Debaters Association of Victoria

DAV Women's Competitions are back!

Students register individually and are allocated to teams for an exciting day of secret topic debates. All competitions start with a training session led by some of the DAV's best female trainers.

Click below for more details and to register now!

https://dav.com.au/schools/womens

The DAV is seeking applications for our Student Advisory Council (SAC). The SAC will be made up of 8-10 secondary school students aged 16 an over who will not turn 18 before 1 February 2027. Members will represent a range of school sectors and geographical areas.

The council will provide their perspectives on DAV programs and policy including rule changes, topic areas, training content, inclusivity and access.

The council would "meet" once or twice a year (in person or via Zoom) as well as discussing issues arising via email or collaborative documents. Preference will be given to applicants who are available to attend the first meeting on Sunday 19 April at Kathleen Syme library in Carlton.

Apply via the form below by 5pm Sunday 22 February 2026
https://forms.gle/kzLR9fwD2vsCZNiw6

Adjudicator training is running in person and online all through January and February!

Click here to sign up now: https://forms.gle/AfqULWMcNaiS3h8i8

Registration for our summer holiday program is closing on Friday 16th January (but we are likely to reach capacity earlier than the deadline).

This program will include a combination of skills sessions focusing on preparing for topics, case construction, and argument construction, as well as matter sessions discussing affirmative action, technology, and public vs. private ownership.

Full details here: https://dav.com.au/schools/debate_camp

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Debating is one of those lifelong skills that builds confident communication, critical thinking, and the ability to engage respectfully, reason persuasively, and navigate complex ideas in various situations throughout life, with the ability to confidently state your point of view and defend it when challenged takes resilience, planning and self-assurance.

As part of Strathcona’s co-curricular program, students in Year 7 and 8 can participate in the Debater’s Association of Victoria (DAV) Junior Secondary Program which includes training and friendly debates, aimed at developing their skills before they proceed to the further competitions in Year 9.

We’re extremely proud of students, Zoe and Emily (Year 8) who recently won the Debating Association of Victoria (DAV) Junior British Parliamentary Competition, highlighting their outstanding dedication and commitment to preparation they’ve undertaken throughout the year. Unlike other competitions, the British Parliamentary Competition demands advanced strategic thinking, quick reasoning, and confident public speaking to a secret topic, which has to be planned without access to technology.

These enriching opportunities encourage our girls to step outside their comfort zone and challenge themselves, so if you’re looking for a school that empowers your daughter to be unstoppable, contact out Admissions Team on 8779 7500.

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Congratulations to Year 10 debaters Lakithi, Ashley and Abigail who recently won the Debaters’ Association of Victoria C Grade Grand Final.

The team won 10 consecutive debates and beat 353 other teams in the state to take out top spot.

What an incredible achievement!

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STATE CHAMPIONS!

Congratulations to Year 12 students Skye, Eva, Ethan, Magnus and Jemimah on winning the A Grade Debating Association of Victoria (DAV) Grand Final – Wesley's first A Grade win in decades!

The team secured victory by 3 points to 2 against Melbourne High School, one of Victoria's debating powerhouses.

The team progressed through five initial rounds, then seven knockout rounds to reach the Grand Final. Along the way, they defeated formidable opponents including Scotch College in the semi-final and Melbourne High in a closely contested final – both schools renowned for debating excellence.

The DAV Competition, which 250 schools compete in, tests critical thinking, public speaking and quick reasoning under pressure. Teams receive their ‘secret topic’ just an hour before their debate and must prepare a compelling argument and live rebuttal, without computers or reference material, for a panel of five judges and a live audience.

For the Grand Final, Wesley argued the negative side of the topic: ‘We would prefer a world where it is impossible to lie’.

The victory is the result of years of hard work. The team has debated together at the senior level since Year 10, and competed at A Grade since Year 11, maintaining broad general knowledge and keeping up with current affairs to tackle diverse topics.

Debating Team Manager, Ewan Brown, highlighted one of the key strengths of Wesley's championship team: 'Our team is coeducational, which brings a range of perspectives and creates more nuanced arguments. They approach topics more holistically, examining issues from many angles.'

Coach Olivia Camillin (OW2023) said, ‘I am so incredibly proud of this team for the unending hard work they put into debating this year. Each member of the team worked tirelessly to make this win possible. They are constantly improving, and their work has paid off!’

🏆 STATE-WIDE SWANNIES WINNERS 2025 🏆

Huge congratulations to these four outstanding individual speakers!

🏆 2025 BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY WINNERS 🏆

Massive congrats to our three winning schools!

🏆✨ Huge congratulations to all the schools that participated in the Schools Competition 2025! Your hard work and dedication have truly paid off.

And a big shout-out to the winners and runners-up! Your achievements are a testament to your passion and excellence! 🌟👏

The Schools Competition Grand Finals will be running tonight at Caulfield Grammar School, 217 Glen Eira Rd, St. Kilda East. Spectators are welcome to attend the A and B Grade Grand Finals to be held in the Cripps Centre. Please note that the other debates in the Hepworth Centre are in classrooms and spectators should only be those supporting the participating teams.

The schedule is as follows:

6:15pm - Junior BP Grand Final - Hepworth Centre
Loreto Mandeville Hall 1
Loreto Mandeville Hall 2
Strathcona Girls Grammar 1
Combined Team 2

7pm - D Grade Grand Final - Hepworth Centre
Ballarat Grammar School 1 v Melbourne Grammar School 1

7pm - B Grade Grand Final - Cripps Centre
Huntingtower School 1 Melbourne Grammar School 2

8pm - C Grade Grand Final - Hepworth Centre
Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School (McNab) 1 v Huntingtower School 4

8pm - A Grade Grand Final - Cripps Centre
Wesley College 1 v Melbourne High School 1

Good luck to all participating teams tonight.