New school esports program launched in Darwin region to prepare students for digital future

A Darwin school’s e-sports competition hopes to evolve the concept of school sports by providing both healthy competition and important skills for the digital future. Read about the exciting program.

Dripstone Middle School students playing esports. Picture: Dripstone Middle School

A Darwin school’s e-sports competition hopes to evolve the concept of school sports.

The Array, a digital games and e-sports development centre in Darwin, launched the pilot program this year.

So far, 72 students and seven teachers across four Top End schools have benefited from the program, which facilitates an e-sports competition and assists schools to set up the necessary equipment.

E-sports, short for electronic sports, represents the new frontier in competitive sports.

In e-sports, teams or individuals compete with each other on a range of different video game platforms, with some successful professional gamers becoming very wealthy.

Melbourne born 25 year old Anathan Pham is an esports gaming millionaire. Picture: Steve Andreou / Redbull.com.

The multibillion dollar industry is rapidly growing in popularity worldwide with the International Olympic Committee announcing the inaugural Olympic E-sports Games to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2025.

Chief executive of The Array, Dylan Bennett, has latched onto this growing popularity and hopes the program will serve the dual purpose of both training the next generation of e-sports competitors, as well as better equipping Territory students for the digital century.

“We’re driven by the vision of fostering future tech leaders, right here in the Territory,” he said.

“Partnering with schools allows us to combine education with e-sports, creating a unique platform where students can develop critical digital skills while engaging in healthy competition.

“Our vision is for NT schools to lead the nation in embracing esports as a legitimate sport and learning tool. We aim to create a pathway where e-sports enhances digital literacy, teamwork, and critical thinking, setting students up for success in a rapidly evolving digital world.“

Dylan Bennett Chief Executive of The Array at Smith Street Shopping Centre, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

STEAM leader at Dripstone Middle School, Joey Uddon, was quick to introduce the program to his school with the support of The Array.

“The Array reached out to me and I was eager to get our school involved. They provided the necessary equipment and trained our students to setup Starlink Internet Connection and networking gaming computers,” he said.

Dripstone Middle School students playing esports. Picture: Dripstone Middle School

Mr Uddon praised the program for engaging students that don’t play traditional sports.

“E-sports offer unique benefits for students that traditional sports may not. For individuals who may not excel in physical sports due to injury, physical limitations, or lack of interest, e-sports provide a level playing field where strategy, teamwork and mental focus take precedence,” he said.

The Array is committed to breaking down barriers in the traditionally male dominated arena of digital gaming.

Its initiatives include female-led workshops and mentorship programs, along with participation in events like Digital Futures, led by Dr Aya Matsuyama.

A spokesperson for The Array said the program was more than gaming.

“It’s a gateway to ICT and software development, equipping students to thrive in a digital future.”

The grand final for 2024 will be held on December 3 at Dripstone Middle School.

The Array plans to expand the school e-sports competition in 2025.

Originally published as New school esports program launched in Darwin region to prepare students for digital future