FreeDebate Enabling Day 2013

FD held its Annual Enabling Day, drawing participants from a diverse range of backgrounds including those with teaching, coaching, public speaking, debating, volunteer and partnership interests.

Experienced FD and guest speakers covered topics such as advanced manner tactics, how to introduce novices to debating and activities to encourage public speaking.  The session concluded with a group challenge activity addressing team dynamics as well as a Q&A session with 2013 Worlds Universities Debating Championships winner, Nita Rao.

Annual General Meeting

Free Debate held its AGM today, reviewing its activities over the last twelve months and electing a new committee including Fiona Prowse (Immediate Past President), Ajay Kevat (President), Jacqueline Duong (Vice President), Lynne Featonby (Secretary), Nicole Franklin (Treasurer) and Rob Koh, Sam Greenland and Carmel Wallis in committee member positions.  Special congratulations to Sam and Carmel who are joining the committee for the first time.

Enabling Day 2011

Free Debate's annual Enabling Day aims to build skills, enthusiasm and capacity in our membership and partner organisations.

This year's Enabling Day was attended by teachers from interested organisations, FD members and new recruits to the FD cause. 


Melodie Potts Rosevear, CEO of Teach For Australia was this year's guest speaker and we'd like to thank TFA for generously letting us their premises for the day.


FD provided an introduction to the FD method as well as sharing of powerful teaching techniques and experiences. The day also included a negotiation skills workshops and practical tips on how to engage with other parties and organisations successfully.


FD's AGM followed the Enabling Day, with both new and old faces set to lead the organisation into the next year.

Save the Date - FD Enabling Day - Saturday 17 September 2011

11.00am to 3.15 pm
Saturday, 17th September 2011
Level 1, 103 Flinders Lane, Melbourne (next to ACDC Lane)

Free Debate is a group of current and former debaters who use their debating powers for good, helping foster free and fair debate with a focus on helping the under-priveleged, under-represented, and under-prepared. Free Debate’s work ranges from assisting new migrants with public speaking and advocacy skills to working with school student debaters in some of Melbourne’s most disadvantaged schools.

FD's Annual Enabling Day is a fun interactive few hours where you will

• Learn FD's methods for coaching debating and public speaking;
• Learn some practical skills like negotiation, leadership and organisational theory;
• Meet world class debaters and coaches
• Get signed up to help with FD's fun and life-changing activities.

RSVP by e-mail

Free Debate Enabling Day

Free Debate's annual Enabling Day aims to build skills and enthusiasm in our membership.

This year's highlight was guest speaker Lisa from VASS.  Lisa spoke about the work Free Debate does with VASS and gave us some valuable advice on how to approach the projects.

President Elizabeth Sheargold welcomed new members then Tim, Lucia and Kim gave a seminar on the 3C's (Confidence, Content and Clarity) and Victor led the group through some voice exercises.

Please contact us if you would like to know more about this year's Enabling Day.

Free Debate Enabling Day 2

 Free Debate's second annual Enabling Day built on the success of last year's membership and training day. This year's highlights were guest speakers Melanie Tedja (new member) and Tim Sonnreich (Committee consultant).

President Kim Little welcomed new members with an introduction to Free Debate's history, aims and objectives, and then Rob Koh delivered a short presentation on the preparation, delivery and follow-up involved in all Free Debate projects.

Please contact us if you would like to know more about this year's Enabling Day.

Free Debate Enabling Day

Free Debate's inaugural Enabling day (held on March 3rd) was all about providing our members with the know-how to put together and deliver Free Debate programs.

Kim kicked off proceedings with 'How to Present';
Tim followed up with 'How to Debate';
Bek facilitated a discussion on 'How to Organise' (put together by Bek and Kylie); and
Rob rounded off the day with the innovative and informative 'How to PowerPoint'.

For those on the receiving end, there was a lot to absorb. But our participants proved themselves highly capable when we set them the task of putting together a hypothetical Free Debate program plan. The results were thoughtful, comprehensive plans that would each be a fantastic starting point for a program.

A big thankyou to those who put so much effort into preparing the presentations, and to all participants for your engagement and feedback. We hope to run a similar training day again soon - we'll keep you posted!

Welcome New Members

Free Debate held a function to welcome over 15 new members. Our new members will help us provide more and a greater range of Services.

Tim Sonnreich Honoured

The Monash Association of Debaters (MAD) honoured Free Debate member Tim Sonnreich with Life Membership at their 2005 AGM reflecting his long and distinguished service to the Association.

You can find out more about Tim's debating career with MAD here.