Welcome to the DAV Website
The DAV is a non-profit association which exists to promote debate. It
is the peak debating body in Victoria and runs large competitions for
adults and for schools across Victoria. It provides training and
resources for debaters, teachers and adjudicators.
About the Program
The Junior Secondary Program (JSP) is an introduction to debating for junior secondary students that provides training in the basic skills and structure of debating, and gives students an opportunity to do three 'friendly' debates. The JSP runs over four nights spaced about two weeks apart, running through August, September and October. The first night of the program is a Training Round. Students begin with a 45 minute session with a trainer from the DAV who will explain the basics of making and presenting a case, and responding to the other side. The debaters will then be broken into smaller groups for workshops involving a debating exercise and Q&A session about the basic skills of debating. The remaining three nights of the JSP are debating nights, each of which includes a debate and a debriefing session, extended adjudication or exhibition debate between some of the best debaters in the country.