Our volunteers have prepared these free resources to support coaches and students in developing their debating ability.
The Matter File
Being a debater means you think about the world we live in! Need some ideas or things explained? Check out this page for simple and thought-provoking resources about the world around us.
News
It’s a great idea to read the news regularly! Make sure to get your information from trusted sources. Here are a few non-partisan outlets (outlets which have no political affiliations) to check out!
Australian Parliament
This is where decisions are made in our government! Our parliament is made up of politicians who make laws to represent the people and Australia.
ANZUS
This is a military alliance signed between Australia, New Zealand, and the US to agree to side with each other in any international war or conflict.
The Commonwealth
This is Britain’s former empire with independent member states who maintain ties of cooperation, keeping the monarch as a symbolic head.
The United Nations
This is a global organisation designed to maintain world peace, encourage cooperation, protect humans rights, fight poverty and provide aid.
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a military alliance mainly between the US and European states who have agreed to protect each other.
The EU
The European Union works together on trade, policing, and economics. Shared passports makes travel across borders easy for its European citizens.
African Union
The AU is a continental body which sees African states unite to defend their sovereignty and promote African interests, diplomacy and cooperation.
ASEAN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations promotes regional economic, political, and social cooperation among its Asian member states.
G8
The Group of 8 is a group of powerful nations who meet annually to discuss ways to solve global issues such as security, energy and terrorism.
World Trade Organization
This body encourages global trade by establishing trade agreements between countries, making trade rules and settling economic disputes.
International Criminal Court
This is a court which investigates and attempts to bring to trial individuals who commit genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
World Health Organization
This is a UN agency which is responsible for fighting disease, coordinating health responses and providing medical advice.
World Bank
This is an international institution which provides money paid by member states into loans and grants to poorer countries for development.
The IPCC
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change researches the effects of climate change and suggests ways to adapt, respond, and problem-solve.
US POLITICS
The US is a world power whose every move draws the eye of the world.
SCIENCE
New technology, development and research raises ethical questions and pushes humanity to its limits.
THE LAW
Our justice system is made up of judges, lawyers, courts, prisons and the police who follow the law and administer justice.
ECONOMICS
Money and finance affects real people in real ways in our society.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
The traditional custodians of this land deserve respect.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Global affairs and learning about different countries is really important for thinking about key issues.
AUSTRALIAN POLITICS
We are a representative democracy, constitutional monarchy and federation of states with our own Prime Minister.
POLITICAL SPECTRUM
Politics involves a wide range of views. The political spectrum looks at how standpoints view our world politically, socially and economically.
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Acknowledgement of Country.
The Western Australian Debating League acknowledges the traditional custodians throughout Western Australia and their use of verbal communication as a source of collaboration and truth. The League pays its respects to all members of the Aboriginal communities and their cultures; and to Elders both past and present.
Western Australian Debating League 