A University of Melbourne program running teamwork-based video-game sessions to help neurodivergent children develop collaboration and social skills will soon be rolled out in schools across the globe, thanks to a $500,000 funding boost awarded through the Genesis Pre-seed Fund.
Social enterprise Next Level Collaboration runs teamwork-based video-game sessions to help children aged 8-15 years old with neurodivergent labels such as autism develop collaboration and social skills to help them thrive in all facets of life.
The program has been implemented in more than 100 schools across Australia, since it was launched in 2020 at the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Education.
In response to the overwhelming demand for the program, an online platform is now being developed to offer a series of training modules to international schools and allied health professionals, equipping them with the tools to deliver the program at their respective institutions.
Next Level Collaboration Chief Executive Officer Jess Rowlingssaid: "Our weekly in-person sessions are designed to improve participants' self-esteem and instil a sense of belonging by drawing on their individual strengths and differences in a safe, supportive and welcoming environment."
"These sessions are lifechanging as they empower participants to find their inner confidence, embrace their individuality and forge lasting friendships, so we're thrilled to be given the opportunity to expand our audience reach globally."
The Genesis investment will help fund full-time positions needed to develop the online platform and take the program global.
Chief Research Officer Dr Matthew Harrison said: "Our social mission is to create career pathways for our neurodivergent participants by helping them transition to employees once they're of age."
The structured sessions are split into three stages: first, the participants are taught about the importance of cooperation and the different ways of demonstrating collaborative skills.
Participants then play a multiplayer video game where they are required to work together as a team to achieve a common goal, supported by coaching and feedback.
Each session ends with a guided reflection on the performance of the collaborative skills used during gameplay and areas for improvement.
The program structure is based on Dr Harrison's PhD research and has been refined through co-design with members of Melbourne's neurodivergent community, with sessions delivered by specifically trained educators, therapists and researchers with lived experience of neurodivergence.
Dr Harrison and Ms Rowlings showcased the program at the 2024 Games for Change Festival in New York and were keynote speakers at last year's DigiCon conference.
Next Level Collaboration is the first humanities and social science start-up to receive investment from the Genesis Pre-seed Fund and the first neurodivergent-led social enterprise to spin out of the University of Melbourne.
