Game Changer

Australian Story profiles psychologist Wayne Warburton, here to help parents with kids who are addicted to video gaming.

Many parents will tell you they're worried their children are spending too much time playing video games and are desperate about what to do.

Wayne Warburton, a plumber-turned-psychologist, reckons he can help.

Together with German researchers, Dr Warburton, from Macquarie University, has devised a 3-month program to help the minority of teenagers who are gaming excessively and who feel they've lost control of their lives.

Caleb, 13, and Rhys, 15, who both joined the program, got drawn more deeply into gaming through the Covid lockdowns.

"It's living on the edge, never quite knowing what's going to happen next when they are distressed around their lack of ability to game", says Jude, Rhys' mother.

"When my behaviour had been at my worst, I was probably like throwing stuff, yelling, kicking things, punching walls", Rhys admits.

When Jude heard about the work of Wayne Warburton, she thought ‘hallelujah'.

Warburton says studies show excessive gaming can change the brain and inhibit impulse control, making some gamers aggressive.

"I've seen numerous cases of parents needing to take apprehended violence orders against their kids because they become so violent when the screens are taken away", he says.

Australian Story has gained exclusive access to follow Rhys and Caleb as they embark on this ground-breaking program to try and change their lives and take control of their gaming habits. But will it work?

Producer: Janine Cohen