4 June 2024
Being ‘a bit of a nerd’ runs in the family according to Petty Officer Melissa Gay, who was introduced to table top and video games by her parents and grandfather.
Her love of geek-culture came in handy when she was posted on board HMAS Stuart during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Being unable to leave the ship took its toll mentally, so each week a group would get together for an escape into the role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons.
“It really took our minds off everything, and gave us that mental break that you wouldn’t necessarily get otherwise on deployment,” Petty Officer Gay said.
In 2021, a colleague introduced her to Veteran Gaming Australia, a charity that uses gaming and geek-culture to bolster the mental health of Defence members and veterans.
“When I first joined, it was more just about getting to know the community, but in the Discord I’ve found they have chats ranging from pets to different video games,” Petty Officer Gay said.
Since then she has become more involved and recently became a financial supporter through the groups Patreon.
The idea for Veteran Gaming Australia came to its founder and CEO, Army veteran Sam Harris, while he was recovering from a severe neck injury.
“I was pretty much wheelchair-bound. It took me about a year to learn to walk again, so I couldn’t get to base to be with my mates,” Mr Harris said.
“For the physical recovery, using VR and a Nintendo Ring Fit helped, but those social connections throughout, just jumping on games with mates, was really good.”
What started as a way to organise games with his mates grew to a community with more than 4200 veterans and serving members that attained charitable status in 2021.
Petty Officer Dallas Sanchez recently reconnected with former shipmates through the Veteran Gaming Australia Discord to fight battles in the game World of Warships.
“It was fun to chat with people I used to work with, but also be introduced to others that I honestly had no idea played. It’s cool to discover something else in common,” Petty Officer Sanchez said.
“It really drives home that friends made in Defence are friends for life, and it’s great to have another medium to reconnect with friends.”
The charity engages members with online social nights and gaming tournaments, and competes in eSports and simulated racing under the Veteran Gaming Australia banner.
There is also a group chat dedicated to navigating the Department of Veterans Affairs to help members transitioning or making claims.
They have large table-top and role-playing groups, a 3D-printing community and run miniature printing and painting sessions in hospitals and welfare centres.
Veteran Gaming Australia has provided more than $30,000 in financial support through care packages, and its Air Assault program covers costs for injured or ill members to visit conventions.
To find out more about Veteran Gaming Australia visit their website www.veterangamingaustralia.com.au or join the community at www.discord.gg/veterangamingaustralia
