Using video games to empower neurodivergent children and adults

Traditional social skills programs often fail neurodivergent kids, forcing them to fit neurotypical expectations rather than supporting authentic social growth. Next Level Collaboration takes a different approach by using cooperative video games to foster teamwork, communication and confidence in a way that aligns with their strengths.

The need

Mainstream education presents significant challenges for neurodivergent children, with traditional social skills programs typically focusing on rigid behaviours, like eye contact and scripted conversations. This approach often isolates neurodivergent students, forcing them to ‘mask’ their natural tendencies rather than build meaningful relationships.

Associate Professor Harrison, now Chief Research Officer and Co-Founder of Next Level Collaboration, said traditional social skills programs don’t work for a lot of neurodivergent kids because they’re built on neurotypical expectations.

“Instead of helping, they often leave kids feeling isolated and misunderstood,” Associate Professor Matthew Harrison said.

Associate Professor Harrison first noticed this while teaching at a primary school. He observed some students struggling to engage with their peers in structured classroom settings. To create a more inclusive space, he started a lunchtime gaming club where students could interact in a low-pressure, interest-based environment. The results were striking, with students thriving in collaborative gameplay.

Realising the potential of gaming as a tool for social learning, Associate Professor Harrison pursued a PhD to formally study how structured, interest-based learning could support neurodivergent students in developing social confidence, collaboration and communication skills.

The research

In 2017, Associate Professor Harrison conducted a design research project in a Melbourne specialist school. The trial intervention involved teachers modelling 15 targeted collaborative skills, which students then practised while playing cooperative video games. By the end of the 10-week program, teachers observed improvements in students’ collaboration, communication and confidence.

Going to market

Teaming up with Jess Rowlings, a speech pathologist, researcher and neurodivergent leader, the duo combined academic insight with community understanding to shape a solution that resonated. Refining their strategy through University incubator programs, including the Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP) and Translating Research at Melbourne (TRAM), the Co-Founders started to develop the foundational skills and network needed to scale their impact.

Next Level Collaboration CEO and Co-Founder Jess Rowlings said TRAM was brilliant for helping them figure out where to start. “Neither of us had a business background, so we had to completely reframe how we thought about impact,” Ms Rowlings said.

The solution

“We created a neurodiversity-affirming program that builds collaborative teamwork skills through cooperative video games, which is an area of interest for many of our participants.”

Combining research and lived experience, the program blends evidence-based teaching methods with a deep understanding of neurodivergent learning styles. Using carefully selected cooperative video games, it aims to develop teamwork, leadership and social confidence in a natural and enjoyable way.

Next Level Collaboration also hires and trains neurodivergent young adults as facilitators. This provides participants with relatable mentors while offering facilitators hands-on workplace training that fosters future employment opportunities.

“Some of the kids we work with have been made to feel like they’ll never amount to anything. But when they see facilitators who are just like them leading sessions, they realise, hey, I can do this too’,” Ms Rowlings said.

The progress

The collaboration’s 2020 public launch was a major milestone, with the University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor speaking at the event and ABC News covering their work. With support from the University’s Faculty of Education and innovation ecosystem, the program’s capacity has tripled.