Students at Matthew Flinders Anglican College have designed and built a retro arcade machine from the ground up, weaving creativity, technical skill and teamwork.
The project was developed through the Flinders ENIGMA co-curricular program, which aims to enrich students across Years 7 to 12 who want to gain knowledge, skills and confidence through entrepreneurship, innovation and tech-focused projects.
The arcade project was led by Bethany Slocombe who graduated with the Year 12 Class of 2025 and will study an Engineering degree at the University of Queensland in 2026.
Bethany led the project team of 20 students through recruitment, funding, planning and vendor liaison, ensuring the project had the resources and direction it needed.
The students were supported through the Gateway to Industry Schools Program (GISP) in collaboration with the Australian Computer Society (ACS). The program partners with Flinders and aims to build real-world industry connections for students in fields such as ICT.
Also working as part of the retro arcade machine team were Year 12 student Joshua Giles and Ciara Timperley who also graduated with the Class of 2025.
Last year, Joshua, Ciara and Bethany earned awards through GISP and ACS for their leadership and hands-on work.
Joshua handled wiring, development and installation of the hardware, and Ciara designed the artwork and vinyl wrap that give the machine its vibrant, retro feel. Ciara is using her tech skills in studying a Game Design and Production degree at Griffith University.
The retro arcade machine is exhibited in the Infinity Gallery for students and staff to admire and as a reminder that innovation, collaboration and passion can come together to transform a simple idea into tangible results.
Flinders ENIGMA Program Develops Future Innovators
The ENIGMA program launched in 2023 at Matthew Flinders Anglican College to inspire students’ long-term participation in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) as these careers continue to grow.
Its ethos is evolving and expanding to support diverse interests whether students are interested in robotics, engineering, innovation, design or simply the joy of creating and solving challenges.
In 2026, ENIGMA is launching a dedicated Robotics stream, focusing on hands-on projects and participation in national competitions. Students are exploring the following challenges:
- FIRST LEGO League
- FIRST Tech Challenge
- Small-scale robotics builds and programming challenges
Students will also explore individual and team-based challenges, such as:
- Designing and building miniature trebuchets
- CO₂ drag cars
- Creative problem-solving and prototyping tasks
These projects are designed to build practical skills, teamwork, design thinking and problem solving skills, and real-world engineering thinking.
