Friendship through shared activity

Everyone deserves someone to call a friend.

FriendWorX is an Australian, non-clinical friendship and social connection service for young people aged 8–17, using small, facilitated online groups and shared gaming activities.

Private sessions, known participants and an adult Guide create a supported environment where young people can spend time together and connect.

Register Interest How FriendWorX works
Four young people connecting through online gaming from separate locations

Expressions of interest

Help us prepare for the initial FriendWorX pilot

FriendWorX is inviting parents and carers to express interest while we prepare for our initial participant pilot. Registering lets us learn a little about your young person and discuss possible next steps—it does not guarantee placement.

Register Interest

What FriendWorX is

A shared activity makes connection feel more natural

Conversation is easier when conversation isn’t the activity. Gaming gives young people something to do together while communication, cooperation and familiarity develop naturally.

Groups normally include up to four similarly aged participants and an adult Guide. They meet repeatedly through age-appropriate shared online activities, giving genuine peer relationships time to grow.

The game is not the outcome. FriendWorX is not therapy or gaming coaching. We create the environment and opportunity; young people build the friendships.

The FriendWorX journey

How Discovery and matching works

Finding the right group is more than filling the next available place. The five-stage journey helps FriendWorX learn what feels comfortable and where natural connections begin.

  1. Tell us about your young person

    Share relevant interests, communication preferences, goals, support needs and availability so we can begin thoughtfully.

  2. Welcome & prepare

    Meet FriendWorX, understand how sessions work, prepare the technology and safety expectations, and become comfortable before joining others.

  3. Discovery

    Young people spend time with similarly aged peers while FriendWorX observes where participation feels comfortable and natural connections begin to appear.

  4. Find the right group

    Matching considers age, interests, communication style, availability and—most importantly—who participants actually enjoy spending time with.

  5. Connect & grow

    Compatible participants can form a stable ongoing group. Repeated experiences support familiarity, trust and growing independence as the Guide becomes less central.

We don’t decide who a young person’s friends should be. We create safe opportunities for them to discover who they connect with.
Learn how FriendWorX works

A supported online environment

Online doesn’t have to mean anonymous.

Private sessions. Known participants. Trained Guides.

Learn about safety
  • Small, age-appropriate groups with an adult Guide present
  • Participants are known to FriendWorX; unapproved participants cannot join
  • Clear conduct expectations and moderated behaviour
  • No recording or streaming of sessions
  • Personal information is protected
  • Incidents can be documented, escalated and communicated to parents

Goals & progress

Goals that support real-world growth

A young person’s goal may be to make a friend, feel included, meet peers with similar interests, join conversations more comfortably, work with others or have something social to look forward to.

Guides use agreed goals to create natural opportunities for growth. Progress is understood through observations and meaningful milestones—not tests, scores or competition.

Goals & progress
  • Belonging
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Respect & Inclusion
  • Resilience & Self-Advocacy
  • Leadership & Contribution

Age-aware experiences

Connection should feel right for their age

These broad age ranges help explain the experience; they are not rigid matching categories. Discovery considers the individual and the people they connect with.

Approximately 8–11

Younger children

Supported shared activities with simple routines, familiar faces and gentle opportunities to join in.

Approximately 11–13

Pre-teens

A welcoming space to meet peers, explore shared interests and become more comfortable participating.

Approximately 14–17

Teens

Age-respectful shared activities focused on meeting people, genuine connection and increasing independence.

Explore experiences for young people

For parents and carers

You won’t be left wondering what’s happening

Parents and carers remain informed about when sessions occur and how participation is going. Where appropriate, FriendWorX can share progress against agreed goals and communicate when support or follow-up is needed.

You can contact FriendWorX with questions or concerns as your young person’s experience develops.

Could FriendWorX suit your young person?

A smaller way to make social connection possible

There is no single kind of young person FriendWorX is for.

  • Finds making or maintaining friendships difficult
  • Feels more comfortable connecting through shared interests
  • Finds large social environments overwhelming
  • Feels anxious about meeting new people or has become isolated
  • Wants to meet people their age with similar interests
  • Communicates more comfortably while doing something together
  • Would benefit from a small, supported social environment

Why families can trust FriendWorX

People, structure and clear expectations

Guides are adult social facilitators. Before being assigned to a group, they complete FriendWorX training and hold a Working with Children Check and police check.

Small groups

Age-appropriate groups, known participants and private sessions.

Supported connection

An adult Guide supports inclusion and positive group dynamics.

Clear boundaries

Conduct expectations, moderation and parent visibility are built in.

Our social framework

The FriendWorX BRIDGE Framework

BRIDGE describes how FriendWorX creates conditions for connection. It is a social framework, not a therapeutic or clinically validated framework.

BBelonging
A place where participants are known, included and valued.
RRelationships
Repeated shared experiences give genuine peer relationships time to develop.
IInteraction
Shared activities create natural reasons to talk, cooperate, laugh and problem-solve.
DDevelopment
Goals, natural observations and age-appropriate milestones support individual growth without testing.
GGuidance
Trained adult Guides support inclusion, connection and positive group dynamics.
EEnvironment
Private sessions, known participants, small groups and clear safeguards support safer participation.

Why FriendWorX exists

Something shared can make it easier to connect

Some young people find traditional social environments difficult. Conversation and connection can happen more naturally when there is already something shared to do.

FriendWorX exists to create structured opportunities for young people to meet, spend time together and discover genuine peer connections.

Our story

Parent FAQs

Questions families often ask

Clear answers about the service, groups and what participation involves.

View all FAQs
What equipment does my child need to participate?

To join FriendWorX during our pilot program, your child will need a compatible Xbox or PlayStation, a headset with a microphone, and a reliable internet connection. FriendWorX will provide instructions to help you get your gaming account and games ready before your child's first session. Nintendo Switch and PC support are planned for a later stage.

What is FriendWorX?

FriendWorX is a friendship and social connection service for young people aged 8–17. Small, facilitated online groups use shared gaming activities to create natural opportunities to connect.

Is FriendWorX therapy?

No. FriendWorX is not therapy, clinical treatment or gaming coaching. Guides are adult social facilitators who support inclusion and positive group dynamics.

How are young people matched?

Matching considers age, interests, communication style, availability and who participants enjoy spending time with. FriendWorX does not simply fill the next available vacancy.

What happens during Discovery?

Young people spend time with similarly aged peers through shared activities. FriendWorX observes where participation feels comfortable and natural connections begin to emerge.

How many young people are in a group?

Groups normally include up to four participants plus an adult Guide.

How does FriendWorX approach online safety?

Sessions are private, participants are known, an adult Guide is present and clear conduct expectations apply. Behaviour is moderated, recording and streaming are not allowed, and incidents can be documented and escalated.

What games are used?

Games are delivery environments rather than the product. Activities may vary based on age, interests, group suitability, safety and technical requirements. Specific games are not promised.

The next step

You don’t need to know yet whether FriendWorX is the perfect fit.

Registering interest gives FriendWorX a chance to learn more about your young person and discuss what may happen next. It does not guarantee a place.

Register Interest