08 April 2026
Three public secondary school students will represent Western Australia at the 2026 National Schools' Debating Championship in Brisbane next month.
Mia (left) and Avani (right) are ready to put their arguments to the test at next month's national competition.
Mia Saranovic and Avani Rooprai, both from Perth Modern School, along with Ethan Tan from Applecross Senior High School, earned their spots on the WA team through a tough selection process.
The squad was selected after students from across Perth took part in multiple impromptu debates over a full day of trials.
An extended squad trained together on Sundays before the final team of four was chosen. Making up the team is a student from Guildford Grammar School.
Avani, who has been part of the state squad for three years, said she was "ecstatic" when she found out she had made the team.
"I feel privileged to be [part of the state team] even with the immense pressure that comes alongside it," she said.
Ethan said that beyond competing, there’s more that keeps him invested in debating.
Ethan Tan says it’s the supportive community that keeps him on the debating circuit.
"The best thing about debate is the community," he said.
"Debaters (when they're not debating) are some of the loveliest, most conversational, and friendliest people and are always willing to help their friends and opponents alike."
Mia said it was exciting to represent the state.
“It’s exciting to represent the state in something I enjoy and am good at, and to get to be a part of a team with other really talented and motivated people working towards the same goal,” she said.
“A typical debate prep is an individual brainstorm followed by a group one, and then working together to prioritise points, step them out and build a case together.
"Just consuming the news and having a wide scope of knowledge helps the most."
While having a strong general knowledge base is important, public speaking ability is another major aspect to debating skilfully. Just after prep time but before a debate commences, Ethan uses that time to steady himself.
"I practice breathing techniques to calm myself down and focus on the debate and only the debate," he said.
The championships also serve as the selection process for the Australian Schools Debating Team, which will compete at the World Schools Debating Championship.
Australia finished runner-up at the world championship event in Panama last year.