AMES Students build speaking confidence and debate gay marriage

Over three workshops in September, FD worked with Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES) students to develop their confidence and public speaking skills.

The first session focused on a number of techniques for delivering speeches, including how to build confidence and improve clarity. To consolidate these skills, students spoke about a topic of their choice, with topics ranging from arranged marriages, children on social networking websites, public transport concession cards for international students to how the government can do more to address environmental issues.

The second session on the following Saturday refreshed past learning and finished with a 3-on-3 debate about whether job opportunities were limited for migrants in Australia.

The final session adopted the same approach, with a fiery and exciting debate on gay marriage that considered all sides of the debate in a fair and even manner.

All students improved immeasurably over the three weeks, and FD is looking forward to further involvement with AMES students in the future.

AMES Students debate compulsory unionism

Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES) students attending the organisation's city campus underwent a two-session workshop intensive on confident public speaking and debating led by FD trainers Rob Koh, Ajay Kevat and Kim Little.  The final session culminated in an Oxford-style debate about whether Australia should turn to compulsory unionism.  Speakers from both sides overcame language barriers and their own public speaking fears to make arguments in an impassioned and confident manner.  FD is looking forward to further involvement with AMES students in the near future.

Working with Teach for Australia associates

We are proud to work with Teach for Australia - an organisation dedicated to closing the education gap for disadvantaged kids (did you know that the least advantaged kids in Australian schools lag two and a half years behind the most privileged?).

Our main role with TFA is "train the trainer" - training teachers to coach debating teams and use debating in their classrooms. Sometimes we are also able to help out at an individual school - like Fairhills High School in Knoxfield, Melbourne. Recently one of our most experienced FD trainers, Lynne Featonby, and a TFA associate teamed up and coached a Fairhills junior team to its first victory! Well done to all concerned, especially the members of the team.

Partner Profile: Adult Multicultural Education Services

Over the years, many Free Debaters have had the pleasure of working with the students and teachers at AMES. They are among our most engaged and enthusiastic debaters and public speakers. We are looking forward to running another program for AMES in Term 3 this year. For 60 years AMES has helped new and recently arrived refugees and migrants to settle in to Victoria. AMES teaches English to new arrivals, but also works with the community, business and Government to develop sustainable and effective settlement solutions for the whole Victorian community. We are proud to be a small part of helping AMES achieve its vision: "full participation for all in a cohesive and diverse society".

Copperfield College Debating Day

FD ran a dynamic Oxford-style debate on the topic "That we should introduce compulsory national service for 19-year olds in Australia" to challenge budding new debaters from Copperfield College to take their oratory skills to the next level as part of an integrated Debating Day with the Melbourne University Debating Society. Young speakers from Years 7 and 8 debated in teams through a fast-flowing argument and rebuttal with minimal preparation, thinking on their feet. Impressive! This workshop was led by Kim Little, former World Champion Debating Competition winner, government policy advisor and experienced coach.

Working with AMWCHR

FD ran an action-packed workshop at the Melbourne University Law School in co-operation with the Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights (AMWCHR). Several FD trainers worked with a group of almost forty students from three Melbourne - based schools: East Preston Islamic College, Mount Hira College and the Australian International Academy.

Students warmed up with voice exercises and then spoke enthusiastically about topics such as the injustices of child labour and domestic violence to the power of social media. All students developed the confidence to speak in front of their audience – even those who were adamant they wouldn’t be able to!

FD found it a pleasure to help such passionate students take steps to fulfil their potential, and we look forward to working again with AMWCHR.

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.