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.
In light of the uncertainty resulting from the recently announced return to stage 3 restrictions, the DAV Executive has made the difficult decision to extend the suspension of all face to face programs to the end of term 3. We will provide a further update reagrding Term 4 when we have more information. Alternatively, regional schools are welcome to register for our online debating competitions. Please visit the main Schools page for more information.
The Debaters Association of Victoria runs Regional Debating Competitions in a number of regional centres across Victoria (and occasionally a competition across the border in NSW). We provide both training and debate opportunities for students residing across Victoria, with experienced adjudicators and trainers. For more information about this program, please download our information sheet.
If your school would like to host a regional debating competition, please contact us at debater@dav.com.au for more details.
Regions:
In 2020, the program will be run in the following regions;
Region | Host School | Training Date | Competition Date | Registion |
Border | Wodonga Middle Years College, Felltimber Campus - 8 Hedgerow Ct, West Wodonga | TBC | TBC | Registration Closed |
Churchill | Kurnai College (cnr Monash Way & Northways Rd, Churchill) | TBC | TBC | Registration Closed |
Echuca / Moama | TBC | TBC | TBC | Registration Closed |
Gippsland | Gippsland Grammar School - Princes Highway, Sale | TBC | TBC | Registration Closed |
Three Rivers Round 1 | St. Mary of the Angels, Chapel St, Nathalia | Thursday 18th February | Tuesday 16th March | Registration Open |
Three Rivers Round 2 | Notre Dame College - 139 Knight St, Shepparton | TBC | TBC | Registration Closed |
Three Rivers Round 3 | St. Mary of the Angels, Chapel St, Nathalia | TBC | TBC | Registration Closed |
Three Rivers Round 4 | Notre Dame College - 139 Knight St, Shepparton | TBC | TBC | Registration Closed |
Hamilton |
Monivae College - 33 Ballarat Rd, Hamilton (Training Day) Hamilton and Alexandra College - 1 Chaucer St, Hamilton (Debating Day) |
Tuesday 10th August | Tuesday 24th August | Registration Opening Soon |
Horsham | Holy Trinity Lutheran College, 25 Trinity Dr, Horsham | TBC | TBC | Registration Closed | Mallee | Trinity Lutheran College (Fifteenth St, Mildura) | TBC | TBC | Registration Closed |
Wangaratta | Cathedral College - 344 Wangaratta-Whitfield Rd, Wangaratta | TBC | TBC | Registration Closed |
Warrnambool | Emmanuel College (Ardlie St, Warrnambool) | TBC | TBC | Registration Closed |
What's involved? :
The program is run over two days. The first is an optional half-day training session for students who have little or no experience of debating. The training session introduces students to debating and covers topics such as the rules and format of debating Australian 3-on-3 debating, methods of preparation and effective debating strategies. Students are also given a opportunities to practice their skills in the lead-up to the competition day, while receiving expert advice from DAV trainers and adjudicators.
The second day is a competition day. 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.
Style:
Australian 3-on-3 style (See the Australasian Debating Guide in the "Resources") - three speakers
debate for each team.
How much will it cost? :
$30 DAV membership fee (if the school has not yet participated in any other DAV activities this year), and $160 per team (between 4-7 students). This fee covers one training session and one competition day.
If you would like your students to attend only the training session, or a second training session, the cost is $TBC per 7 students as well as the $30 DAV membership fee (if not previously paid).
N.B. Due to Commonwealth Government funding, the Mallee Regional Debating Competition is free for all schools.
Why Debate?
Debating is an invaluable skill for students: