ignition gamers.
come for the games. stay for the team

Ignition Gamers - NDIS Social Activities

GAME

Ignition Gamers is a neurodiverse community, for autistic or hidden disability individuals with low support needs and a shared interest in video games. Gaming brings us together, but it’s only where we start.

Ignition Gamers - NDIS Social Activities (1)

CONNECT

Discover new friendships, have fun and access meaningful support in a safe and welcoming environment

Ignition Gamers - NDIS social activities

GROW

Ignition Gamers helps your teen and young adult develop the social skills, confidence, and sense of achievement needed to enjoy greater satisfaction in life.

OUR SPACE. THEIR PLACE

We’d love to launch right into telling you about how Ignition Gamers came to be, but the truth is, we’re more interested in what’s going on for you and your young adult. If you’re like us, you’ve spent many days searching for answers and feeling frustrated that they don’t seem to be getting the help they need. You want the best for them because they deserve to live a full, fun, purposeful life. But there’s a lack of support and options, leaving you wondering if anything will ever change.

That’s where we come in. Ignition Gamers is a family-operated service for teens and young adults who love to game! Founded by the Golding family, Stephen, Claire and Will (that’s us!), we created a unique and energising program where your game-loving young person can find the friendships, support and encouragement they deserve.

Our space is their place to grow, explore their future and live their best lives.

Read the ABC News Article.

By helping your young adult today, you're helping their tomorrow

IGNITION GAMERS CANBERRA

As parents ourselves of a neurodivergent young man, we know you want the best for your young adult. But you constantly battle the system, feel let down by providers, and don't know how to make your charge happy. At times, it feels easier to keep doing what you’re doing because change is too hard. But without change, how will your young person grow? How will they develop the emotional, social and capacity-building skills they need to live independently when you’re not there to support them?

HOW CAN IGNITION GAMERS HELP MY YOUNG ADULT?

  • Social interaction helps your young adult work through shyness and anxiety by making friends in a familiar and safe environment
  • Collaboration and conversations with other gamers give him the communication tools to advance in life and interact with others
  • Decision-making and problem-solving skills built through gaming helps your son prepare for real-life challenges, including work
  • Small group in-person gaming allows him to explore alternatives to online games and helps him make ‘real-life’ connections and friendships without feeling overwhelmed.
  • Our supportive community ensures your young adult feels welcome and encouraged to open up about their life experience
Ignition Gamers Canberra - NDIS Social and Community Activities: Image of two young men playing video games as therapy

We are so glad we found Ignition. It is a unique idea, catering to young adults on the spectrum who are interested in gaming. Our son has enjoyed the sessions. He leaves them feeling noticeably energised. He knows he is not alone, and has been able to learn more about himself through the shared and relevant experiences of others who are like him and who are in his own age group - Jane.G

NDIS SERVICES CANBERRA

HOW DO I KNOW IGNITION GAMERS IS RIGHT FOR MY YOUNG ADULT?

Ignition Gamers - NDIS Services and Social Activities
  • Your young adult is already a gamer, or they’re starting to dabble in online gaming
  • Your young adult is neurodivergent, and between the ages of 16 – 30, with low support needs.
  • Your young adult can self-regulate their big emotions and calm down after something exciting or upsetting
  • Your young adult can focus on a task or needs little support to focus
  • Your young adult is open to meeting our peer worker to learn more about Ignition Gamers

Here's how we do it:

Step 1: dISCOVERY CALL & FREE TRIAL SESSION

Let's start with a chat to see if Ignition Gamers is a good fit for you, or your loved one. If it sounds like we're a match, join us for a free trial session to experience the fun first hand.

Step 2: SERVICE AGREEMENT SIGNED

Loved the trial session? Fantastic! We'll get the service agreement signed and book your regular session/s so you can keep the momentum going.

Step 3: START GAMING & GROWING

The Ignition Gamers journey begins! Participants attend our sessions, enjoy gaming, make new friends, and grow with the support of our experienced team. Plus, look forward to joining us for some exciting activities outside our gaming studio.

OUR PERSONAL JOURNEY

Hi, we’re the Goldings and the founders of Ignition Gamers.

Parenting Will, our neurodiverse son, has at times been an exhausting, exhilarating and challenging journey. There’s no road map, and we learnt early on that the right support was difficult to find. As Will left school, the transition into adulthood was difficult. He became withdrawn, lonely and lacked motivation. Despite wanting to be independent and keen to work, Will’s NDIS support workers didn’t encourage him to explore his goals or build his capacity.

