Built in Bairnsdale, for the People Who Needed It Most
Gaming, peer support and NDIS programs in East Gippsland
We support neurodivergent young people in East Gippsland to build social skills, emotional resilience and real community connections. Through gaming, peer support and a purpose-built Bairnsdale venue, we create a space where young people genuinely thrive.
Discover our NDIS services →
About ESports Collective
ESports Collective is Bairnsdale's gaming community hub - a welcoming, inclusive space at 58 Macleod Street in the heart of East Gippsland.
We use gaming as a gateway to real skills, genuine friendships and employment pathways. Our programs are designed particularly for neurodivergent young people who haven't found their place anywhere else in the region. As an NDIS provider, we deliver supports for participants across East Gippsland - including Bairnsdale, Paynesville, Lakes Entrance, Sale and surrounding communities. Alongside that, we run casual drop-in sessions and after-school clubs open to everyone.
We're not a therapy clinic. We're not a rec centre. Instead, we're a real Bairnsdale community space where people happen to grow.
Why we built this
This place started with a simple idea - create somewhere in Bairnsdale that didn't exist yet. Growing up, gaming brought people together in our home. Friends came over, connections formed, and something genuinely social happened around the screen. Eventually, we asked ourselves why nothing like that existed for young people in East Gippsland. So we decided to build it.
What we didn't expect was what happened next. Families of neurodivergent young people found us. Support coordinators reached out. NDIS participants started attending and thriving in ways that surprised even us. Gradually, we realised we weren't just running a gaming venue - we were filling a genuine gap in disability support across East Gippsland.
That evolution shaped everything about how we built our team. Our team is neurodivergent or has close lived experience of disability through family. Our support workers, peer support staff and front-of-house team bring a real understanding of navigating systems, schools and communities that were not designed for them. That's not accidental - it's the most deliberate decision we've made. When a young person walks through our doors in Bairnsdale, they're supported by people who genuinely understand their experience, not just people who've read about it.
Today, operating as an NDIS provider in Bairnsdale is our primary focus. Every program, every team member and every decision we make centres on creating the best possible outcomes for neurodivergent young people in East Gippsland. The gaming venue we dreamed of still exists - and it's now the foundation for something far more meaningful than we ever anticipated.
What makes ESports Collective different?
A lot of NDIS providers deliver support behind closed doors. We do the opposite. From day one, our model has been built around genuine integration - where supported sessions and open community happen in the same space, with the same people, at the same venue in Bairnsdale.
At our Bairnsdale venue, we deliberately bring everyone together. NDIS participants, casual gamers, Dungeons and Dragons players, and older adults learning smartphones - they all share the same space and the same community. That's how genuine regional inclusion works, and it's something you rarely find outside major cities.
Our NDIS programs →Gaming is the on-ramp, not the destination. We build everything around what young people genuinely care about. As a result, real outcomes follow naturally - communication skills, emotional regulation, teamwork, and pathways toward employment right here in East Gippsland.
Skill development →Most innovative NDIS gaming programs operate out of capital cities. We've taken those proven models and adapted them specifically for Bairnsdale and the broader East Gippsland region - with transport so young people from Sale to Orbost access the same quality of support without leaving home.
How transport works →Who we support in East Gippsland
ESports Collective serves a wide range of community members at our Bairnsdale venue.
NDIS participants
Across Bairnsdale, Paynesville, Lakes Entrance, Sale, Orbost and the wider region - Social Circle group sessions, capacity building programs and supported work experience.
Neurodivergent young people
Including those who are school-refusing or have recently finished school without a clear next step - they're at the heart of everything we do.
Families and carers
Looking for quality youth support in Bairnsdale and surrounding areas, with programs designed with the whole family in mind.
Older adults
Welcome through our Bytes and Biscuits digital mentoring program, which builds confidence with technology in a relaxed, supportive environment.
The whole community
Casual drop-in gaming, after-school clubs, birthday parties and community events - no NDIS plan required.
Support workers and coordinators
Existing support workers can bring participants to casual gaming from 3pm on weekdays, while our NDIS sessions are delivered by our own team - our coordinator page covers referrals end to end.
Questions we hear most about ESports Collective
The basics, answered straight.
Where is ESports Collective located?
ESports Collective is located at 58 Macleod Street, Bairnsdale VIC 3875, in East Gippsland. Our 300 square metre venue is purpose-built for gaming and community activities, and we welcome participants and visitors from across the region - including Paynesville, Lakes Entrance, Sale, Orbost and beyond. Parking is available, and our venue is designed to be accessible and welcoming for neurodivergent visitors.
Does ESports Collective provide NDIS services in Bairnsdale?
Yes. ESports Collective delivers NDIS-funded supports in Bairnsdale, East Gippsland. Our programs include Social Circle group sessions focused on social and community participation, capacity building for neurodivergent young people, and supported work experience. To enquire about NDIS services at our Bairnsdale venue, call us on 0468 009 660 or email ndis@esportscollective.com.au.
What areas in East Gippsland do you serve?
Our Bairnsdale venue at 58 Macleod Street serves as the central hub. We welcome participants and community members from across East Gippsland - including Paynesville, Lakes Entrance, Sale, Maffra, Stratford, Orbost, Omeo, Bruthen and surrounding towns - and transport to our hub can be arranged as part of a participant's supports.
Is ESports Collective only for people with an NDIS plan?
No. While ESports Collective provides dedicated NDIS programs for neurodivergent participants in Bairnsdale and East Gippsland, our venue is open to the whole community. Casual gamers, families, school groups and older adults are all welcome. After-school clubs, drop-in sessions and community events are available to everyone - no NDIS plan required.
What makes ESports Collective different from other youth services in East Gippsland?
ESports Collective is the only dedicated gaming and NDIS community hub in Bairnsdale and East Gippsland. Unlike traditional disability support services in the region, we run a genuine integrated community space - NDIS participants and general community members share the same venue, the same programs where appropriate, and the same social environment. Our team brings lived experience of neurodiversity, and our entire model centres on authentic community participation rather than segregated support delivery.
Come and see the place
Whether you're a participant, a parent, a support worker or just keen for a game, we'd love to hear from you. Drop in to 58 Macleod Street, or get in touch about our NDIS programs.
Discover our NDIS services →or call 0468 009 660