The Coles supermarket at the Bathurst Chase complex has started the Quiet Hour program, which reduces noise and distractions to make shopping easier for customers who find heightened sensory environments challenging.

The program has received widespread praise from customers throughout Australia and Coles has expanded the Quiet Hour to its stores in every region of the country.

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During the Quiet Hour, store lighting is dimmed by 50 per cent, Coles Radio is switched off, register and scanner volumes are reduced to the lowest level, trolley collection is stopped and roll cages are removed from the shop floor.

PA announcements are also stopped, except in the case of emergencies.

Free fruit is offered at customer service, and additional team members are available to support customers.

The Quiet Hour will be held at Coles in the Bathurst Chase between 10.30am and 11.30am every Tuesday.

“Our team members at participating stores are enthusiastic about the initiative and look forward to offering Quiet Hour to their customers who might benefit from the experience,” a Coles spokesperson said.

Autism Spectrum Australia community engagement and operations manager Linzi Coyle said people who are on the autism spectrum “often have difficulty processing sensory information and can find sounds, light, smell, touch and taste overwhelming”.

“For many individuals and families, a simple trip to the shops can be difficult,” she said. 

“With autism affecting one in 100 Australians, expanding this low-sensory shopping experience to more Coles stores will have a significant improvement on the lives of many children, young people and adults on the spectrum, as well as their family members.”