Summer School with the Australian Karen Foundation

Over 2 days at the beginning of the year, Free Debate trainer Lynne Featonby attended the English Language Summer School of the Australian Karen Foundation in Werribee.

A class of 15 youths and adults, originally from Burma, added to their English language skills through several sessions of public speaking and argument training. The students prepared and presented speeches to the group, engaged in group discussions about government policies and displayed great improvements in their confidence and abilities!

The sessions were very enjoyable for the students and trainer. Free Debate thanks Kiemi Lai, Engaged Communities Coordinator at the Western Bulldogs who recommended us. Free Debate also thanks Kath Cooney from Foundation House, who ran the Summer School Programme.

Confidence training for Asylum Seekers

In line with Free Debate's commitment to assisting the under-privileged, Free Debate ran a training course for asylum seekers. The purpose of the course was to assist asylum seekers to develop confidence and clear public speaking skills.

The course ran on Wednesay nights for four weeks at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Free Debate trained 12 newly-arrived asylum seekers from countries such as Sri Lanka, Cameroon and Pakistan. Participants debated several topics including a thorough and interesting debate on the merits of prisoners being able to vote. The group also recieved practical training on negotiation skills and engaged in useful training exercises.

Free Debate looks forward to new opportunities to work with asylum seekers. Also, many thanks to the participants, Michelle Newton and the ASRC for their help in this collaboration.

Monash Radio Interview

Free Debate's Lucia Pietropaoli and Rob Koh took part in an interview on Radio Monash's "The Dirt" as a follow up to our help with the Refugee Week Exhibition Debate back in July.

We were also lucky enough to be joined by participants Cuc and Meseret and organiser Kiemi Lai from the Western Bulldogs' Engaged Communities.

Click here for the interview (for a short time only!)

Youth Parliament!

Free Debate trainers Lynne Featonby and Kim Little assisted teams representing the Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre and the Victorian Arabic Social Services to prepare for the sitting of Youth Parliament.

The Spectrum Team of 6 participants proposed a bill to increase and tailor the provision of English language services to children and young people who have recently arrived in Australia. The VASS team, also numbering 6 members, prepared a bill to tighten restrictions in advertising, particularly regarding alcohol and sexual imagery.

Both teams worked hard on their bills and overcame anxiety and nerves to display real improvements in their presentation skills in only a few weeks. The Spectrum team succeeded in securing the passage of their bill. Both teams enjoyed their participation in Youth Parliament and a member of the Spectrum team received an honourable mention for her speech.

Free Debate congratulates both teams on their hard work, progress and achievements. Free Debate thanks Hala Abdelnour at Spectrum MRC and Lisa Tribuzio at VASS for their enthusiasm and support of their teams.

Hiroshima & Tokyo Debate Seminars

Building on the success of the recent Spring Seminar2008, and with the generous support of the Australia-Japan Foundation, Free Debate sent coach Rob Koh to Hiroshima and Tokyo.

Rob assisted delivering a one-day introductory seminar to local and exchange school students in Hiroshima, debating the very serious topic That This House Would Abolish the Death Penalty.

Following attendance at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony on 6 August, Rob attended the Tokyo International Academic Conference on Argumentation and then the Takadate Cup, a freshman university tournament hosted by Keio University, where Rob was a last minute entrant in the competition!

Finally, Rob conducted a 3-day Intensive Debate Camp (IDC) for university level debaters (pictured above), teachers and the Japanes National Schools Team, covering topics including economics, politics and cross-cultural communication. The camp was a great success and also allowed Rob to do some shopping in the famous Shimokita district!

Please contact us if you were a participant of IDC9 and would like a soft copy of the materials.

Free Debate would like to thank the generous support of Masako Suzuki for organising this itinerary and looking after Rob during his stay!

Refugee Week Exhibition Debate

On Friday 20th of June, in celebration of Refugee Week, the Braybrook Community Centre hosted a debate on the topic, "That it is harder for young refugees to make Australia their home than adults"

All of the speakers had come to Australia as refugees, and the audience was given an insight into both the refugee experience and generational difference. Free Debate provided coaches to both teams to ensure that the debate was fair, fun and fast-paced.

In support of the motion was a team of adults: Cuc, Mesert and Duku (pictured with their coaches Roland and Rob). Against the motion were a team of students from Braybrook High School: Monaliza, Bishara and Malaang, coached by Lucia.

One highlight was Duku's impersonation of an image obsessed teenager, right down to the dance moves. Also memorable were Bishara's arguments about how teenagers experiment with drugs and alcohol, each sentence finishing with the statement "not that I do."

The team of students won narrowly and Free Debate would like to congratulate all speakers on an engaging and informative debate. Free Debate would also like to acknowledge the hard work and grace under fire of Kiemi Lai, Engaged Communities Coordinator of the Western Bulldogs and roving interviewer on the night of the debate.

Free Debate Financial Accountability Principles

Free Debate is a not-for-profit organization.

Free Debate will employ high standards of prudence, probity and record-keeping in all financial dealings.

1. Free Debate will administer any tied gifts, donations or grants fairly and transparently, including clear communication with both donors and recipients;
2. Free Debate will ensure that we receive value for money and minimise costs (e.g. obtaining quotes) when incurring expenses;
3. Free Debate will generally reimburse such expenses on presentation of acceptable receipts, but the Committee may authorise other expenditure (e.g. advances) where justified.