2026 SCHOOLS' COMPETITION REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
The South Australian Debating Association (SADA) is the sole South Australian affiliate of the Australian Debating Federation, in recognition of the quality of service it provides.
Our goal is to foster and develop students' skills and welcome participation from all schools, whether government or independent.
Our focus is to make the competition as inclusive as possible, providing a welcoming environment for students to hone their skills and build their confidence.
The competition is open for students from Year 5 to 12.
We provide a variety of Education sessions and resources to assist students and coaches to prepare for their debates.
WHY DEBATE?
Debating is a contest of ideas between two teams where the debaters discuss a topic from two opposing points of view.
Debating is an important co-curricular activity that promotes the development of our potential future leaders in an inclusive and supporting environment.
Debating can help students develop
· public speaking skills
· effective communication
· analytical skills
· an ability to work in a team
· improved academic performance.
If you wish to debate in the 2026 Schools' Competition, enter your school's team by Friday 13 March via our Registration Form
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Shelly Wong
ABOUT US
The SADA is South Australia’s leading debating association, providing coaching, adjudicators and education services to people of all ages and abilities. The SADA co-ordinates the State’s largest, longest running schools competition, its' only adults debating competition and the State Debating Team. The patron of the SADA is the Honourable Chris Kourakis, Chief Justice of South Australia.
PROGRAM
Click for more information on the Schools' Competition, SADA Education Evenings and SADA Education Resources.
![[Calling out to all experienced and aspiring adjudicators]
Would you like to be involved with debating and receive nightly honoraria of $100?
Would you like to sharpen your critical thinking, public speaking and knowledge of current events while helping facilitate an intellectual playground for school students?
Would you like to be a part of the SADA debating community with friends and like-minded individuals?
Consider becoming an adjudicator with us!
Register your interest at https://www.sada.org.au/become-an-adjudicator or via link in bio, and attend the training & accreditation night at 6pm, 25 March 2026 at Adelaide University Campus East.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email vpa.sada@gmail.com or send us a DM!](https://scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/649646685_1363987432437583_8832993573671126106_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=QdaL994y4x4Q7kNvwGTtiH9&_nc_oc=AdkGEqpI-tt5V4tvXMtx4WlyNXhwx90HAfHuZt_m8yE-SIUeA6qCCqpSZeyMxr263YQ&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=GsbjFAMsRcoGfx5aAn7nqg&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQFj7Xrp3CxNJqhVd3pv9MVCwoda6hoEbKQMuQZVKz7CUskudWM-GqSQco54700a_RRNFNDIEt1p&oh=00_AfxKoA111ssVY8ZN6cwKGGwJr6U23cMivewjtkMd7_AwfQ&oe=69B8C101)
![2026 Season Update!
The third and final Education Evening, titled Secret Topic Case Construction, POI & Rebuttal Masterclass, will be held on Tuesday 31 March 2026, from 4:30 to 6:00pm in Big School Room, St Peter's College.
This workshop is best suited for Intermediate A, Senior B and Senior A debaters. It is an advanced masterclass focused on high-level rebuttal, avoiding "shopping list" rebuttal, integrated rebuttal, analytical advantage, identifying key clashes, responding to POIs, and preparing for secret topic debates.
Our annual series of Education Evenings are free and led by SADA Education Officers. The sessions are open to all students and school debating coaches in South Australia. They are an amazing gateway for new debaters' introductory exposure to debating or for returning debaters to refresh their knowledge prior to the new competition season.
Register via the link in our bio, or at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/education-evening-3-secret-topic-case-construction-poi-rebuttal-tickets-1984363830635. Registrations close at midnight the day before the session.
[The first and second Education Evenings, on 16 and 24 March respectively, will explore debating fundamentals, junior/intermediate case construction and rebuttal. More details in our previous posts.]](https://scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/645949906_1357078456461814_2533545749266136240_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=xCTMeKdIzNkQ7kNvwGKbpFm&_nc_oc=AdmvIy6PA_vFWjdu8fTiHoHZNkanKKG1cYdGCqPFPXMETEfHVrZgk8bLaMOJDOH5x1o&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=GsbjFAMsRcoGfx5aAn7nqg&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQHURjsEdUdSpl94rdr3_HDbtbf7zhFkS7ADaz-2UhMa2qwJ3nIko7PhoCCNB5CYBmUceFV1k3WI&oh=00_AfyJnMyPhRMXpUuXHDJf43lHwBOsKBpPOFSjbWi-ut7VKQ&oe=69B8CCE6)
![2026 Season Update!
The first out of three Education Evenings, on Debating Fundamentals, will be held on Monday, 16 March 2026, from 4:30 to 6:00pm in Big School Room, St Peter's College.
This workshop is best suited for junior and novice debaters, and will explore the premise of debating, preparation and organisation, scoring basics, the matter-manner-method trilogy, speaker roles and how to construct a team case.
Our annual series of Education Evenings are free and led by SADA Education Officers. They are an amazing gateway for new debaters' introductory exposure to debating or for returning debaters to refresh their knowledge prior to the new competition season. The sessions are open to all students and school debating coaches in South Australia.
Register via the link in bio or at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/education-evening-1-debating-fundamentals-tickets-1984296023823. Registrations close at midnight the day before the session [Update at 4pm 12 March 2026, tickets are sold out.]](https://scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/645817926_1356828356486824_5036439105234774671_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=VXJoWuef5uUQ7kNvwG0jsqY&_nc_oc=AdkaG4AaYblpgsq54rSEWhsnoq3aFVmLJ_iz2p4tVUbzlz-7TZGaNoQuTTyXNct0p7c&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=GsbjFAMsRcoGfx5aAn7nqg&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQFxjEuMuBXrZa3SM0dqX-1mLYV5uwUcjQOftn-pxajoQtuNvPihLCkVREnneNug6wQf12rKOKSq&oh=00_Afy-yHrlKavX-FjXqmoUe7K36O66m6XX2kF_2Aw7A6lotQ&oe=69B8CD3A)
![State Team Update!
4 weeks ago, the 2026 State Team started their training for the National Schools' Debating Competition, to be held in Brisbane this May. Media Officer met them onsite for their second ever training, and felt their fiery passion for debating, how they managed to keep fun the equation around heated discussions on the debate floor and in the prep room, and their delightful team bonds.
[Ansh, Bella, Bhagyashree, Evie, Gigi, Grace and Harry with their coach Max Thomas, former State Team member from 2021 to 2023, who Zoomed in from the Australian Capital Territory.
The team, photographed preparing for and debriefing after their debate on the topic That we should ban under 18s from engaging in K-Pop idol training contracts.]](https://scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/644281445_1356022729900720_1110769335509025253_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=keu8w3QnCCcQ7kNvwEyR96P&_nc_oc=AdnYnnb6wH0AcW4QrIVUg8IRAdSW19a1DMbb63QbfZpL6_2rcdNbBKu7R-msVTJn1II&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=GsbjFAMsRcoGfx5aAn7nqg&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQETmPMfQ-EXKuzX3aPMXxUko1wbZMHLSQKkknNOZ3F9DaF1Chr56nEOLxoR3p0k8BQtJsH_jvvV&oh=00_Afzjy_ncGcHm1JyPhmGj-wsfPfvWscb0FOY2sy_5NbPbPQ&oe=69B8D8C5)
