Rockhampton’s Dungeons & Dragons program celebrates 12 months of adventure, confidence and community

What began as a small group of three has transformed into one of Rockhampton Mental Health Hub’s most popular social programs, with selectability’s Dungeons & Dragons group officially celebrating its first anniversary this week. 

Twelve months on, six regular participants now gather each week to explore new worlds, build friendships, grow confidence and challenge themselves in a safe, supported environment.  

With more locals hearing about the program, interest continues to grow. 

What is Dungeons & Dragons? 

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a tabletop role-playing game where one person, the Dungeon Master (DM), guides a story while players take on characters who explore a shared fantasy world.  

The aim is to build a collaborative narrative using imagination, simple rules and dice to guide uncertain outcomes. 

There is no traditional winning or losing – instead, players work together to create an exciting and meaningful adventure. 

The idea for the program came from life coach and program facilitator Sam, whose passion for Dungeons & Dragons sparked what is now known as selectaQuest. 

“My friends and I started playing D&D back in 2021 and we fell in love with it straight away.  

“After about a year, I realised that D&D had great potential to be used as a tool in mental health and education to help people overcome social anxieties and develop skills in areas like english and maths, all while playing a game at a table with peers. 

“The idea stayed with me until I moved to Rockhampton early last year and I brought the idea to my regional coordinator.  

“Now, I knew Jo didn’t know too much about D&D, but she saw my passion and understood enough to see the potential it had to help people, so we decided to give it a shot! 

“I can’t tell you how good it feels to see this idea become a reality and exceed my expectations.  

“It has been an overwhelming success. Over the last year, I’ve watched participants grow, challenge themselves, and develop confidence.” 

The benefits of this group are echoed by the recipients who take part each week. 

“I feel like I can be myself and it’s helped me learn that mistakes are ok.” – Noah 

 “It’s been great to hang out and meet new people. I’ve always struggled with maths and memory, but D&D has helped me get better at both.” – Anthony 

“I’ve found that the D&D program has really helped me in my everyday life. It has supported my social skills and given me an outlet for my creativity.” - Jeff 

Over the past year, selectaQuest has highlighted the power of imagination, teamwork and community – and the difference it can make in people’s lives. 

Anyone can learn to play, anyone can belong at the table, and everyone has a story worth telling. 

Here’s to another year of adventure, growth and rolling the dice together! 

Want to know more about our group programs in Rockhampton? You can find out more here.