Our people

Dr Rhett Loban

Senior Lecturer, 
National School of Education

Areas of expertise: Game-Based Learning; Virtual Reality; Culture; Indigenous Education; Creation-Based Pedagogy

HDR supervisor accreditation status: Not accredited

Email: rhett.loban@acu.edu.au

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhett-loban-b0a9209b/

Location: ACU Strathfield Campus

ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4049-3295 

Select publications

• Loban, R. (4^th September 2023). Embedding Culture into Video Games and Game Design: The Palm, the Dogai and the Tombstone. CRC Press. ISBN 9781032232195
• Schlittler, M., Loban, R., Apperley, T. (2024). Valores eurocêntricos em jogo: Modificando o colonial através de uma perspectiva indígena. Zanzalá-Revista Brasileira de Estudos sobre Gêneros Cinematográficos e Audiovisuais. Vol 12(1): 157-176.
• Chan, S.F., DeWitt, D & Loban, R. (2022). Virtual Reality for developing Intercultural communication competence in Mandarin as a Foreign language. Educational Technology Research and Development. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-021-10074-9
• Loban, R. (2022). “I never asked for it, but I got it and now I feel that my knowledge about history is even greater!”: Play, Encounter and Research in Europa Universalis IV. Journal of Games Criticism.
• Ong, Y., Loban, R. & Parrila, R. (2022). The Fight is the Dance: Modding Chinese Culture and Martial Arts into Beat Saber. Journal of Games Criticism.
• Loban, R. (2021). Torres Strait Virtual Reality: A Reflection on the Intersection between Culture, Game Design and Research. Games and Culture Journal.
• Loban, R. (2021). Modding Europa Universalis IV: An Informal Gaming Practice Transposed into a Formal Learning Setting. E-Learning and Digital Media.
• Loban, R. (2021). Europa Universalis IV and Deep Learning: Historical Accuracy, Counterfactuals and Historical Themes. Loading…The Journal of the Canadian Game Studies Association. Vol 14(24): 26-47.
• Loban, R. (2021). The Transformation from Manual Wargames to Grand Strategy Video Games, and the Opportunities for Sophisticated and Efficient Historical Gaming Experiences. Digital Culture and Education.
• Loban, R. (2024). One Culture. In Faulkner (Ed.), Growing up Torres Strait Islander. Collingwood: Black Inc.
• Loban, R. (2022). The Torres Strait Dhari. In Bommas (Ed.), History of the World in 100 Objects. Macquarie University History Museum.
• Harrison, N., Leone, R., Loban, R., Nguyen J., and Thornton C. (2021). Chapter 7: Teaching Students from Diverse Backgrounds. In Cavanagh & Prescott (Eds.), Your professional experience handbook 2e.
• Loban, R. and Apperley, T. (2019) Eurocentric values at play: Modding the Colonial from the Indigenous Perspective. In Penix-Tadsen (Ed.), Video Games and the Global South.
• Loban, R. (2018). Torres Strait Virtual Reality: Virtual Reality. In Harle, Abdilla and Newman (Eds.), Decolonising the Digital: Technology As Cultural Practice, 158-77. Sydney: Tactical Space Lab. http://ojs.decolonising.digital/index.php/decolonising_digital/article/view/TSVR.
• Loban, R. (2017, July). Digitising Diplomacy: Grand Strategy Video Games as an Introductory Tool for Learning Diplomacy and International Relations. Proceeds of the Digital Games Research Association Conference 2017, Melbourne.
• Yoshioka, M. and Loban, R. (2015, November). WC3: Wikipedia Category Consistency Checker Based on DBPedia. Proceedings of the 11th Intl. Conf. on Signal-Image Technology & Internet-Based Systems, Bangkok.

