Welcome

About NSWDU

The New South Wales Debating Union (NSWDU) is an independent not-for-profit organisation that seeks to promote and develop high school debating in New South Wales.

NSWDU selects, coaches and manages the New South Wales Schools Debating Team, which competes at the National Schools Debating Championships every year. In the competition’s 54-year history, NSW has been the most successful state, having won the competition on 21 occasions and been runner-up on another 14 occasions.

The coaches of the New South Wales Schools Debating Team for 2025 are Bennett Roebuck-Krautz & Jordyn Gibson.

NSWDU also holds workshops at schools across the state run by experienced debating adjudicators and coaches who offer their services on a voluntary basis.

NSWDU is an affiliate of the Australian Debating Federation.

NSWDU in 2025

This year, the National Schools Debating Championships will be held in Sydney. The Championships rotate between the state capitals each year.

If you would like to be involved, make sure to register for the state team trials, which will take place on the 1st and 2nd of March 2025. We will also be running workshops on the 22nd and 23rd of February 2025.



NSWDU in 2024

In 2024, the NSW Schools Debating Team competed at the National Schools Debating Championships, held in Adelaide. NSW were the top breaking team and Grand-Finalists, losing to Victoria.

William McCarthy was selected to Captain the Australian Debating Team. Michael Kwak also made the Australian team, with Anhar Kareem selected as a reserve.

We congratulate all the 2024 NSW team members for their hard work and passion! Thanks also to their coaches Udai Kamath and Sophie Shead.

We are looking forward to competing at Nationals once again in 2025!