- Queensland Rail is using one of the most popular video games - Minecraft - to educate primary school students about rail safety.
- The new 'Track Stars!' Minecraft Education game has three short, interactive missions that teach students how to navigate level crossings safely.
- The game is available for all teachers to use in the classroom.
Queensland Rail is using the popularity of Minecraft to educate primary school students about the importance of level crossing safety in a fun and engaging way.
Using the Minecraft Education platform, the 'Track Stars!' rail safety game encourages young people to make good decisions and smart choices at and around level crossings, by completing several tasks and missions.
The game closely aligns with the Education Curriculum and, while targeted towards Year 3 and 4 students, is available to all Queensland teachers to make available for their students.
Similar Minecraft Education rail safety games have been rolled out in New South Wales and Victoria.
Teachers wanting to learn more about how they can use 'Track Stars!' in their classroom, can visit here.
Queensland Rail Team Leader Community Education Dave Webber said 'Tracks Stars!' had a focus on behaviour change and encouraging students to take personal responsibility for the safety of themselves and others at level crossings.
“Level crossings are the highest public safety risk on the rail network, with a third of all level crossing collisions resulting in injuries or fatalities. That's why it is so important to educate young Queenslanders about how to stay safe around level crossings and to always obey signs and signals," Mr Webber said.
“In 2024, Queensland Rail's education team delivered 600 rail safety presentations at schools and in communities to more than 70,000 students, but we can't get to every school and every student in Queensland.
“This game means important rail safety messaging can reach even more children, particularly those living in regional and remote areas.
"Track Stars!' empowers and encourages young people to make safe decisions through hands-on gameplay. Students will be teaching their in-game robot buddy, Elliot, how to safely navigate a level crossing, and through exploration, research, and testing, they'll reflect on real-world decisions and learn to prioritise safety for themselves and others."
ENDS