Accolades or awards

• 2018 - CSIRO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander STEM Professional Career Achievement Award $20,000 AUD.
• 2023 – Early Career Award Winner for Learning and Teaching for Faculty of Arts.
• 2023 – NAIDOC Innovation finalist.
• 2020 - Immersive Learning Network 6^th Annual Conference – Certificate of Best Immersive Learning Showcase. Showcase: VR for Developing Intercultural Communication Competence in Mandarin Chinse as a Foreign Language Speaker.
• 2020 – Bronze Medal in the University of Malaya International Summit on Innovation and Design Exposition (InSide). Showcase: VR for Intercultural Competence (VR4ICC): Increasing Intercultural Awareness.
• 2020 – MQ University Faculty of Arts Early-Career Research Fellowship $5000 AUD.
• 2019 – MQ University Department of Educational Studies Early Career Researcher Award.
• 2019 – MQ University Research Enhancement Funding Grant for developing a VR simulation to teach maths concepts related to NAPLAN $5662 AUD.
• 2019 – Innovative Curriculum Design and Delivery Runner Up Prize from the Minister of Education Malaysia for developing and implementing VR simulation to teach Chinese language and Culture with other researchers $5000 MYR ($1600 AUD)
• 2018 – MQ University Mobile Virtual Reality Resource for School and University Based Research (Research Infrastructure Scheme Small) with other researchers $98,420.85 AUD.
• 2017- UNSW Dean’s Faculty Award for Student Leadership (Social Engagement) $1000 AUD.

Appointments and affiliations

• Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA) at Advance HE from 2024 -Present
• Member of the Centre of Global Indigenous Futures from 2023 – Present
• Member of the First Nations Australia Writers Network from 2024 - Present
• 2023-2024 – Invited to be a DiGRA (Digital Game Research Association) 2024 Program Committee member for the Game History and Cultural Context track where I reviewed conference abstracts and papers
• 2023 - Peer Reviewer for eSafety commissioner research methodology. Cited in two reports: Levelling up to stay safe: Young people’s experiences navigating the joys and risks of online gaming February 2024 (https://www.esafety.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-02/Leveling%20up%20to%20stay%20safe%20-%20gaming%20report.pdf) and Young people and gaming Methodology report February 2024 (https://www.esafety.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-02/Young%20People%20and%20Gaming%20-%20Methodology.pdf)
• 2023 – Ambassador for the NSW Education to promote the new computing syllabuses: Computing Technology 7-10, Enterprise Computing 11-12 and Software Engineering 11-12. Activities include running an online Professional Learning session for teachers and featuring in a video interview as part of the communications campaign.
• 2020 - Australia Arts Council: First Nations Targeted Digital Transformation Action Consultation Group: Voluntary Consultant.
• 2019 - Present - National Indigenous Science Education Program: Volunteer.
• 2019 - Present - Museum of Contemporary Art Indigenous Committee: Committee member.
• 2019 - Western Australian Parliament for Digital Learning Inquiry: Witness (https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/commit.nsf/(Report+Lookup+by+Com+ID)/337391CBC0096994482584BF0025671C/$file/Digital+innovation+in+secondary+education+report+FINAL+FIXED+with+cover.pdf)
• 2019 - New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA): Voluntary Consultant.
• 2019 – Southside Mabo Promotion Day Reference Group Brisbane: Digital Media Recorder.
• 2017- Present – Indigitek: Presenter, Volunteer and Supporter.
• 2017-19 – UNSW Schools Programs (Various Faculties): Present and Volunteer.
• 2017-18 - Commonwealth Bank of Australia: Presenter for Reconciliation Week.
• 2017 – UNSW Gifted Education Research and Resource Centre: Computer Specialist Volunteer.

