Course Overview

Bookings are closed for Term #4 – register your interest to join in 2025 here!

Key Features

Runs over two-hour weekly sessions
Designed for mixed-experience Year 3 & 4 students
An excellent way for students to take their first steps into the world of debating & develop their debating skills
Places an emphasis on practice every session, with multiple practice debates across the term
Follows a similar structure each week – students begin with an activity, run through a new element of content and consolidate with practical speaking tasks
Prioritises a supportive and nurturing learning environment for all students
Utilises small class sizes to ensure that each student has the opportunity to speak and receive plenty of individualised feedback every session

Term Focuses

Whilst Debating Wallabies always covers the essential concepts involved in value debating – cases, arguments and rebuttal – the focus of the program changes every term, with the following emphases for 2024:

Term #1 looks at how to develop Value Cases as a team;
Term #2 focuses on Speaker Roles and how students can best persuade their adjudicators;
Term #3 hones in on Debating Arguments and how to best develop points; and
Term #4 emphasises Policy Debate Fundamentals and how to construct cases for a novel type of topic.

While it’s recommended that students try each of these focuses, and the emphases change each year, there is no particular need to start with any of them, meaning students are welcome to join at any time!

More Information

Discover how our in-person and online programs differ on our FAQs
Learn more about the SSA Credits & Refund policy
Find out more about the type of things students cover in our blog

In debating, there are a range of different types of topics that require different things from both the affirmative and negative. Whilst our Wallabies program predominantly focuses on ‘comparative’ and ‘value’ type topics, in Term #4 students will be introduced to the essentials of the more complex Policy Debates.

In this focus, students will be provided with the fundamentals of these topics, including case construction, developing practical arguments and engaging in effective rebuttal. Because policy topics require students to propose a change about the world, each of these ideas takes on a new flavour, meaning that students get a fresh perspective on debating.

These concepts are then paired with a range of activities and practice debates to help students properly understand and apply everything they’ve been learning in class.

Over the course of the term, students will have the opportunity to:

cover a range of essential ideas that make up ‘policy’ style debating, including devising cases, preparing arguments and delivering rebuttal;
gain lots of exposure to speaking activities, which will help them build confidence and develop good speaking habits and techniques; and
practice their budding skills in a supportive environment alongside peers of a similar age and ability level.

Our Debating Wallabies program is a mixed-level class for students in Years 3 & 4, and aims to help:

Students who have no (or little) debating experience and/or no (or little) public speaking experience;
Students who have already completed one or more terms of Debating Wallabies, as given the focus changes every term, students can continue the program across Years 3 & 4 with no repetition;
Students who have participated in any of our other Term Programs (such as Public Speaking Wombats, Presentation Skills Lions or Presentation Skills Leopards); or
Students who have given our holiday workshops (such as Speaking Camp Koalas or Speaking Camp Kangaroos) a go, and are looking to continue their debating journey!

We usually recommend that students continue with Debating Wallabies throughout Years 3 & 4 – there is a different focus every term, so there’s always something new for students to learn!

Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss what’s best for your child!

Revision of Fundamental Concepts

The program starts with a succinct (but critical) revision of essential concepts, including audience engagement and speech structure.

This helps prepare students for the rest of the program and ensures that everyone starts on a similar level, especially students who have not been exposed to public speaking before.

Policy Topics

Over the course of the term, students will learn about the essentials of policy style debates, which ask the affirmative team to change the world in some way.

This will begin with case structure, and how problems and plans form the basis of all policy style debates. This is then followed by practical argumentation, which refers to the real-world benefits and harms that the proposed plan will cause. The main theory then wraps up by looking at rebuttal, and how to best tackle practical arguments from the other side of the debate.

These concepts will be paired with interactive activities that will be accompanied by constructive feedback so that students can apply what they are learning to gain a deeper understanding.

Practice Debates

In addition to all the theory, students will have the opportunity to participate in multiple practice debates and speaking activities during the term. Each debate will be on a different topic, and students will have the opportunity to speak in different roles each time.

End of Term Presentation

Each term ends with a presentation, either to peers or parents (depending on the venue). This is an excellent opportunity for students to showcase what they’ve learned over the course of the term and continue their confidence-building journey.

Students generally spend the last session or two preparing and practising their debating speeches for the presentation.

Coaches will also provide an update to parents on what was covered during the term, as well as what comes next for the students’ debating journeys.

As a mixed-experience program, our Debating Wallabies program is designed to be completed multiple times – with a different focus every term, there’s always something new for students to take away from the program!

Alternatively, if your child wants to try public speaking, our Public Speaking Wombats program teaches students all the essential skills they need to become great public speakers!

However, if you’re looking for something during a school break, you may want to try one of our holiday workshops, such as Speaking Camp Kangaroos, which builds on the skills learned during the term.

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions, or get in touch using our contact form to learn more!