Debating and Public Speaking 2023
Debating and Public Speaking 2023
The steady increase in the number and variety of offerings for Debating and Public Speaking competitions around the State ensures students with a wide range of interests can participate and compete against like-minded students.
Traditional Debating is offered outside the Senior Debating season through the DAV Women’s Competition and the Deakin Law Debate, both of which attract strong debaters around the State.
The Bond University High School Mooting Competition attracts students undertaking Legal Studies and sharpens their advocacy skills. Those interested in extending their skills beyond traditional Debating are invited to join the British Parliamentary Competition – a much more adversarial and animated style of Debating.
Students interested in politics can now join the Robert Menzies Speech Competition. Those students interested in theatre and performance can take part in the Rotary Ainger Peck Public Speaking Award or the Festival of the Speech and Drama Teachers’ Association of Victoria, which reward personality and a strong manner in Public Speaking.
Traditional competitions offered by the Debaters’ Association of Victoria and Rostrum Voice of Youth have seen numbers almost double in the past few years. These competitions provide opportunities for students to explore both persuasive and discursive styles of Public Speaking on a whole range of topical and personal issues which assist them in developing strong personal opinions.
Finally, those students who have really honed their skills over the years are encouraged to compete in the VCAA Plain English-Speaking Award, where maturity, originality and substance are the hallmark of the winners each year.
Old Girl Debating Coach Ciara Jenkins (’22) during House Debating in 2022.
The Senior Debating season commences this week. We have 55 eager students from Years 9 to 12 competing in Round One. We wish them well. Their new coaches are Old Girls Angela Yu (School Co-Captain 2022), Lan-Tian Yen-West (2022 Debating and Public Speaking Co-Captain), and Ciara Jenkins (2022 Holmes Kilbride House Captain) and returned coaches, Isobel Tanner (’20), and Alexandra (Allie) Hall (‘19).
Junior Debating will commence in Term 3.