Public engagement activities

• CSIRO Research. 20^th June 2024. Three STEM professionals turn their passion into a career. URL: https://research.csiro.au/WithSTEMYouCan/three-stem-professionals-turne-their-passion-into-a-career/.
• CSIRO Generation STEM #WithSTEMYouCan Careers Expo. 4^th June 2024. Invited guest speaker on discussion panel.
• The Australian Sociological Association. 28 May 2024. Sociology of Teaching with Dr Rhett Loban. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJiZ4NZLPuI.
• ABC Radio Melbourne Evenings. 13 May 2024. Radio interview about Growing up Torres Strait Islander.
• ABC Radio National. 2023. Science Show Podcast. https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/scienceshow/take-a-virtual-trip-to-the-torres-strait/102566056.
• 2 July 2023. 52 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people changing the world. https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/culture/52-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people-changing-the-world/.
• 2023 - ABC Science, ABC Gamer, ABC Indigenous (TikTok and Facebook). Video explainers on Virtual Reality and TSVR: https://www.facebook.com/reel/6271237242984068.
• Computer Technology 7-10–Syllabus 2024 (nsw.gov.au): https://education.nsw.gov.au/parents-and-carers/initiatives/computer-technology-7-10-syllabus-2024
• 2023- Speak at NSW Art Gallery (https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/events/in-conversation-glen-mackie-rhett-loban/)
• 6^th Sept 2022. University of Adelaide. Digital Humanities Lab. “Learning and engaging in gaming and interactive environments”. URL: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dh-lab-learning-and-engaging-in-gaming-and-interactive-environments-tickets-354294924657
• Featured in National Communication Museum Display with an interview about the game I developed as one of the exhibits. Recorded 2022.
• Featured as one of the CSIROs digital careers speakers 2022. URL: https://www.csiro.au/en/education/programs/digital-careers/program-resources/rhett-loban
• Jen Zielinska and Rhett Loban. Torres Strait Virtual Reality Game: A Conversation with Rhett Loban. 23rd November 2021. URL: https://mpavilion.org/program/torres-strait-virtual-reality-game-a-conversation-with-rhett-loban/.
• James Parkinson. Culture, Remixed. Gameplay (Podcast). 17^th February 2021. URL: https://gameplay.co/rhett-loban-torres-strait-virtual-reality/.
• Royce Kurmelovs on NITV News. Computer game project draws fire for undermining Adelaide's true history. 31 May 2020. URL: https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2020/05/31/computer-game-project-draws-fire-undermining-adelaides-true-history.
• Michelle Eynon on CSIROscope. Game on: Torres Strait Island life enters virtual reality. 26 November 2019. URL: https://blog.csiro.au/torres-strait-island-virtual-reality-game/?fbclid=IwAR22vJHcodxyOQaWVCnGxhQEXMqG6rsP3SZ6Nj_oKt_4GHsBaC6QyAUxpw0.
• Jack Cusack Memorial Lecture: The Power of Virtual Reality in Learning and Teaching. 7 November 2019. URL: https://webcast.csiro.au/#/webcasts/jackcusack.
• Guest Presenter on Indigenous Australia and Digital Futures: Immersive Culture: Sharing Traditional Knowledge with ‘Torres Strait Virtual Reality’ at Melbourne University. 3 April 2019. URL: https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/research/digital-studio/news-and-events/seminars/2019/indigenous-australia-and-digital-futures/immersive-culture.
• The Guardian. I turned my Torres Strait Islander culture into a video game. 14 March 2019. URL: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/14/i-turned-my-torres-strait-islander-culture-into-a-video-game.
• Panel Guest on Mundine Means Business (Sky News). 2 December 2018.
• Indigitek presents Rhett Loban and Tamina Pitt. 2 November 2017. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-USpTdkNRQ4.
• UNSW Newsroom Article. UNSW student creates virtual experience of Torres Strait Islander culture. 12 December 2017. URL: https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/students/unsw-student-creates-virtual-experience-torres-strait-islander-culture.
• 3 Radio. Merging Culture with Virtual Reality. 16 December 2017. URL: http://2ser.com/merging-culture-virtual-reality/.
• ABC Radio News Breakfast. A virtual reality Torres Strait Island experience. 21 December 2017. URL: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/a-virtual-reality-torres-strait-island-experience/9278252.
• Linux Conference. Torres Strait Virtual Reality. 25 January 2018. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu-fFgSSUFI.
• Cristy Burne. ‘Virtual Reality Torres Strait Journey’. CSIRO Double Helix Magazine. Issue April 2018.
• Unproject Beyond rewriting the story. 2018. URL: http://unprojects.org.au/magazine/issues/issue-12-1/beyond-rewriting-the-story/.