Get Ready for an Epic Day of Esports!
Join us at the Esports Collective as we bring esports to primary schools, high schools and the wider community for players of ALL ABILITIES with support from the Esports Australia!
- Primary School Competition – 19th June
- Community Day – 20th June
- High School Competition – 22nd June
Welcome to the 2026 Gippsland Esports Competition
The Australian Esports League and Esports Australia have partnered with the Esports Collective to deliver a landmark inclusive gaming experience in regional Victoria. Supported by the Victorian Government’s Regional All Abilities Participation Grants, this event removes physical barriers to ensure competitive digital sports are accessible to everyone.
Hosted at the Esports Collective in Bairnsdale, this three-day event brings new esports opportunities and competitions to regional Victoria in the Gippsland area. Beyond this the event equips the community with state-of-the-art adaptive technology through the integration of Xbox Adaptive Controllers and Logitech Adaptive Kits, providing the tools necessary for players of all abilities to train, compete, and connect on a level playing field.
This event is brought to you by:
The AEL is proudly sponsored by:
The AEL is proudly sponsored by:
Our Partners:
Event Structure
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Primary School Competition
The action kicks off with regional primary schools battling it out in a structured, highly inclusive environment. Students will compete in team-based formats designed to build communication, confidence, and camaraderie.
- Format: In-person competitive brackets
- Date: Friday, 19th June
- Platform: Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox
- Featured Titles: Mario Kart World, Super Smash Bros., Just Dance and EA Sports F1 25
- Eligibility: Primary School Students
OPEN TO ALL
Community Day
A day dedicated to families, parents, support workers, and the broader Gippsland community. Drop in for casual free-play, explore adaptive gaming setups, and discover hands-on esports competitions in the expanding digital landscape.
- Format: Divisional Play: Juniors and Seniors
- Date: Saturday, 20th June
- Platform: Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox
- Featured Titles: EA Sports F1 25, EA Sports FC 26, Mario Kart World and Super Smash Bros.
- Eligibility: Open to all ages and abilities
HIGH SCHOOLS
High School Competition
Regional secondary schools go head-to-head in our premiere competitive divisions. High schools will compete for championship glory in a fully supported environment where advanced players and adaptive players race side-by-side.
- Format: In-person competitive brackets
- Date: Monday, 22nd June
- Platform: Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PC
- Featured Titles: Mario Kart World, Super Smash Bros., Just Dance and EA Sports F1 25
- Eligibility: Secondary School Students
All Abilities Adaptive Play
Full Adaptive Support Across All Events
Every day of the Gippsland Esports Competition features comprehensive adaptive gaming support. We provide Xbox Adaptive Controllers, Logitech Adaptive Kits, and dedicated accessibility staff. Official Disability Sport Australia grading and handicap systems are applied to our core competitive titles to ensure a fully supported, inclusive, and fair playing field for all participants.
Games at Play
Featured Games and Adaptive Play Options
Our competition titles have been carefully selected and structured to maximise accessibility. Below is the breakdown of the games featured across the weekend and how they integrate into our All Abilities framework.
🏁 F1 2025
Platform: Xbox
Format: Free-For-All Time Trials
Set the fastest lap! This is our premier All Abilities racing competition. The game includes extensive driving assists, such as automatic braking and steering support, which significantly reduce both cognitive and physical load. It is fully compatible with our Xbox Adaptive Controllers and will utilise graded handicap tiers to ensure fair competition.
🥊 Super Smash Bros.
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Format: 1v1 Elimination Bracket
Go head-to-head in one-on-one matches in an elimination tournament bracket. Win your match to advance through the bracket. Played in standard competitive rules on Omega stages. Expect fast paced matches with instant reaction play.
⚽ EA Sports FC 26
Platform: Xbox
Format: 1v1 Elimination Bracket
Played using the Kick-Off mode for 1v1 matches. Players progress through an elimination tournament bracket. It features a highly accessible One Button control configuration that maps complex passes and shots to a single input.
