As you step into the **library** in the mining town of **Newman**, located in **remote Western Australia**, an atmosphere of excitement fills the air. On a **Thursday afternoon**, young students are engrossed in an **after-school coding class**. This initiative, aimed at children aged **8 to 12**, is part of a game-making program designed to enhance coding skills among students in the **Pilbara region**, approximately **1,170 kilometers northeast of Perth**.

![Students at computers and two women standing.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/87e190d736bb8f0cf368eaff3e34d5a8?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=2216&cropW=3324&xPos=306&yPos=0&width=862&height=575)

The enthusiasm is palpable as the students prepare to add **villains** to their games, showcasing their creativity and problem-solving skills. Most participants had little to no coding experience before joining, yet their eagerness to learn is evident.

Mason Ewing, one of the students, shares, "It's difficult, but I love it," as he works on his game, demonstrating the **intersection of gaming and learning**. The coding class, run by **Creative Bytes**, is structured to run for **10 weeks**, with each session lasting an hour.

### Learning through Gaming
The **Creative Bytes** program is a **not-for-profit initiative** that trains teachers and library staff while providing lesson plans to guide young learners in coding. The curriculum focuses on making learning **interactive** and engaging, with a strong emphasis on **game-making** as a tool to capture children's imaginations. 

![Students developing their own video games through the program.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/4fc54c3ce65cd7e535f73deab3528891?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=2216&cropW=3324&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=575)

According to the **federal Department of Education**, students from remote areas face challenges, often lagging behind their metropolitan peers in **STEM** subjects. The lack of qualified teachers and resources in these regions exacerbates the issue.

### Getting Country Kids Up to Speed
James Deehan, a senior lecturer at **Charles Sturt University**, emphasizes the ongoing efforts to improve **STEM outcomes** in rural areas. Despite improvements noted in studies like **TIMSS**, significant gaps remain between urban and remote students in terms of education quality and access to resources.

Creative Bytes aims to bridge this gap by providing **online learning** opportunities, making STEM education more accessible to **geographically isolated** students and aligning with their interests. The program has already been implemented in **over 30 locations** across Australia, with plans for expansion in **Western Australia** in the near future.

![Creative Bytes founders.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/682f43da511a5a2e75bfee62c97eb8bd?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=2720&cropW=4080&xPos=0&yPos=176&width=862&height=575)

The success of the program is not just in the students but also in the **teachers**, some of whom are older adults embracing new technology, showcasing that **learning knows no age limits**. 

With ongoing training and support, Creative Bytes is set to become a sustainable resource for communities, empowering the next generation of **coders** and innovators in **remote Australia**.

Is the country's next great coder from remote Australia? A game-making program recently rolled out to students in the Pilbara hopes to increase that possibility.

1 month ago Remote In Australia Articles Digested