Our Programs

Just some of the different programs we're able to offer to schools across Australia.

Public Speaking & Debating Workshops

In-depth workshops that take students through the fundamentals of public speaking or debating with multiple practice opportunities and personalised coach feedback. Content can be tailored to your school’s priorities — for example, focusing on rebuttal techniques ahead of competition season, or building speech structure from the ground up.

Conquering Debating and Conquering Public Speaking programs are perfect for inexperienced groups, with tailored programs available for more experienced public speakers and/or debaters.

Available as a half-day (3-hour) or full-day (6-hour) workshop. Also available as a weekly program (5–8 sessions of 1.5–2 hours) for schools that prefer ongoing coaching rather than a one-off session.

Format Half-day (3 hrs), full-day (6 hrs) or weekly sessions

Group Size Small group to full year group

From Contact us for pricing

Sydney Grammar Al Sadiq Tangara Hurstville Public

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Presentation Skills Seminars

A practical introduction to effective public speaking and presentation skills for larger groups. Covers the fundamentals of speech structure, audience connection, preparation techniques, and the three Ms of public speaking — with built-in practice and feedback opportunities.

Ideal for schools wanting to give a large cohort a practical taste of public speaking. Multiple groups can run simultaneously or across different weeks, making it easy to put an entire year group through the program.

Format One-off 1.5 hour session

Group Size One or more classes of up to 30 students

From $20 per student

Marist Parramatta High School

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Leadership Programs

Designed for students in leadership positions — or those preparing for them. Covers public speaking essentials, audience engagement, leadership styles, persuasive techniques, impromptu speaking, and verbal manner. Helps students develop the confidence and clarity to lead with impact, whether delivering a school assembly speech or chairing an SRC meeting.

Can be delivered as a full-day workshop, a multi-week program (typically six sessions of 1.5 hours), or adapted for specific contexts — for example, a multi-day intensive producing polished group speeches for a school event, or a focused program for incoming SRC captains.

Format Full-day or multi-week (6 x 1.5 hrs)

Group Size Small group to full class

From Contact us for pricing

Tangara Narrabri

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Competition Facilitation

The team at SSA has extensive experience running public speaking and debating competitions. We have encyclopaedic knowledge of everything from judging to topic selection to tabbing (including generating draws) that can be used to facilitate tournaments of any size.

Every competition is different, so please get in touch to discuss how we might be able to assist!

Format Tailored to the competition

Group Size From a single debate to year-long interschool tournaments

From Contact us for pricing

ISDC YouDebate Knox Grammar

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Competition Training

Prepare your students for competition season with targeted coaching from SSA. We offer training programs designed to sharpen the skills students need in a competitive setting — from rebuttal and case construction for debating to persuasion, timing, and delivery for public speaking.

Whether your school competes in interschool debating competitions or public speaking events, we can design a preparation program tailored to the specific format and skill level of your students.

Format Flexible — workshops, weekly sessions, or intensives

Group Size Individual speakers to school contingents

From Contact us for pricing

Tangara School for Girls

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Professional Development for Teachers

Practical seminars for teachers covering how to teach public speaking and debating fundamentals, how to prioritise content across a term, and strategies for managing speaking-focused classroom activities with students of varying confidence levels. Available as a one-off seminar or a short series.

Particularly valuable for regional and rural schools where access to specialist coaching is limited. PD can also be combined with a student program for maximum impact — as we did with Narrabri Public School, where teacher PD and student coaching ran in parallel.

Format One-off seminar or short series

Group Size One or more teachers

From $500 for a seminar

Narrabri Public School

Enquire about this program →

Licensing Lesson Plans

SSA has developed one of the most extensive collections of public speaking and debating coaching resources in Australia, with hundreds of activities, teaching modules, and session plans available. Backed by the SSA Speaking Syllabus — our comprehensive framework for everything public speaking and debating — these resources are designed to help teachers bring out the best in all students, from the naturally outgoing to the quietly reserved.

Bespoke programs backed by the Speaking Syllabus are available for licensing to schools. If you’re looking for structured public speaking or debating sessions that your own teachers can deliver, get in touch to discuss options.

