Debaters Association of Victoria

Members and Schools:
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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.

Schools Competition

Information
Competition Details
- Draws
- Regional dates
- Ladders
- Topics
Finals
- Topics
- Dates
- Draw
VST Trials
British Parliamentary Competition
- Information
Harangue
- Issues

Junior Secondary Program

Junior Public Speaking
- Information

Regional Debating
- Information

Primary Schools Program
- Information

Debate Camp
- Information

The Debaters Association of Victoria runs Regional Debating Competitions in a number of regional centres around Victoria.

Format:
Each team will debate in three rounds. In both divisions, two of the topics will be prepared topic (released with the draw several weeks before the day). The Year 7 and 8 division will include an advised topic, where the subject area of the topic will be released with the draw, but the exact wording of the topic will not be released until an hour before the debate. The Year 9 and 10 division will include a secret topic.

The winner of the competition will be awarded in each division based on number of wins and overall team scores. A "best speaker" award will also be given, based on speaker scores. Winners will be given awards, and all speakers will receive certificates.

Style:
Australian 3 on 3 style (See the Australasian Debating Guide in the "Resources" section of the website) - three speakers debate for each team.

Cost:
$30 DAV membership fee (if the school has not yet participated in any other DAV activities this year), and $100 per team.

N.B. Due to Commonwealth Government funding, the Mallee Regional Debating Competition is free to schools.

Why Debate?
Debating is an invaluable skill for students:

it promotes confidence and effective public presentation
it encourages logical and critical thinking, social awareness and an interest in current affairs
it is multi-disciplinary: debating techniques can be used in all subject areas.
its benefits extend through all aspects of the school curriculum
It is well directed to the "Communication" and "Thinking" domains of VELS. More specifically, it addresses the "Speaking and Listening", "Listening, Viewing and Responding", "Presenting", "Reasoning, Process and Inquiry" dimensions of VELS and VCE English

Regions:

In 2013, the program will be run in the following regions. Dates and venues will be added as they are confirmed.

Echuca- Echuca College , Echuca

Goulburn - Goulburn Valley Grammar School, Shepparton

Border - Victory Lutheran College, Wodonga

Mallee - Chaffey Secondary College, Mildura