Debaters Association of Victoria

School debating in Australia is primarily organised by The Australian Debating Federation and its eight affiliates. The focus of the debating year is the Australian National Schools Debating Championships, at which the team that is to represent Australia at the World Schools Debating Championships is selected.

The Australian Debating Federation is a body that oversees schools debating at a national level in Australia.

The ADF has eight affiliate organisations representing the eight states and territories of Australia. The eight affiliates rotate hosting the annual Australian National Schools Debating Championships (NSDC), which is contested by eight teams selected, trained and managed by each of eight state and territory affiliate associations.

Over 28,000 students across Australia take part in debating events organised by the ADF and its affiliates each year.

The ADF has an Executive Committee which is responsible for the Federation's administration and the development of debating on a national level. The Executive is elected at an AGM comprising representatives from each affiliate organisation, held annually during the NSDC.

The Australian Debating Federation holds an annual Australian National Schools Debating Championships. The championships, which are contested by eight teams of high school students from each of Australia's eight states and territories, date back to 1971. The tournament uses the World Schools Debating style, and each debate is adjudicated by three nationally-accredited adjudicators (with five for the preliminary final, and seven for the Grand Final).

While team selection methods vary from state to state, debaters are generally chosen through trials and workshops held by their state's affiliate to the Australian Debating Federation. Each team consists of four members and (generally) two reserves who may or may not elect to accompany the team to the NSDC tournament. Teams typically train intensively for 3–5 months prior to the tournament.

The tournament is held annually over 8–10 days, roughly rotating around the state and territory capitals. Teams compete in a seven-round competition, with each team debating each other once. At the end of these rounds, the four top-performing teams progress to the final rounds, where they compete in semi-finals, a preliminary final, and a Grand Final.

During the NSDC, five outstanding individual debaters are selected by the chief adjudicators to form the National Schools Team which represents Australia at the World Schools Debating Championships. Australia has a record of exceptional performance at the WSDC, at which it has won a record eight Championship titles.

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