Format Single class licence to full access

Length 6–12 months

From $800 for a single licence

John the Baptist Primary

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School Outreach Program

We’re committed to making public speaking and debating education accessible to all students. Schools in low-socioeconomic areas or those serving vulnerable communities can access our programs at reduced rates. All of our programs are also offered online via Zoom.

If your school falls into this category, please get in touch — we’ll work with you to find a way to make it happen.

Case Studies

At a Glance

Program: Conquering Debating, Conquering Public Speaking and bespoke debating programs
Format: Lunchtime classes each week
Duration: 1-hour weekly sessions

Since June 2025, SSA has been delivering a dynamic in-school debating program for Year 3–6 students at the Edgecliff Preparatory Campus of Sydney Grammar School.

Each week, SSA deploys a team of 5–6 specialist debating coaches to run one-hour on-campus workshops, engaging 50–60 students per session. The program is structured to support students at different stages of development, with tailored instruction for Beginner and Intermediate groups.

Building on the success of the debating program, early 2026 marked the introduction of SSA’s in-school public speaking programs for Year 3 and Year 5 students, further strengthening the school’s communication skills pathway. These sessions focus on confidence, voice, structure, and expressive speaking, supporting students at key developmental stages.

Through consistent, hands-on training embedded seamlessly into the school day, SSA supports students in developing strong foundations in critical thinking, collaboration, and confident communication, demonstrating a scalable and impactful model for whole-school delivery.

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At a Glance

Program: Presentation Skills Seminars
Format: Held annually during the Year 7 induction program
Duration: 1.5 hour sessions

Annually since 2018, SSA has delivered public speaking seminars to the Year 7 cohort at Parramatta Marist High School, providing them with practical skills in speech structure, delivery, and audience engagement.

The seminars have been tailored to the school’s schedule and needs, forming part of their induction program for new students, and have received strong feedback from staff.

“Speaking Schools have run seminars for our boys and the improvement has been outstanding. They catered to our needs and times and were accommodating of all requests. The presenters were excellent and informative. Our students enjoyed the experience and the skills they learnt can be used over their time at school and into the future.”
— Denise Williams, Marist Parramatta

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At a Glance

Program: After-school public speaking and debating programs
Format: Weekly every term after school hours
Duration: 1–2 hour sessions

Since 2023, SSA has delivered weekly after-school public speaking and debating programs for students in Years 3–6, offering students a choice of pathway to suit their interests and strengths.

Led by specialist coaches, the programs have been extremely well received, with students showing clear improvements in confidence, structure, and overall communication skills.

Students from these programs have gone on to win multiple awards at SSA’s Rising Voices Public Speaking Championships and have been selected into the school’s internal debating teams, reflecting the program’s success in developing strong, high-performing communicators.

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At a Glance

Program: The Art of Public Speaking PD Session and Future Leaders Program
Format: Weekly via Zoom
Duration: 1 hour sessions

When Ebonnie Whan, a primary teacher at Narrabri Public School in rural NSW, was given dedicated time to develop public speaking at her school, she faced a challenge familiar to many regional educators: limited access to specialist coaching and extracurricular programs.

Ebonnie found SSA and worked with our team to design a dual program. She completed professional development sessions via Zoom, building her own skills and gaining practical teaching strategies. At the same time, her selected students joined weekly online sessions with an SSA coach (James), who delivered engaging, interactive content via the Future Leaders program.

The results were remarkable. By the end of the program, students were confidently delivering well-structured, polished speeches. They went on to place 1st, 2nd and equal 3rd at their local eisteddfod for public speaking, with one student earning a Certificate of Commendation at the Multicultural Perspectives competition.

