Every other week someone asks me how to start streaming. And every time, the advice they’ve already found online is either wildly expensive (“just buy a $3,000 setup!”) or hopelessly vague (“be yourself and the audience will come!”). Neither of those is helpful.

Here’s the actual, practical guide for starting a gaming stream in Australia in 2026. Spoiler: it’s cheaper than you think, but harder than the YouTube tutorials make it look.

Internet first, everything else second

Before you buy a single piece of equipment, check your internet. In Australia, this is where streaming dreams go to die.

For a reliable 720p stream at 30fps (which is fine for starting out), you need a minimum of 5 Mbps upload. For 1080p at 60fps — which is where you want to get eventually — you need at least 10 Mbps upload, and 15+ is better.

Check your actual upload speed at speedtest.net. Not your plan’s advertised speed — your actual, real-world speed. If you’re on an NBN FTTN connection, your upload might be significantly lower than you’d expect. FTTP connections are ideal. HFC is usually fine. Fixed wireless and satellite are a hard no for live streaming.

If your upload is below 5 Mbps, don’t start streaming until you’ve sorted your internet. Everything else is a waste of money without a stable connection.

The minimum equipment

Here’s what you actually need to start:

A gaming PC or console. You already have this, presumably. If you’re streaming from a console, you’ll need a capture card (Elgato HD60 X, around $250 AUD). If you’re streaming from PC, the software handles capture directly.

A microphone. This is the single most important piece of streaming equipment. Bad video is forgivable. Bad audio is not. Get a USB condenser mic. The Audio-Technica AT2020 USB+ ($180 AUD) or the Samson Q2U ($100 AUD) are both solid. The Samson is dynamic, which means it picks up less background noise — great if your streaming space isn’t acoustically treated.

A webcam (optional, but recommended). The Logitech C920 ($120 AUD) has been the standard for years and it’s still good enough. Viewers connect more with streamers they can see. Skip the facecam if you’re uncomfortable, but know that it affects discoverability.

Streaming software. OBS Studio. It’s free, it’s powerful, and every tutorial on the internet uses it. Don’t overthink this choice.

A second monitor (strongly recommended). You need to see your chat, your OBS dashboard, and your alerts without alt-tabbing out of the game. A cheap 1080p monitor from Officeworks for $150 will do.

Total minimum investment: roughly $250 to $550, depending on what you already own.

Setting up OBS

I’m not going to write a full OBS tutorial — there are hundreds of excellent ones on YouTube. But here are the Australian-specific settings:

Streaming to Twitch: Set your server to “Australia - Sydney” in the OBS settings. This gives you the best connection. If you’re in Perth, test both the Sydney and Singapore servers and use whichever gives you lower ping.

Bitrate: Start at 3,500 kbps for 720p60 or 4,500 kbps for 1080p60. These are guidelines — adjust based on your actual upload speed. Leave yourself at least 30 percent headroom above your bitrate for stability.

Encoder: If you have an NVIDIA GPU (GTX 1660 or newer), use NVENC. It’s significantly more efficient than x264 and puts less strain on your CPU, which means better game performance while streaming.

Choosing a platform

Twitch is still the biggest. More viewers, more discoverability tools, and the best community features. The Australian Twitch community is active but small — which can actually work in your favour. It’s easier to get noticed in a smaller pond.

YouTube is a strong alternative, especially if you plan to do VOD content alongside live streaming. YouTube’s algorithm is better at recommending streams to new viewers. The discoverability advantage is real.

Kick is the wild card. Higher revenue splits for streamers, but a smaller and more volatile audience. Worth watching but probably not worth starting on in 2026.

Finding an audience

This is the hard part. The honest truth is that most new streamers spend months broadcasting to zero viewers. That’s normal. Here’s how to slowly build:

Pick a niche. Don’t just stream whatever you feel like. Find a game or category where you can be consistent. Australian-focused content — local esports commentary, Australian indie game playthroughs, or games with local settings — can help you stand out.

Be consistent. Stream on a regular schedule. Same days, same times. People can’t become regulars if they don’t know when you’re live.

Network with other streamers. Raid smaller streamers after your broadcasts. Participate in communities. The Australian streaming scene is collegial — people support each other.

Promote on social media. Post clips on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Twitter. Short-form content drives live viewership. This isn’t optional anymore — it’s how people discover streamers in 2026.

What not to do

Don’t spend $2,000 on equipment before your first stream. Don’t quit your job. Don’t compare yourself to people who’ve been streaming for five years. Don’t follow-for-follow. Don’t buy viewers.

Streaming is a marathon, not a sprint. Especially in Australia, where the audience is smaller and the timezone means you’re competing with SEA and US streamers for attention. Start small, stay consistent, and focus on making your stream something you’d actually want to watch.