Peucker, Mario ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1759-2578 and Young, Helen (2025) Game Changers Project Pilot: Evaluation Report. Project Report. Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria.

Abstract

All Together Now developed the Game Changers pilot project in 2023/4 as concerns about violent extremists using videogames and gaming to target young people increased in Australia and around the globe. Game Changers was funded by the Australian Government’s Safe and Together Community Grants Program and delivered in 2024. Through a co-design process, the project sought to create gamer- and youth-led solutions and to encourage and enable young people to implement them in their local networks and communities. This evaluation report is primarily based on an independent analysis of (1) a post-project survey of 32 project participants complemented (2) five in-depth interviews with participants, and (3) an assessment of the solutions developed during the project. The Game Changers pilot represents a significant and innovative approach to preventing far-right violent extremism in gaming spaces in Australia that aligns with priority areas identified in international research around engaging young gamers. All Together Now successfully delivered the program with a high level of completion. The pilot equipped young participants with knowledge, skills, social connections and a sense of agency to make positive changes in their own behaviour, gaming circles and communities. The co-design and creation of innovative educative resources that are suited to gamers’ habits and digital spaces and centre their voices, knowledge and perspectives, suggests a second layer of positive outcomes in keeping with the aims of the pilot that might be evaluated if future resourcing allows. The successful delivery of the pilot, with resulting insights, suggests that future iterations of the Game Changers that are expanded in scope and scale through resourcing and partnerships, may be effective in generating further positive impacts in the problem space.

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