Social Gaming Groups
Board game nights, Mario Kart tournaments, Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, Pokemon card trading. Regular gaming sessions with people who share your interests, in a group that gets it.
Regular sessions with people who love the same games you do.
Social gaming groups are regular sessions where you play games with other people who love the same ones you do. Board games like Catan and Ticket to Ride, video game sessions on the big screen, tabletop RPGs with ongoing campaigns, or card game meetups with Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, or Yu-Gi-Oh.
Your support worker is there to help you join the group, manage the social side of things, and make sure you're comfortable. They learn the games too, so they can play alongside you or help explain rules to newer players. The groups are small, friendly, and built around shared interests.
These sessions run at board game cafes around Melbourne, community spaces, or gaming venues. They're designed for people who love games and want to meet people over them.
Experience info
- Regular sessions (2-4 hours each)
- Small groups with 3:1 support
- Bring your own games or use ours
- NDIS Core Supports funded
Every gaming group session is organised and supported.
Built around what you love to play.
Matched gaming groups
We match you with a group based on the games you love and the social pace that suits you. Some groups are loud and competitive, others are relaxed and collaborative. You join the one that fits.
Transport & venue access
Your support worker picks you up, drives you to the gaming venue, and brings you home afterwards. They know the accessible entries and where to park close to the door.
Game learning & rules support
Trying a new game can be tricky. Your support worker learns the rules ahead of time so they can walk you through it at the table. No pressure to figure it out on your own.
Snacks & drinks
Gaming sessions include time for food. Board game cafes have menus, or your support worker brings snacks you enjoy.
Ongoing campaigns & tournaments
For tabletop RPGs and competitive games, we run ongoing sessions so you can build characters, follow a story across weeks and get to know the same people.
Social comfort & pace
Your support worker manages the social energy throughout the session. If the group gets loud, they help you find a quieter moment. If you need a break, you take one. No explanations needed.
A gaming session, start to finish.
You sit down at a table with four others. Someone is already setting up Catan. You grab the blue pieces because they're your favourite. The person across from you says they're going for longest road. Game on. Your support worker pulls up at 5:45pm. The board game cafe is a ten-minute drive. You walk in, the group is already setting up, and there's a seat saved for you at the end of the table. The group wants to try a new strategy game. Your support worker read the rulebook last night and explains your turn options quietly while the others set up the board. By round three, you've got it. Halfway through the campaign, someone orders nachos for the table. You grab a loaded chip and debate your next move. Your support worker is sketching the dungeon map on a napkin. Week six of the D&D campaign. Your halfling rogue just found a secret passage the dungeon master hid three sessions ago. The whole table erupts. Someone high-fives you across the board.
Who this is for
- People who love board games, video games, card games, or tabletop RPGs
- Anyone looking for a social group built around a shared interest
- People who find socialising easier when there's a structured activity
- Those who enjoy strategy, storytelling, and friendly competition
- Anyone who wants to join a group with support nearby
- People who want regular social contact with like-minded gamers
Tell us what games you love.
We'll match you with the right group. NDIS Core Supports funded.
Get StartedWhat a social gaming session costs, how it fits your plan, and how to join a group.
What it costs
Social gaming sessions are priced under Assistance with Social & Community Participation, a Core Supports category, following the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. The amount depends on the type of support and whether the session runs on a weekday, evening, weekend or overnight. If this category isn't in your plan, fee-for-service is available. You'll always see the cost in writing before you start.
Am i eligible?
If Assistance with Social & Community Participation is in your plan, a gaming session can usually be funded through it. A support coordinator can help confirm this, and fee-for-service is available if you don't have a current plan.
Where we work
We're based in Thomastown and run gaming sessions across Greater Melbourne's northern, western and eastern suburbs, at board game cafes, community spaces and gaming venues.
How to start
Tell us your favourite games and we'll find a group that plays them.
Tell us what you play and we'll find a group.
Tell us your favourite games and we'll find a group that plays them.
Call (03) 9968 7766