“I phoned Chris and we spoke about what I was after for our kids and myself as a teacher and she was able to make a course that suited our needs perfectly. We zoomed in once a week with James, who was so enthusiastic and positive and gave us engaging, interesting and unique content. By the end, they were able to confidently deliver a well-structured, well thought out and interesting speech.”
— Ebonnie Whan, Narrabri Public School

“Our students placed 1st, 2nd and equal 3rd at our eisteddfod for public speaking and one of our students was awarded a Certificate of Commendation at the Multicultural Perspectives competition recently. We are so happy with how they have gone. Thank you for all of your help.”
— Ebonnie Whan, Narrabri Public School

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At a Glance

Running Since: We've been working with ISDC since 2021
Number of Teams: 30 teams across 5 divisions in 2026
Tournament Structure: Up to 9 preliminary rounds, semi-finals & grand finals spread across 7 gala days + make up rounds in 2026

The Islamic Schools Debating Competition began in 2021, and we are proud to have been working with this competition since its inception.

The competition continues to grow, with more rounds added each year, and primary school divisions added for the first time in 2026. All debates are held in-person across multiple gala days, culminating in a grand final gala day held at the end of Term 4 each year. Speaking Schools provides judges, topics and runs the tab site for this competition.

“The team at Speaking Schools Australasia provide us with the invaluable service of managing the adjudicating function of the Islamic Schools Debating Competition. Their responsiveness, adaptability to changing needs and the quality of feedback provided to debaters is a credit to their professionalism.”
— Dr Ozan Angin, Islamic Schools Debating Australia

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At a Glance

Program: Leadership program for school captains
Format: 6 weeks after-school programs for school captains in Years 10–11
Duration: 1.5 hours per week

Since 2023, SSA has delivered a Leadership Development Program in Term 4 for the school’s incoming Captains in Years 10 and 11, supporting students as they prepare to step into formal leadership roles.

The six-week program, delivered after school for 1.5 hours each week, focuses on key skills including public speaking, leadership presence, etiquette, negotiation, and effective communication. Designed to be practical and interactive, the program equips students with the confidence and skills needed to lead within the school community and beyond.

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At a Glance

Program: Weekly after-school public speaking and debating classes for Years 1–5
Duration: 1.5 hours per week; running since Term 2, 2023
Enrolments: After-school programs are fully booked nearly every term

Since 2023, SSA has been running a weekly after-school public speaking program at Hurstville Public School, starting with students in Years 1–2. The 1.5-hour weekly sessions proved so popular with students and families that the program at the school expanded to include students in later primary.

With SSA handling all bookings and a first-aid-trained coach on site each week, parents and teachers can trust that students are learning and developing their confidence in a safe, supportive environment.

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At a Glance

Participants: 11 students from Years 7–10
Event: In-school Preliminary Round of the Rising Voices Public Speaking Championship 2025
Logistics: Held after-school on a Friday afternoon

After years of successful holiday programs at Knox Grammar, SSA was thrilled to collaborate once again – this time hosting the Rising Voices competition for high school students in 2025.

The event ran after school on a Friday, where SSA provided professional adjudication and personalised feedback for each participant. Parents were invited to watch and celebrate their children’s growth in real time.

The results spoke for themselves: three Knox students advanced to the grand finals, with two winning prizes. Beyond trophies, the true success was in the confidence, poise, and connection each student carried forward.

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At a Glance

Program: Debate Competition Training – ISDA and Archdale
Format: Specialist coaching for school debating teams
Duration: Terms 1–3

SSA provides specialist coaching for school debating teams competing in the ISDA and Archdale Debating competitions, offering comprehensive support throughout the season.

A dedicated team of coaches delivers targeted training sessions prior to debates and provides onsite support on competition days, travelling with teams, observing debates, and delivering real-time feedback to refine performance. This integrated approach has raised the overall standard of debating, strengthening argumentation, structure, and strategic thinking.

The program also creates a meaningful leadership and mentoring pathway, with selected senior students progressing into assistant and junior debating coach roles after completing their schooling, supporting the development of future coaches and leaders.

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At a Glance

Running Since: We have been working with YouDebate since 2019
Number of Participants (2025): Debating: 53 teams across 5 divisions. Public Speaking: 48 registered speakers across 5 divisions
Tournament Structure (2026): 3 rounds, a third place play off & a grand final for each division, across 6 debating gala days, 2 public speaking gala days, and 3 training sessions

Speaking Schools has been working with the Australian Universal Federation of Education & Culture to run the YouDebate Competition since 2017. What originally started as one gala day with one division has grown substantially over the years, now operating public speaking, debating and training days from Year 5 up to Year 10, spread out across the year. Each year we welcome schools from across multiple states in Australia and even a school from Papua New Guinea!

