They'll talk about the game for hours. It's the people part that's hard.
Ignition Gamers runs face to face gaming sessions in Canberra for autistic young people aged 14 to 35, led by Peer Support Workers with lived experience. Start with a free chat.
- For young people aged 14 to 35
- Free discovery call, then a free trial session
- Led by Peer Support Workers with lived experience
- Face to face at our Spence studio in Canberra
Book a FREE discovery call
Not sure if it is the right fit? That is exactly what this call is for. Share a few details and one of our team will reach out for a friendly chat. No pressure, no commitment.
Are you a support coordinator? Refer a participant here
Not a fan of forms? Call us on 02 6130 0700
“Our son loves Ignition Gamers and looks forward to it every week. Ignition Gamers have been very welcoming from the start.”
Kimberley C., Parent
FEATURED ON
BEFORE YOU BOOK
The three things parents ask us first
You don’t have to have it all worked out before you get in touch. Most families come to us with the same three questions.
Will it suit my young person?
Small groups matched by age and interests, capped so nobody gets lost in the room. Video games and tabletop, side by side. Nobody has to talk to join in, and nobody has to stay in the room the whole time.
Can I use their NDIS plan?
Many participants attend using their NDIS plan, and we work with both self managed and plan managed participants. Your support coordinator can confirm what your plan allows. If you’re not with the NDIS, you’re still welcome here.
What if they hate it?
The first session is free and there’s nothing to lock into. Plenty of young people come along, watch from the edge for a while, and decide from there. That’s a completely normal way to start.
What participants build
These are not just gaming skills. They're life skills.
Every session is built around one skill. We name it up front, play two or three team games chosen because that skill naturally comes up, then pause halfway to point out what we saw and why it matters outside the game.
It’s not a classroom. Nobody sits through a lesson. It’s a normal, fun session where we notice out loud what participants are already doing, and connect it to real life.
Four pillars, one thread. Every skill we coach works towards the same outcome: a participant who’s more confident handling people, pressure and change, in the game room and outside it.
Pillar 01
Communication
Speaking up, listening, reading the room, and giving or taking instruction — the skills every relationship and every workplace runs on.
What this looks like
Explaining a plan to teammates before the round starts
Following directions from a team lead or supervisor role in-game
Listening and asking when something’s unclear, instead of guessing
Giving feedback to a teammate without it turning into conflict
How we coach this in a session
We name the week’s skill up front, then everyone plays one of two or three team games we’ve picked because that skill has to come up. Nobody’s told to “practise communication”. They just have to call out a position or agree on a plan to get through the level. It’s still just a game session, not a lesson. Halfway through we pause and point out what we saw: what good communication looked like, where it broke down, and why that same thing matters in a classroom, a workplace, or an interview.
Pillar 02
Teamwork
Joining in, taking a role, relying on others and being relied on — the difference between playing alongside people and playing with them.
What this looks like
Joining a group without prompting
Starting a game with someone new
Keeping a friendship going between sessions
How we coach this in a session
Every game in the rotation is played as a team. Nobody plays solo. That’s deliberate: a shared objective is what makes teamwork show up without anyone having to force it or be taught it up front. We’re not running drills. It’s a normal, fun session. Halfway through, we simply point out what just happened and put words to it, things like “covering someone’s gap” or “carrying the team”, and tie it to group work at school or on a job site.
Pillar 03
self management
Regulating frustration, managing impulses, sticking with a task, and showing up ready — the things that keep a person reliable under pressure.
What this looks like
Staying calm after a loss or a mistake
Managing frustration when a teammate makes an error
Sticking with a hard objective instead of quitting
Turning up on time and ready to play
How we coach this in a session
We pick games for this skill that reliably create pressure. A timer, a boss fight, a round you can lose. The point is to let the skill show up for real, not lecture about it beforehand. Participants are just playing, and nothing about the session feels like a lesson. In the halfway pause we point out what regulation looked like in the moment and connect it straight to workplace expectations: reliability, handling setbacks, staying on task.
Pillar 04
Adaptability
Changing the plan when the plan stops working, taking on new information, and adjusting to people and situations you didn’t choose.