That’s when we started Ignition Gamers. Will wanted to help other neurodiverse men who had similar interests. He wanted to give them what he had been missing – a less formal support system from someone who had walked a day in their shoes.

Ignition Gamers NDIS Services Canberra - NDIS Social Community Activities
Ignition Gamers Canberra - NDIS Social and Community Activities

With the help of dad, Stephen, a highly regarded and experienced psychosocial recovery coach and peer worker, Ignition Gamers was brought to life.

Today, our longest participants has been with us for 2 and a half years, and all our peer workers have lived experience. They know when to talk, when not to talk, and when to share their stories. Do they love gaming – for sure! But that’s not all we’re about – it’s just the first piece of the puzzle. When your son feels confident attending our sessions, we’ll work to connect you to other services and professionals who can further support his growth.

Ready to get started? Book a complimentary chat with us today.

OUR TEAM

Will from Ignition Gamers

Will

FOUNDER/PEER WORKER

Will founded Ignition Gamers in 2020 because he loves how gaming and eSports can bring together others to have fun, build relationships and develop communication. Will played many sports during his childhood - including show jumping! His love for fitness is still very much real with regular gym sessions and training for 5k fun runs. Will is very much involved in the day-to-day running of Ignition and continues to actively support all our new and existing participants.

Daniel

Daniel

Youth Worker

Daniel loves making a difference in the lives of his clients. He’s been involved in youth work for many years, in particular supporting young people who are physically or cognitively diverse. Daniel’s a keen gamer and loves that he’s able to combine both his passions at Ignition. But more than that, he’s enjoyed seeing the positive changes participants have experienced with their social skills, building friendships and finding a truly supportive network.

Dale

Dale

Peer Support

Dale knew he loved gaming from an early age, starting with the classics - Pac-Man and Galaga - and loved sharing this time with his Dad. After playing on various eSports teams, we were thrilled that he joined us to help our community build their social skills, communication and gaming abilities.

Thomas

Thomas

Peer Support

Thomas is courteous, reliable, and quiet but loves a good chat about drawing. When he’s not with the Gamers, you’ll find him going for drives, getting out and about with his extended family or playing with his 7’ pet python! Thomas is always welcoming and supportive of our new Gamers.

Chris from Ignition Gamers

Chris

Peer Support

Chris, affectionately known as CJ, is a dedicated peer worker at Ignition Gamers. Sharing his cosy space with two spirited cats, two violins, and two guitars, Chris finds solace in creating melodies inspired by video games and movie themes. An avid Lego enthusiast, he admits it's a pricey passion but worth every brick. Chris thrives in the relaxed and inclusive atmosphere at Ignition Gamers, where his work feels more like hanging out with friends than a typical job.

Andrew from Ignition Gamers

Andrew

PEER SUPPORT

When he's not immersed in the world of gaming, you can find Andrew indulging in his love for comic books or collecting vintage transformer figures and movie/music DVDs and CDs. With a keen eye for fashion, Andrew draws inspiration from the rebellious energy of the 2000s era. If he had the chance (and the money), he'd spend his days racing go-karts!

Ab

Ab

Peer Support

Ab is a dedicated peer worker at Ignition Gamers, passionate about personal growth and helping others thrive. When he’s not gaming, he’s writing lyrical rap or serving his local church. With a background as a professional chef and a new path in youth work, Ab brings warmth, understanding, and a love for gaming to the team. "When I was younger, I didn’t have people to share my love for video games or understand what I was going through. Ignition Gamers brings those two things together, and I’m proud to be part of it." Ab’s lived experience and passion for connection make him a valued part of the Ignition Gamers community.

OUR COMMITMENT TO PEER SUPPORT AND LIVED EXPERIENCE

At the heart of our mission is a commitment to authentic peer support. Every team member at Ignition Gamers brings invaluable lived experience and has been employed through Disability Employment Providers. This unique perspective allows us to offer genuine, empathetic guidance, creating a welcoming space where autistic individuals feel truly understood and supported.

We believe that peer support isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential. Our team’s lived experience is what sets us apart, providing relatable, effective support that empowers our community to connect, grow, and build confidence. This commitment is reflected in our adherence to the Mental Health Lived Experience (Peer Work) Framework—a foundational guide that shapes our approach to peer work and strengthens our support practices.

Our founder, Stephen, had a role in developing this framework two years ago, a testament to our deep connection with the peer support movement. You can learn more about this framework and its impact on our work by viewing the framework HERE.

Are you ready to help your teen or young adult gain confidence and live more independently? Click 'START HERE' to book your consultation call