The Australian Debating Federation
The Australian Debating Federation (ADF) is the peak body for school debating in Australia. We are a non-profit body run by volunteers, supporting programs run by our affiliates in each state and territory in Australia. These affiliates administer the premier debating competitions in their respective States and Territories. The ADF provides support to affiliates running debating programs in their local area. In total, almost 30,000 students from around the country participate in our affiliates’ activities.
The ADF also oversees the annual National Schools Debating Championships (NSDC), which represent the highest level of schools debating in Australia. At the conclusion of NSDC, five debaters are selected to represent Australia at the World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC). These debaters are trained and supervised by the ADF.
On our website, you can find out information about our role, resources to assist you in running debating programs in your school, and contact details if you are interested in learning more about debating.
what is debating?
Debating is a structured exercise in argument between teams. Teams are randomly allocated to one side of a topic, and are asked to persuade an adjudicator that their side of the topic is right. Debating training imparts lifelong skills to students, including confidence in speaking in public to peers, an ability to logically make and assess arguments, and a willingness to engage with, and learn from, those with different opinions.
former debaters
Many well-known Australians were previously involved in the National and World Schools Debating Championships, or took up debating at university. Mathematician and media personality Adam Spencer competed at the National Schools Debating Championships in 1986. Television host Andrew O’Keefe was a member of the Australian Schools Debating Team in 1989. Prime Ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Julia Gillard have credited their involvement in debating as a way that they learned to understand new ideas and arguments.
our history
The Australian Debating Federation was founded to promote high school debating in Australia. Since 1988, Australia has participated in the World Schools Debating Championships. The Australian Schools Debating Team is selected and trained by the ADF. The ADF also oversees some aspects of the National Schools Debating Championships, which involves representative debating teams from each state and territory in Australia. NSDC is an annual competition, dating back to 1971.
Australia: The World’S MOST SUCCESSFUL DEBATING NATION
Australia has historically been the most successful country at the World Schools Debating Championships, having won the competition nine times, and been a runner-up a further five times. At the university level, fifteen Australians have been named as the Best Speaker at the World Universities Debating Championships, which are the world’s largest debating competition.