What this looks like
Changing strategy mid-game when the first plan fails
Adjusting to a new teammate or an unfamiliar role
Taking feedback and changing behaviour in the same session
Handling an unexpected rule change or setback
How we coach this in a session
We choose games each week specifically because they force a plan to break. The leader changes, a teammate drops out, the objective shifts. Participants can’t fall back on a strategy that always works, and they’re not taught how to adapt beforehand. They just have to. At the halfway pause we point out how they adjusted, or didn’t, and link it to real situations: a changed shift, a new manager, a task that didn’t go the way it was briefed.
Our Spence studio
The room is built around how people actually feel in it
The most common question we get from parents isn’t about gaming. It’s “what happens if it gets too much?” So here’s exactly what the space is like before you walk in.
Sound you can manage
Soft furnishings help take the edge off the noise, and you’re welcome to bring your own headset if you need more control over noise levels.
Lighting we can adjust for you
No harsh overhead fluorescents — we dim the lights and set the blinds so the room suits whatever the group needs that day.
Somewhere to step out
A quiet breakout area with comfortable seating and fidgets, for when someone needs ten minutes away from the group. Stepping out is normal here.
You always know what is next
The session plan’s up on the wall when you arrive, so there aren’t any surprises about what’s happening or when it finishes.
No performance required
Stimming, talking at length about something you love, or sitting quietly and watching for a while are all completely fine. Nobody’s asked to mask.
Easy to get to
Parking right outside with step free access, and a quiet entry area rather than a crowded waiting room.
How It Works
Three steps, at your pace
There’s no assessment to pass and nothing to commit to. Most families start with a chat.
step 01
Have a chat with us
Book a call using the form above and we'll be in touch within one business day. We'll talk through what your young person is into, what they find hard, and whether we are the right fit.
step 02
Come in for a free trial
A full session at our Spence studio, at no cost. You'll meet the Peer Support Workers, see the room, and your young person can join in at whatever pace suits them. No obligation to come back.
step 03
Find your squad
Join a regular weekly session with an age matched group. Over time the same faces turn up, conversations get easier, and friendships start happening on their own.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
What it actually feels like to be here
"More than a place to play"
Your free trial
What happens on your first visit?
What we play
Games chosen for connection, not just fun
Every title in the studio earns its place. Here are a few, and what they quietly build.
Party and competitive
MARIO CART
Turn taking
Sportsmanship
Sandbox and building
Minecraft
Collaboration
Negotiation
Co-op puzzle
Overcooked
Clear communication
Delegation
Tabletop
Dungeons & Dragons
Storytelling
Active listening
Sessions and age groups
Small groups, matched by age and interests
Below is a rough guide to how our groups usually run. The times listed cover both video gaming and tabletop role play like Dungeons & Dragons, so not every session will be the one your young person wants. Days, times and spots also change through the year. When we chat we’ll work out which they’d prefer and confirm what’s actually available.
Ages 14 to 18
tEENS
Wednesday
4:30pm to 6:30pm (gaming waitlist)
Thursday
4:30pm to 7:30pm
Saturday
10:30am to 1:00pm
11:00am to 2:00pm
2:00pm to 4:00pm
Ages 19+
Young adults
For people navigating life after school, building a social routine and a group that sticks.
Monday
2:00pm to 4:00pm (gaming)
Tuesday
10:00am to 1:00pm (D&D waitlist)
2:00pm to 4:00pm (gaming)
Wednesday
10:00am to 1:00pm (D&D)
2:00pm to 4:00pm (gaming)
5:30pm to 8:30pm (D&D waitlist)
Thursday
11:00am to 1:00pm (board games run fortnightly)
10:00am to 1:00pm (D&D run fortnightly)
2:00pm to 4:00pm (gaming)
Friday
2:00pm to 4:00pm
Indicative session times only. Some groups run video games, some run tabletop, and some have a waitlist.
Book a call and we’ll find the right fit.
The people in the room
run by people who have been there
Our Peer Support Workers are not clinicians observing from the side. They’re gamers with lived experience who sit down and play alongside participants.
wILL gOLDING
Co-founder
Started Ignition Gamers in 2020 after seeing what gaming can do when it brings people together. Played every sport going as a kid, including show jumping, and still trains for 5k fun runs.
Dale
Operations manager/Peer Support
Used to stay home and keep to himself before Ignition. Gaming got him through some rough patches, and now the best part of his week is watching someone find their confidence.
Daniel
Youth worker
Years of youth work behind him, mostly with young people who are physically or cognitively diverse. A keen gamer who now gets to do both at once.
