Debaters Association of Victoria
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The Debaters Association of Victoria (also known as the DAV) is a not-for-profit incorporated association dedicated to facilitating effective debate in Victoria, Australia.
The DAV was formed in the late 1920s after an amalgamation of pre-existing debating societies. It is the largest debating body in Australia and is the Victorian affiliate of the Australian Debating Federation. Its Schools Competition, in which more than 10,000 debaters compete each year, is one of the largest debating competitions in the world. The DAV also trains the Victorian Schools Debating Team and runs a variety of school-level debating programs including the Junior Secondary Program and a British Parliamentary tournament.
Beyond school-level debating, the DAV coordinates debating tournaments for adults and provides a range of debating services to the wider community, including adjudication and communication training.
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[edit] Governance
The DAV is an association incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act (1981 (Vic). It is governed by a board of 10 volunteers: President, Vice-President (Adjudication & Training), Vice-President (Schools), Treasurer, General Secretary, two Member Services Officers, Media Officer, Publications Officer and Immediate Past President.
There is in addition an office staff of three, consisting of an Office Manager, Schools Administrator and Training & Development Administrator. The Executive and staff are assisted by Regional Coordinators and a pool of more than 300 adjudicators.
[edit] Schools Competition
The DAV Schools Competition is a debating tournament for high school students in Victoria. Teams of up to 5 members debate in 5 preliminary rounds within one of 19 geographically based regions, and in up to 7 finals rounds. Based on the Australasian Debating Format, the competition is 3-on-3, with no replies or points of information. There are four levels of competition, known as A, B, C and D grades, which generally correspond to year levels 12, 11, 10, and 9 respectively. Debates are usually judged by a single adjudicator, who gives each speaker a mark between 68-82 and awards the debate to either the affirmative or negative team. A full list of competition-winning teams can be found here. [1]. A full list of British Parliamentary Champions can be found here. [2]. At the conclusion of each season, the best speakers in each region and grade are recognised by the presentation of "Swannie Awards", named after Australian debating legend Alan Swanwick. A list of winners is available here. [3]
[edit] Victorian Schools Debating Team
As the Victorian affiliate of the Australian Debating Federation, the DAV is responsible for sending a Victorian team to the Australian Debating Championships, a debating tournament held annually between the eight Australian States and Territories. A volunteer Coach and Assistant Coach select and train the Victorian Schools Debating Team.
The best debaters from the Australian Debating Championships are selected to form the Australian Team to represent Australia at the World Schools Debating Championship.
The members of the Victorian Schools Debating Teams since 2002 are listed below.
2000: Melbourne, Victoria
- Finish: Runners-Up
- Tess Fitzgerald
- Nicolas Mackay (Carey Baptist Grammar School)
- Daniel Piccinin (St. Kevin's College)
- Elizabeth Sheargold (Mac.Robertson Girls' High School)
- Reserves: Tamar Heath (Mac.Robertson Girls' High School), Sarah Kemeny (Mac.Robertson Girls' High School), Will Ross (Carey Baptist Grammar School)
- Coach: Chris Fladgate
- Assistance Coaches: Sarah Kennedy, Cathy Roussow
2001: Sydney, New South Wales
- Finish: National Champions
- Tamar Heath (Mac.Robertson Girls' High School)
- Sarah Kemeny (Mac.Robertson Girls' High School)
- Will Ross (Carey Baptist Grammar School)
- Elizabeth Sheargold (Mac.Robertson Girls' High School) Member of the Australian Team
- Reserves: Ben Naparstek (Melbourne High School), Jeremy Alford (Carey Baptist Grammar School)
- Coach: Cathy Roussow
- Assistant Coach: Sarah Kennedy
2002: Adelaide, South Australia
- Finish: Runners Up
- Jeremy Alford (Carey Baptist Grammar School) Member of the Australian Team
- Tamar Heath (Mac.Robertson Girls' High School)
- Daniel Levan (St Kevin's College)
- Sarah Kemeny (Mac.Robertson Girls' High School)
- Reserves: Seamus Coleman (St Kevin's College), Ben Naparstek (Melbourne High School),
- Coach: Cathy Roussow
- Assistant Coach: Amanda Wolthuizen
2003: Brisbane, Queensland
- Finish: Unknown
- Michael Carne (St Kevin's College)
- Seamus Coleman (St Kevin's College)
- Daniel Levan (St Kevin's College)
- Ben Neparstek (Melbourne High School)
- Reserves: Natalie Devitsakis, Fiona Prowse
- Coach: Amanda Wolthuizen
- Assistant Coach: Michael Smith
2004: Perth, Western Australia
- Finish: 6th
- Seamus Coleman (St Kevin's College)
- Natalie Devitsakis (Presbyterian Ladies' College)
- Daniel McNamara (Melbourne High School)
- Fiona Prowse (St Catherine's School)
- Reserves: Amit Golder, Vivienne Jones
- Coach: Michael Smith
- Assistant Coach: Elizabeth Sheargold
2005: Hobart & Launceston, Tasmania
- Finish: 4th
- Natalie Devitsakis (Presbyterian Ladies' College)
- Vivienne Jones (Mac.Robertson Girls High School)
- Daniel McNamara (Melbourne High School) Member of the Australian Team
- Nita Rao (Presbyterian Ladies' College)
- Reserves: Paul Annabell (Melbourne Grammar School), Kellymaree Butler (Mac.Robertson Girls High School), Nicholas Tam (Scotch College)
- Coach: Elizabeth Sheargold
- Assistant Coach: Jessica Moir
2006: Darwin, Northern Territory
- Finish: 3rd
- Kellymaree Butler (Mac.Robertson Girls High School) Member of the Australian Team
- Vivienne Jones (Mac.Robertson Girls High School) Captain of the Australian Team
- Nicholas Tam (Scotch College)
- James Wilson (Wesley College (Melbourne Campus))
- Reserves: Alexander Chapman, Bernadette Cho, Oliver Coleman
- Coach: Elizabeth Sheargold
- Assistant Coach: Timothy Jeffrie
In 2007, the DAV will host the Australian Debating Championships in Melbourne.
