The “latest and greatest” gaming equipment has been made available to all staff and students at SuniTAFE.  

The SuniTAFE TechZone Gaming Hub in the Nexus Space was officially opened in March after many years of planning. Installed in the space are five Alienware R16 gaming desktops equipped with an Alienware 34 Curved QD-OLED gaming monitor, RGB keyboard, mouse and Logitech Pro X Headset. 

SuniTAFE Operations General Manager David Harris emphasised the importance of creating a space that builds connections among students and staff. 

“When we wanted to create the Nexus Space, we wanted to focus on a space that could be seen as a truly student engaging space so when a prospective student walked into SuniTAFE they would see just how new and exciting it is here,” he said. 

“That has been achieved with the stage, where we have the big TV screen, the Skills and Jobs Centre, information desk and catch up and discussion area and now the tech hub. 

“The original intention was to look at the fact the kids are already engaging in this space strongly and have something available to our students that is unique and different and very specific but in a controlled environment.” 

Many hours of research were undertaken with various universities and teaching institutes.  

“We particularly engaged with the Canberra University of Technology. They showed us a system that could control what is being viewed, how many people are using it and it’s like a background checking system to ensure people are not abusing the system and it is appropriate content,” Mr Harris said. 

“We got that really strong framework in place and then we then went on to research what equipment was needed to go with that framework, so we went out and got the best we could in terms of IT equipment, and we put it there on a trial basis.” 

Mr Harris said the SuniTAFE IT team have done a fantastic job in developing the space. 

“I want to give our Systems Administrator Ash Quinlivan a huge shout out; he has been one of the main drivers, and it’s because of his dedication and enthusiasm that it has become what it is,” he said. 

The TechZone Gaming Hub has already proven popular, with a variety of groups utilising the space. It not only serves as a place for relaxation and entertainment but also provides opportunities for students to explore potential career paths. 

 “Esports is a huge industry and a huge employer, and the Tech Hub provides us with an opportunity to connect into the industry,” Mr Harris said. 

“We could have teams competing but also look at it with the potential of linking students with courses they are interested in.” 

This aligns with SuniTAFE's mission to link students with courses that align with their interests, thereby improving their employment outcomes. 

Currently students and staff have access to the equipment for up to an hour per day with more than 10 games available, including Fall Guys, Fortnite, Heroes of the Storm, League of Legends, Overwatch 2, StarCraft 2 and World of Warcraft. Mr. Harris said there has been a discussion about expanding the range of games to include those that might spark an interest in courses offered by SuniTAFE, such as horticulture. 

“By growing an interest in a horticulture game, it may get a student thinking about pursuing that as a career after seeing how much they have enjoyed it and knowing they have been able to do it in the game, they could do it in the real world and that is where we can assist them in pursuing that career,” he said. 

The TechZone Gaming Hub is designed not only for student enjoyment but also as a versatile educational tool. Teachers can bring their students into the space during class time, further integrating this innovative facility into their teaching and learning activities. 

If you are interested in a career in IT, look no further than SuniTAFE. To find out more about what options are available, visit ICT30120 Certificate III in Information Technology | SuniTAFE.