Ab
Peer Support Worker
A professional chef before he moved into youth work. Grew up without anyone who shared his love of video games or understood what he was going through, which is why he’s here.
Andrew
peer support worker
Collects comic books, vintage Transformers and old movie and music DVDs. Serious eye for fashion, all of it borrowed from the 2000s. Would race go karts full time given the chance.
thomas
peer support worker
Quiet until you get him talking about drawing. Outside the studio he’s off on drives, out with family, or with his seven foot pet python. First to welcome a new Gamer.
malakai
peer support worker
Gaming, good music and people, in roughly that order. Wrestles at events around Australia, which is where a lot of his own confidence came from.
clementine
Peer Support Worker
Has run tabletop roleplaying games for eight years and loves teaching new players. Tabletop is what helped them work out who they were, so they know what it can do for someone new.
CJ
peer support worker
Plays violin and guitar, builds a lot of Lego, and recreates video game and film soundtracks for fun. Says it doesn’t feel like coming to work.
ben
peer support worker
Describes himself in one word: nerd. RPGs, board games, comic books, anime, and a real love of science. Brings lived experience of mental health challenges to the way he works.
max
peer support worker
Training as a high school teacher, with a background in autism therapy and tutoring. Especially good with teens who’ve had enough of school, having had her own battles with the education system.
Every Peer Support Worker holds a current Working with Vulnerable People or Working with Children Registration.
Using your NDIS plan
How families pay for Ignition Gamers
If you're a parent, carer or participant
Many of the young people who come to Ignition Gamers access our sessions through their NDIS plan. We work with participants who are self managed and plan managed.
Every plan’s different, so we can’t tell you whether yours will cover it. What we can tell you is that our sessions are built around goals that show up in most plans, like social participation, community engagement, finding and keeping a job. The quickest way to find out is to ask your support coordinator whether Ignition Gamers fits your plan goals, and we’re happy to talk them through what we do.
We also keep a small number of places for families paying privately.
Not sure where to start? Book a free call first. There’s no cost and no commitment, and you can sort the funding question afterwards.
If you're a support coordinator or plan manager
Sessions are typically claimed under the support categories below, using the relevant support item aligned to each participant’s plan and needs.
CAPACITY BUILDING
09
Increased Social and Community (Life Transition Planning including Mentoring, Peer Support and Individual Skill Development)
10
Employment Assistance (Finding and Keeping a Job – Capacity Building)
11
Individual Social Skills Development
CORE
01
Capacity Building and Training in Self Management
04
Access Community Social and Recreation Activities
04
Group and Centre Based Activities
We work alongside inclusive employment assistance providers to build pre-employment skills to support the move into work.
Questions
The things families ask us most
Many participants access Ignition Gamers through their NDIS plan, and we work with people who are self managed and plan managed. Every plan’s different, so the best step is to ask your support coordinator whether we align with your plan goals. We’re happy to speak with them directly.
We keep a small number of places for families paying privately, so it’s worth asking either way.
We start with a quick call, then you come in for a full session at our Spence studio at no cost. There’s no obligation to book anything afterwards. You’ll meet the Peer Support Workers, see the room, and your young person can take part at whatever pace suits them.
There’s a quiet breakout area they can use at any point, with comfortable seating and fidgets. Our Peer Support Workers won’t push anyone to rejoin before they’re ready.
That’s fine, and it’s more common than you’d think. Plenty of people watch for their first few visits. Showing up, however that looks, is always enough.
We keep a curated library across video games and tabletop, chosen for how well they build connection. If someone has a game they love, tell us. We build sessions around what participants are actually into.
Every Peer Support Worker holds a current Working with Vulnerable People registration. Many also hold formal qualifications in youth work or community services.
Beyond the checks, all of them bring lived experience to the role, and our studio follows the Framework for Mental Health Lived Experience (Peer) Work developed for our region. It’s the reason sessions feel like sitting with someone who gets it rather than being supervised.
Yes. There’s a dedicated referral page, and we’ll come back to you quickly with availability and a suggested cohort.
Come and see for yourself
A free trial session at our Spence studio. No cost, no commitment, and nobody has to play if they are not ready to on the first day.
Referring a participant?
Support coordinators and allied health professionals can refer straight through our website. Tell us the participant’s goals and availability and we will come back to you with a suggested cohort and a start date.