical discomfort or an urge to cover your ears or shield your eyes.
Any person can experience sensory overload to varying degrees and every person’s triggers are different. However sensory overload is more common with neurodiverse people and people who experience other health and mental health conditions.
Recommendations
We'd love your feedback on how we can improve the experience. If you have ideas, please share these with us by filling out this short survey.