Programmes

Schools Debating Competition (SDC)

The WADL Schools Debating Competition (SDC) is the largest and most prestigious secondary school debating competition in Western Australia. The metropolitan competition culminates in September with the annual SDC Grand Final, which sees the top two Novice,  Junior and Senior teams  across the state compete for the title of State Champion for each division. 

Please click these links to access the draw, competition guidelines, postponements and forfeits form and accessibility form.

Regional Schools Debating Competition (RSDC)

The WADL Regional Schools Debating Competitions (RSDC) hosts debating competitions in Albany, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Mandurah and the Southwest. It is WADL’s firm belief that the opportunity to debate should be available to all Western Australian students, regardless of their postcode. We do not accept that the benefits debating delivers to students should be limited to the Perth metropolitan area!

Please contact our Regional Convenor at regional-convenor@wadl.org for more information. 

Edith Cowan University British Parliamentary (ECU BP) Debating Competition

The ECU BP Competition is an exciting opportunity for students to compete in a distinct style of debating, and gain experience in public speaking and critical thinking. Students can also take this unique chance to engage in impromptu debating.

ECU BP debating is held in Term 3 of the school year and consists of four teams of two competing against each other. The competition has two divisions:​

• Cygnets Division (Years 7-9)
• Swans Division (Years 10-12)

WADL Internals Competition

Internals Competitions are intraschool debating tournaments which are adjudicated by WADL adjudicators.

WADL Internals offers the perfect experience for students of all skill sets, whether they are complete beginners to public speaking, or looking to gain a competitive advantage during the interschool debating season. Experienced adjudicators and compelling motions are hand-picked by our Operations Department.

Significantly, choosing to pursue this exciting opportunity to host a school’s internal competition can electrify debating culture within your school walls, promote wider intellectual curiosity and critical-thinking, and consolidate a sense of school spirit.

AHISA Debating Competition

The Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA) Debating Competition is an annual debating competition for schools affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia. The Competition is hosted by Perth College and runs over five weeks in Term 3. AHISA has been used as a great introduction to debating with fun topics and more development focused debating. 

Primary Schools Competition

Our Primary Schools Competition is designed to develop critical thinking and public speaking skills in primary school students. WADL provides primary school students and teachers with development resources, hand-picked topics and adjudicators, and organises competitions between teams in a fun and friendly environment. Please contact our Chief Operations Officer for more information on competitions.

Our specialised presenters are available to run tailored Primary School Seminars which provide students with the skills to start the competition off with confidence. Please contact development@wadl.org for more information. 

WA State Debating Team

WADL is responsible for selecting the state delegation to the National Schools Debating Championships (NSDC), which is the most prestigious secondary school debating competition in Australia. The WA State Debating Team will consist of four of the most exceptional and talented secondary school debaters in Western Australia. The selection program is run by the Western Australian State Team Coaches, who are selected by the Executive committee each year. 

Each year, WADL runs trials to select the 12 members of the Western Australian State Debating Squad. The trials, which are open to all secondary school debaters, consists of a number of exercises and impromptu debates.

Following the Trials, 12 students will be invited to be a part of the squad, which will train intensively throughout March. Following squad training, the final team of four will be chosen, which will then go through another intensive training program before competing in the National Schools Debating Championships. ​

For any questions about our State Team, please email our State Team Coach at  stateteam@wadl.org.