After consulting with Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) and Dementia Alliance, Westfield Kotara introduced Quiet Time in March. Between 10.30am and 11.30am on Tuesdays, participating stores dim the lights and music for those with sensory processing difficulties.

About 350,000 people - or one in 70 - across Australia have autism spectrum disorders and a further 450,000 have dementia. Those on on the autism spectrum have differences in processing sensory information, where too much sensory information - lights, noises, smells, busy environments - can lead to sensory overload and feelings of stress or anxiety, even physical pain.

"By adapting an environment, you can help to reduce anxiety and stress for someone on the autism spectrum, making it easier for them to complete an everyday task," an Aspect spokesperson said.

Scrubba Body co-founder Josh Lawlor received a memo about Quiet Time a week before it began and quickly got on board.

"We thought it was really cool," he said. "We want our shop to have a relaxing vibe anyway, our music is always acoustic. All we had to do was dim the lights and put the music a bit softer."

Quiet Time is growing in popularity and Mr Lawlor said carers had told him they prioritised the time slot.

"Not all the shops have taken it up, it's not 100% through the Centre and it's got to be because if you want to get to our quiet shop you have to go through half the centre."

A spokesperson for Scentre Group, which manages Westfield, said Kotara was the 10^th Westfield centre to introduce Quiet Time.

"It allows customers to have a calm and pleasant experience. Lighting within the centre and at participating retailers is adjusted to lower levels, the music volume is lowered, day-to-day activities are limited and incidental noise is reduced," he said.

"Westfield team members are trained regularly about the impact of autism and dementia for customers and their carers when they visit, so they can be more responsive to their needs. Centre Experience teams also extend the program by working with retail partners to assist them with changes they may consider implementing within their stores."

More than 170 stores (about 75 per cent) participate in Quiet Time, including Commonwealth Bank, Mecca and JB Hi-Fi.

Scentre Group General Manager, Development and Asset Management and All Abilities Working Group member, Ric O'Connell said: "'Quiet Time' demonstrates our ongoing commitment to curating an inclusive Living Centre experience that meets the changing needs of our communities. "Our team, together with our retail partners, recognise the big difference these small changes can make for customers with autism spectrum disorders and dementia when they visit our centres."

A spokeswoman for Charlestown Square said the centre had been exploring a similar initiative however could not comment as to when or if it would be rolled out in the centre.

She said Woolworths offered a sensory hour of shopping between 10.30am and11.30am on Tuesdays and Charlestown Square had for some years had a "sensory Santa" initiative where those with sensitivities could attend outside of trading hours for festive photographs.

Aspect says the "huge response" to Quiet Hour also shows that providing customers with adapted and low-sensory environments works for more than just people on the autism spectrum.

"It has been welcomed by a range of other people who don't want to be bombarded by bright lights, loud music and lots of activity going on around them," the spokesperson said.

Aspect believes that stores need to continually improve their work with Quiet Hour as one part of an ongoing inclusive approach.

"This includes regular training for staff by people on the autism spectrum, increased strategies beyond just sensory adaptations, demonstration of consistent quality implementation of strategies and expansion of hours to other times to accommodate a wider group of people," the spokesperson said.

"We would like to see greater awareness amongst store staff about invisible disabilities, such as autism - without it Quiet Hours alone can appear tokenistic."

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