About NSWDU

The New South Wales Debating Union (NSWDU) is an independent not-for-profit organisation that seeks to promote and develop high school debating in New South Wales.

NSWDU selects, coaches and manages the New South Wales Schools Debating Team which competes at the Australian Schools Debating Championships every year. In the competition’s 41-year history, NSW has been the most successful state, having won the competition on 15 occasions and been runner-up on another 10 occasions.

NSWDU also holds workshops at schools across the state run by experienced debating adjudicators and coaches who offer their services on a voluntary basis.

NSWDU is an affiliate of the Australian Debating Federation.

NSW Wins 2011 Nationals

The NSW Schools’ Debating Team has won the National Championships, held this year from 22 to 29 May in Perth.

The was Emma Johnstone (c), Year 12, Tara Anglican School, Bo Seo, Year 11, Barker College, Evie Woodforde, Year 12, Abbottsleigh and Harry Stratton, Year 12, Sydney Grammar School. They defeated Queensland in a 5-2 split decision in the Grand Final, negating the topic ‘that we should intervene militarily in Syria’. Bo Seo was awarded the Chris Erskine Medal for Best Speaker in the Grand Final.

NSW lost only one debate during the tournament, finishing with eight wins, and 26 of a possible 30 judges in the rounds and finals.

Bo Seo and Emma Johnstone were selected in the Australian Schools Debating Team that will contest the World Schools Debating Championships in Dundee, Scotland in August 2011 and Cape Town, South Africa in February 2012.