🌈 Needed a Breather? PAX Aus Had You Covered!
When PAX greets attendees with the glorious ‘Welcome Home’ sign, they really mean it! PAX Aus is a wonderfully inclusive and diverse event that welcomes everybody – neurodivergent folks, people with disability, LGBTQI+ communities, First Nations people, and many more.
In addition to our love for classic and retro gaming, we at ausretrogamer are also deeply passionate about disability inclusion. As a proudly neurodivergent family, we know how vital a sincere commitment to inclusion and accessibility is for creating a safe and fun atmosphere that everyone can enjoy together. In our experience, PAX is a real leader on this front.
PAX Aus 2025 had a lot going on, which was great! However, navigating the crowds, coping with sensory stimulation and lots of socialising took its toll and left us needing to press pause. Thankfully, there were a number of dedicated community spaces designed to foster connection, creativity, and inclusion.
The AFK (Away From Keyboard) Room was a low-sensory, relaxing space to recharge in. Run in partnership with Beyond Blue, the AFK area offered 3 different spaces. The first was a quiet, cozy room with dimmed lights and plenty of sensory tools/fidgets and mindful colouring sheets. The second had computer stations set up to contact the Beyond Blue counselling helpline. The third was a darkened room with beanbags for those who needed a very low stimulation environment to reset. The Enforcers and Beyond Blue staff we met in the AFK area were lovely and were so calm, supportive and professional. We were thoroughly impressed.
The PAX Together Lounge was still a chill space, but had a more fun, social vibe. PAX Together provided a safe, supportive space which celebrated diversity. They had pronoun stickers, learn to play and networking sessions, community meetups and workshops – all focussed on games and groups celebrating diversity within the gaming community.
The Kirrip Wilam cultural hub (“Friend Home” in Woi Wurrung language), was another fantastic community space. The Kirrip Wilam Room celebrated First Nation creatives, games, and community. This ABC Gamer interview gives a great overview of this fantastic space:
So whether you needed a moment of quiet reflection, a place to connect with like-minded legends, or wanted to learn more about underrepresented voices in gaming, PAX Aus 2025 made sure no one ever felt alone in the crowd. 💜
Click the link for more information on safety and accessibility at PAX Aus.
image source / copyright: ausretrogamer.com
Ms. ausretrogamer
Co-founder, editor and writer at ausretrogamer. Lover of science fiction, fashion, books, movies and TV. Player of games, old and new.