Meet The GameAware Team

It takes one to know one.

 
 
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Damien Schumann - SA

Teacher & Professional Athlete

Modern Warfare 2 - Battlefield 1 - Warzone

I have been gaming on and off for 25 years! I still remember the day I fell in love when I unwrapped my very first Gameboy in 1996! From there I graduated to the 64 and Dreamcast and these days play a lot of Modern Warfare and Battlefield. Once I turned 18 I put my time and effort into playing Beach Volleyball, as well as finishing school for design and teaching.  That decision paid off because after 4 years of playing professionally, I qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. I use gaming as another way to compete in my free time. I have experienced first hand the benefits of how a balanced lifestyle is not only is crucial for performance, but also happiness. 
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Zachery Schubert - SA

Professional Athlete & Business Owner

Minecraft - Apex Legends - Skyrim

 
I have been a gamer my whole life and have experienced the positives and negatives of gaming! Gaming has helped me stay connected with my friends and family while I travel the world playing my sport. It has also challenged me to think critically, design, strategise and grow as a human. I believe I will game for the rest of my life however, balancing my study and business while playing sport takes discipline and extreme organisation. Which all successful gamers need!
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Brendan Harms - QLD

Team Bliss Esports - Operations Manager

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64) - Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - Rocket League

As an avid gamer for over 20 years, I’ve always loved RPG gaming and the immersion they provide. Having participated in competitive FPS gaming and Twitch streaming, I now work for the Team Bliss Esports Academy in Queensland where I hope to use my experience to help develop programs to help the next generation of young E-Sports athletes. I am also President of the largest Medieval Live Action Roleplay group in Queensland, which regularly hosts community events promoting alternative fitness.
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Alan Runje - QLD

Team Bliss Esports - Manager

Witcher 3 - Dota 2 - PUBG

I have 15yrs+ fps experience, peaking in a Tier1 PUBG Competitive career. I have also obtained a Diploma of Fitness, and have employed this knowledge to explore the physical, behind-the-scenes preparation for esport performance. My day-to-day focus is as a member of the Team Bliss Off-Screen Development team.
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Lily Harrison - VIC

Game Designer

Skyrim - Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time - Stardew Valley

I started gaming from about age 13, playing online MMORPGs like WoW, Trickster, Dream of Mirror Online, MapleStory etc . Name any mmorpg from the 2000’s and I’ve probably at least played the demo. I received my first consoles during highschool, a Nintendo Dsi and PS2 that introduced me to games like Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts, totally igniting my love for games. I went on to follow my passion into university, studying a Bachelors of Games Design and then followed by a Master’s of Animation, Games and Interactivity to find my niche as well as expand my knowledge in digital media. I now enjoy playing an array of games from Indie to AAA titles in my spare time to relax or challenge myself in new ways.
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Lochlan Walsh - VIC

ASD Mentor

League of Legends – Pokémon – Super Smash Bros

I’ve been gaming ever since I can remember. I got my first Gameboy advanced when I was 6, on which I played hours of Pokémon with my parents and older brother’s help. Since then, I’ve played all sorts of games on all types of devices. The main ones are; League of Legends, Super Smash Bro’s, and everyone’s nostalgic favourite, Pokémon (Yes I spend HOURS on Pokémon Go as well). As someone who has ADHD and is also on the Autism Spectrum. I have years of firsthand and mentoring experiences with others with similar neurodiversities. Through this, I want to help use gaming as the positive it can be, and not the negative it can become.
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Seb Barr - VIC

Teacher & Semi-Professional Athlete

DOTA 2 - Rocket League - Fortnite

I’ve always enjoyed video games, I bought my first console as a youngster with my pocket money, it was a SNES and this was quickly followed by the Nintendo 64. I loved all the old school games like Zelda and Super Smash Bros. I’ve converted to PC gaming now that I’m a bit older, but still enjoy a variety of games from FPS, RPGs, MOBAs or platformers. I’m also a current member of the Australian Ultimate Frisbee team and have been representing Australia as a hobby in my spare time since 2008.
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Sheyan Gunapala - VIC

Psychologist

Spiderman - Rachet and Clank - Spyro

I have been an avid gamer for about 20 years. I’ve played action adventure games religiously (e.g Spiderman, Rachet and Clank, Spyro) and the occasional first person shooter (even though I have realised I am not very good). I have completed a Bachelor of Psychological Science and a Graduate Diploma in Psychology from Deakin University. I also have a Master of Professional Psychology from Monash University. I am currently a generally registered Psychologist working in the disability sector. I have experience and interest in providing intervention and psychological assessment to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Hyperactivity Disorder, Depression, Anxiety and general behavioural difficulties. I enjoy working with individuals with problematic gaming and helping them create new healthy habits.
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Thomas Kuzma - NSW

Autism Advocate & Freelance Mentor

Minecraft - Pokemon - D&D

My name is Thomas Kuzma. I've been gaming since 1997 when I played a bootlegged Sega Mega Drive.  I stream classic and new video games on Twitch: tk_hubworld, and I am also a dungeon master for teens on the spectrum.  I have been advocating for autism, mental health and video games since 2009. I have delivered talks all over the world, and have featured on various television programs. I also work as a freelance mentor, where we focus on how your neurodivergent identity fits into a neurotypical world.
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Josh Battin - NSW

Psychologist

Battlefield (any of them) - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 -Bioshock Infinite

I started gaming when I was about 10 years Old, playing Crash Bandicoot on the PS1. Since then, I’ve ended being enthralled with Triple A First Person Shooters and Single Player games that are like a good book. I’m recently getting back into real-time strategy games too, such as Company of Heroes. I love the competitive side of games. Even when I’m not placing in leader boards (which is often), I always enjoy fighting and adapting to the chaos that are multiplayer games. I only devote my time to single player games with a superior quality of narrative so I’m maximising my gaming time, making cherished memories instead of blurred and indistinct recollections. I’m particularly avid in my psychological work with helping clients achieve immense amounts of satisfaction from their real life and their gaming time.

  • Testimonial 

     "The program has been very helpful in making me aware of my own behaviours as a parent and the fact I don't push my son to be responsible for his actions. Ultimately change comes from within and he needs to be the one to regulate his behaviour.
    As a teacher myself, I have found that I even change the way I speak to students in class when they don't do the right thing. I'm feeling better prepared to help my sons move forward."
    - Parent

  • Testimonial 

    "...Lachy's support and guidance was amazing! His professional approach to helping Angus was beyond my expectations. Angus was in a big rut and gaming too much. Lachy provided ideas and solutions that we, as parents, would never have thought to suggest. I loved that Angus looked forward to their fortnightly sessions, and I really appreciated Lachy's openess during our debriefs. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend GameAware and especially Lachy to any parent that is concerned about their child's gaming."
    - Parent
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NDIS funding applies to GameAware services

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