YouDebate involves both a debating competition and a public speaking competition. Each debating competition has three preliminary rounds followed by a third place play off and a grand final. The Year 10 competition is run in person, and other divisions are run online.

The public speaking competition also runs from Year 5 up to Year 10, and includes both prepared and impromptu components. The Year 10 event takes place in person, with the other divisions taking place online. Speaking Schools provides judges, topics, a tab site and generates the draw for this competition.

“We have been working with SSA since 2017, running the annual YouDebate competition between AUF schools. They have been organising all the logistics for the competition, and as a result, the organisation of the competition turned out to be a breeze. We will continue working with SSA for YouDebate and will be looking forward to other possible collaborations.”
— Alper Cifti, Professional Learning Coordinator, Australian Universal Federation of Education & Culture

“Mark and his team from Speaking Schools Australasia were wonderful to work with. They gave students thorough and insightful feedback on their speaking skills and always communicated in a positive and coherent manner. Their expertise, organisation, and courtesy were very much appreciated. The students got a lot out of working with you during this competition. Thank you so much, we look forward to working with you in the future.”
— Celia Kemeny, Amity College

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At a Glance

Programs: Licensed two programs for students in Stages 1, 2 and 3
Length: 50 minute lessons over 10 weeks
Focuses: Developing effective speeches, with a particular focus on speaking manner

In 2023, Francine from John the Baptist Primary School in Bonnyrigg Heights reached out to see whether there were any resources available for teachers at the school to run public speaking as part of their Term 2 curriculum. We discussed a range of options that were available, before settling on speaking manner focuses for each of the three stages. Access was provided via the Speaking Syllabus to teachers at the school, with very positive reviews coming from the teaching staff!

“We are all really enjoying the program so far!”
— Francine Bushby, John the Baptist Primary School

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At a Glance

Programs: Conquering Debating, Conquering Public Speaking, Future Leaders and Bespoke Competition Training
Length: One-off half-day and full-day workshops
Age Groups: Years 5–11

Since 2025, SSA has run a number of workshops with Al Sadiq, aiming to help their students develop as public speakers and debaters. In particular, we have run:

Conquering Debating for the Year 6–10 debating teams;
Future Leaders for the Primary School leadership team;
Conquering Public Speaking for the entire Year 6 grade; and
Individual coaching for competitive public speakers in the Lions and Rostrum competitions.

Feedback from the school has been strong, and we’re looking forward to continuing to work with Al Sadiq!

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In-School Programs

Public speaking and debating programs tailored to your school

How We Work With You

Tell Us What You Need

We Design a Program

We Deliver

What's Next

Public Speaking & Debating Workshops

Presentation Skills Seminars

Leadership Programs

Competition Facilitation

Competition Training

Professional Development for Teachers

Licensing Lesson Plans

School Outreach Program

Rising Voices Public Speaking Championship

Hear From Our Schools

Sydney Grammar Prep – Weekly Public Speaking & Debating Classes

At a Glance

Parramatta Marist High School – Presentation Skills Seminars

At a Glance

Tangara School for Girls – Weekly Co-Curricular Program

At a Glance

Narrabri Public School – Professional Development & Leadership Programs

At a Glance

Islamic Schools Debating Competition – Tournament Facilitation

At a Glance

Tangara School for Girls – Future Leaders Program

At a Glance

Hurstville Public School – Weekly After-School Program

At a Glance

Knox Grammar School – Rising Voices Competition

At a Glance

Tangara School for Girls – Competition Training

At a Glance

YouDebate Competition – Tournament Facilitation

At a Glance

John the Baptist Primary School – Syllabus Licensing

At a Glance

Al Sadiq College – Public Speaking & Debating Classes

At a Glance

Want to organise something with your school?Let us know how we can help!

Want to organise something with your school?

Let us know how we can help!