Esports

Home of healthy esports

At Southern Cross University, healthy esports means creating inclusive and supportive environments where people can play, connect, compete and develop while supporting their wellbeing.

Through our student community, competitive teams, on-campus Esports Hub, research and industry partnerships, we’re helping shape the future of healthy esports.

Join our esports community

You don't need to be a high-ranked player to be part of SCU Esports.

Our program is designed for students of all skill levels and gaming backgrounds, with opportunities ranging from casual social gaming and community events through to national intervarsity competition.

Students can connect through our online community, attend events, play from home, visit the Gold Coast Esports Hub, represent SCU and help shape the future of the program through student leadership opportunities.

Join the SCU Esports community

Connect

Meet students with similar interests through social gaming, events and our online esports community.

Gaming can be the introduction. The friendships and connections built around it are what make the community.

Join the community

Compete

Represent Southern Cross University against universities from across Australia.

Southern Cross University students compete across some of the world's biggest esports titles through intervarsity competitions and tournaments.

Whether you're an experienced competitive player or interested in competing for the first time, there are opportunities to get involved.

Represent Southern Cross University

Lead

There is much more to esports than playing.

Students can get involved in team management, events, broadcasting, content, tournament operations, community building and student leadership.

Build experience while helping shape what Southern Cross University Esports becomes next.

Get involved

The Esports Hub is a place for students to come and connect. Um, it's a place for them to compete against other universities online, and also connect with their friends. It's a really inclusive community. We always have the door open. New students should come see the hub because it's a great way to make new friends.
To describe the hub in three words, I would say community, competition, and fun. My favorite thing about coming to the hub is being able to go to class, break it up, have some fun, have a chat, and then go back to class feeling really reset.

Our Esports Hub

A place to play, connect and belong

The Southern Cross University Esports Hub at the Gold Coast campus gives students a dedicated place to meet, play and compete.

The Hub includes high-performance gaming PCs, console gaming and racing simulation, and supports everything from casual student use to tournaments, events and intervarsity competition

Explore the Esports Hub

Twos sets of hands holding PlayStation 4 controllers with tv with sports game in background

Building healthy esports through research

As esports continues to grow, so does the need to understand how players can participate, perform and develop in healthy and sustainable ways.

Southern Cross University is helping build the evidence behind healthy esports, with research spanning player wellbeing, psychology, performance and development. Working with students, industry and community partners, our researchers are translating that evidence into practical strategies and resources for players, coaches, parents, educators and esports organisations.

Leading the way

Dr Kyle Bennett

Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science

Dr Bennett’s esports research focuses on healthy participation, effective practice and performance. His work challenges esports’ “grind culture” by exploring how structured, intentional and purposeful practice can help players improve while reducing excessive training time, creating more space for physical activity, sleep, recovery and other healthy behaviours.

Learn more

Dr Dylan Poulus

Senior Lecturer in Psychology

Dylan Poulus researches the psychology, mental health and performance of esports players. His work examines what helps players perform and thrive, as well as issues including stress, burnout, toxicity and unhealthy gaming behaviours.

Dylan is also Global Lead, Esports and Gaming at Movember, where he leads the organisation’s international esports and gaming initiative across research and impact in its six major markets, including the development of international mental health guidelines for esports.

He co-edited The Psychology of Esports Performance, the first academic textbook dedicated to the psychology of competitive gaming.

Learn more

Portrait of Dylan Poulus in front of computer

Mason Drew

Higher Degree Researcher

Higher degree researcher, Mason Drew is investigating self-regulation and mental health in esports. His work explores how and why people play esports, how players regulate their gaming behaviours, and how these behaviours may relate to mental health.

Learn more

Southern Cross University × FUSE Cup

Image credit: FUSE Cup

Southern Cross University × FUSE Cup

Southern Cross University works with FUSE Cup to support positive and inclusive esports experiences and strengthen connections between schools, young people and university. The partnership provides another way for Southern Cross University to contribute to the development of esports participation and pathways beyond the University.

Discover our FUSE Cup partnership