Taking the debate to Canberra

A team from Lakeland Senior High School will travel to Canberra to compete in the finals of the 2026 Great Student Debate.

Comprising of Year 8 and 9 students, the team will face off against Hurlstone Agricultural High School from New South Wales.

The Great Student Debate is an annual event that is organised by Seriously Social, an initiative of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.

It forms part of Social Sciences Week (12-20 September), a national program of events aimed to help understand and shape society.

The students from Lakeland Senior High School were thrilled to be the only school from WA to be selected for the debate finals.  

“They are very excited,” said principal Catherine Baron.

“For all of them, it will be their first trip to Canberra, and the first group [to go] from the school.

“[This event will help our students] develop their communicating skills,” said Mrs Baron.

The Great Student Debate is for novices, so the core group from Lakeland Senior High School are all new to debating. There are three main debaters, one reserve and another two more experienced students who will accompany the team in coaching roles.

The event is also a great way for the student coaches to advance their leadership capabilities.

Coaches are preparing the team for finals by helping them speak with confidence, improve their arguments and develop effective rebuttals.

The debaters are keen to embrace the opportunity as they work to improve their listening skills, learn how to think on their feet and build teamwork.

“They also need to develop their research skills [and] their ability to create well-written arguments. Yay literacy!” said Mrs Baron.

This year’s topic, ‘Australian politics is alive and well’, has the students examining Australia’s political landscape in a very real and relevant way.

The team has spoken to local politicians to gauge their thoughts on the topic. And they are meeting regularly to discuss ideas, support each other and strategise about how to counter possible opposition arguments.

They have also been busy fundraising for the trip.