🏎️ Mario Kart World
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
Format: Free-For-All Racing Heats
Race against multiple players at once in classic Mario Kart action. Competitors race in heats playing Grand Prix mode, with top places advancing based on overall results. Expect fast-paced fun, friendly rivalry, and plenty of chaos on the track.
💃 Just Dance
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Format: Free-For-All Dance Heats
Compete against other dancers in multiple heats throughout the day! Expect a day of wild moves, and bragging rights that last long after the music stops.
Accessibility & Inclusion Guidelines
The Gippsland Esports Competition is dedicated to providing an equitable, welcoming, and supported competitive digital sports environment for players of all abilities. Our tournament structures are designed around peer interaction, capability building, and fair play.
Disability Sport Australia Grading System
To ensure matches are competitive and balanced, we implement a structured grading and handicap protocol informed by Disability Sport Australia guidelines. Prior to the official bracket draw on Thursday and Monday, all competitive players will participate in a brief classification round. This round establishes baseline performance metrics, allowing tournament officials to apply appropriate in-game handicaps and group players into tiers of similar ability levels.
Adaptive Technology Support
Our competitive stations are fully equipped with specialised gaming technology tailored for accessibility. Through our hardware partnerships, players have full access to Xbox Adaptive Controllers, Logitech Adaptive Controller Kits, and adaptive joysticks and buttons to customize layouts according to their physical requirements.
Scope of Support & Limitations
While we strive to accommodate a broad spectrum of physical and cognitive abilities, current gaming software and hardware constraints mean we are unable to effectively cater to participants with profound visual impairments (complete blindness) or complete loss of upper limb mobility (quadriplegia) within these specific tournament modules. Our on-site team is available to discuss custom mappings for any registered player prior to the event.
Venue Accessibility
The Esports Collective facility in Bairnsdale is fully wheelchair accessible, featuring ground-level double-door entry points, flat transit pathways throughout the gaming arena, and compliant accessible restroom amenities on site.
Event Details and Schedule
Friday 19th June (Primary School Competition)
- Access & Check-in: 9:30 AM
- Player Briefing & Grading: 10:00 AM
- Tournament Start: 10:30 AM
- Estimated Event Conclusion: 3:00 PM
Saturday 20th June (Community Day & Industry Workshops)
- Access & Check-in: 10:00 AM
- Player Briefing & Grading: 10:20 AM
- Tournament Start: 10:30 AM
- Industry Workshops: 1:00 PM
- Estimated Event Conclusion: 5:00 PM
Monday 22nd June (High School Competition)
- Access & Check-in: 9:30 AM
- Player Briefing & Grading: 10:00 AM
- Tournament Start: 10:30 AM
- Estimated Event Conclusion: 3:00 PM
Venue Location
Esports Collective
58 Macleod St, Bairnsdale VIC 3875
What to Bring
- A refillable water bottle and lunch or school-approved snacks.
- Your school jersey or team uniform (applicable for Thursday and Monday competitors).
- Any personal, pre-approved adaptive controller setups or specialised accessibility accessories. Standard controllers, Xbox Adaptive Controllers, and Logitech Adaptive Kits are fully provided on site.
Esports Industry Pathways Seminar
Running concurrently with our open community play on Saturday 20th June, this presentation style masterclass offers an insider look into the professional digital sports sector. Our senior AEL production team will pull back the curtain, demonstrating the live software, broadcast infrastructure, and logistics management systems used to drive major national tournaments.
🕒 Session Times: 1:00 PM
⏳ Duration: 45 Mins Per Session + 15 Mins of Q&A
🎟️ Cost: Free (Registration Required)
Prizes & Recognition
We celebrate competitive spirit, skill development, and sportsmanship at every level of the tournament. Exceptional performances across our primary and high school divisions will receive official tournament hardware and styling.
All participants competing in our All Abilities and schools divisions will receive an official Certificate of Participation to acknowledge their training and competitive efforts
🥇
Championship Winners
Official AEL Gold Medals awarded to first-place podium finishers in each competitive game bracket.
🥈
Tournament Runners-Up
Official AEL Silver Medals awarded to second-place bracket finishers.
🥉
Third Place Finishers
Official AEL Bronze Medals awarded to third-place bracket finishers.
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