The ACT Debating Union (ACTDU) is the largest organiser of schools debating in the ACT. A volunteer run organisation that aims to promote debating, public speaking and analytical skills to students in the ACT.
This year ACTDU is running two new exciting competitions! They will both involve two full days of debating over concurrent weekends, held at the Australian National University.
Junior Mini Competition (yrs 6-9)
- Sunday the 14th and 21st of September
- Will consist of four rounds of debating, training seminars and a grand final
- 3 v 3 debating style
- Teams of 3-4
- Lunch included
- Contact Holly Zhang at mini@actdu.org.au if you have any questions
Senior Open Competition (yrs 9-12)
- Saturday the 13th and 20th of September
- Will consist of four rounds of debating, training seminars and a grand final
- British Parliamentary debating style (4 teams of 2 per debate)
- Teams of 2
- Lunch included
- Good practice for the ACT Representative Team trials in term 4!
- Contact Maddie Verge at open@actdu.org.au if you have any questions
New debaters are welcome to both competitions as there will be seminars on how to debate in the style required at the beginning of each.
The grand finals will be open to parents and friends and will offer the opportunity to participate or watch a very high quality debate. Speaker awards will also be presented at this time.
Schools are welcome to register an unlimited number of teams. Teams consist of 3-4 students for the junior competition and of 2 students for the senior competition. Registration costs $40 per student, or $130 for a team of 4 (or $120 for a team of 3) for the junior competition, and $80 a team for the senior competition.
In the junior competition, if a participant cannot make it to all of both days, they are welcome to form a team of four and have two speakers alternate days/debates, as long as three speakers are present for each debate.
Registration details
- Teams can be registered by schools at the actdu.com.au homepage (as for major competitions), each school will receive an invoice after registering teams
- Individual students are able to register by filing in an online form and depositing registration fees into the ACTDU bank account. They will then be put into a team
Individual registration online form.
To keep up with new ACTDU competitions and training events, like our Facebook page.
