Serious Games

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to advance the understanding, development, and application of serious games across Australia and New Zealand. We aim to foster collaboration among researchers, educators, developers, and industry leaders to harness the power of games for learning, health, social impact, and innovation. Through knowledge sharing and community engagement, we strive to shape a vibrant ecosystem where serious games drive meaningful change. This group is both a platform and a catalyst — bringing together talent from diverse sectors to drive regional excellence, shape R&D agendas, and support emerging voices in the serious games landscape. To this end SGANZ is also an active sponsor of the Serious Games Showcase and Challenge.

OBJECTIVES

  • Promote interdisciplinary collaboration between independent creators, academia, industry, government, Indigenous communities and policy makers to support the design, development, and evaluation of serious games.
  • Facilitate knowledge exchange through conferences workshops, webinars, and publications focused on serious games research and practice.
  • Support professional development by providing inclusive resources, networking opportunities, and mentorship for individuals working in or entering the serious games field.
  • Advocate for the impact of serious games in sectors such as education, healthcare, government and social innovation across Australia and New Zealand, ensuring Indigenous knowledge systems and storytelling traditions are respected and represented.
  • Foster safe and ethical practices in serious game development.

KEY ACTIVITIES

  • Conferences and regional meetups to showcase research, projects, and innovations in serious games, including Indigenous-led initiatives.
  • Organize workshops and training sessions on game design, evaluation methods, and culturally responsive practices.
  • Develop a resource hub featuring toolkits, case studies, and best practices for serious game development, including guidance on ethical engagement with Indigenous communities.
  • Facilitate collaborative projects and game jams that bring together diverse stakeholders—developers, educators, researchers, and Indigenous creators—to co-design meaningful games.
  • Publish in newsletters and research digests to share updates, opportunities, and insights from across the serious games community in Australia and New Zealand.

TEAM