Queensland Debating Union

The Queensland Debating Union (QDU) is an association which promotes and organises school-level debating in Queensland, Australia. The Union runs an annual training seminar weekend, provides ongoing assistance and presentations for schools which request our assistance, and facilitates the distribution of material relating to debating, coaching and adjudicating. The Union also organises debating competitions and activities between primary and secondary schools within the State. In addition, as the Queensland affiliate of the Australian Debating Federation (ADF), the QDU is responsible for selecting, training and sending a team to represent Queensland at the National Schools Debating Championships. This prestigious national competition is held annually, with the location of the tournament rotating between the Australian capital cities. The Queensland Schools Debating Team has been very successful at these championships, winning most recently in 2005, 2006 and 2010. Trial dates vary depending on the date of the championships in that year, but are generally made available in late February. A board of selectors, typically comprised of Senior A adjudicators, experienced Senior A coaches, former Queensland team or Australian team representatives and Intervarsity debaters, selects the team over a period of several months. The team has a coach and manager selected through an application and interview process, and is assisted by former representative debaters. More information about this process can be found on the State Team page.