Think clearly. Speak confidently. Hear the other side.
The Debate Makers is a six-week introduction to debating for children aged 9 to 13. In a small, supportive group, they learn how to turn an opinion into a clear case, listen to another point of view and respond with confidence.
Dates and price are being set. Register and you will hear from us before places open.
Who it’s for
01Before you register
For children with plenty to say, and those building the confidence to say it.
Your child does not need to be outspoken, or to have debated before. Whether they already love speaking in front of others or need a little more encouragement, there is a supported way in. Across six Sundays they practise how to:
- Turn an opinion into a clear argument
- Support an idea with reasons and examples
- Listen closely to another point of view
- Respond thoughtfully rather than simply disagree
- Work with a team and speak in front of a group
How the course works
02Every SundayThey start speaking from the very first Sunday.
Each week introduces one skill, then gives them time to try it. Speeches start short and guided, and grow as the group does.
Warm up
A quick, low-pressure speaking game gets everyone involved.
Learn one skill
The coach introduces one part of debating through a clear, age-appropriate example.
Build the case
Children work in teams to organise their ideas and prepare what they want to say.
Debate
Every child has a speaking role and the chance to put that week’s skill into practice.
Reflect and improve
The group talks through what worked, and each child leaves with one piece of written feedback.
Feedback covers three areas: ideas, delivery and structure. We do not announce a winning team. The same three the Debaters Association of Victoria uses →
The six-week journey
03One new skill, one debateWeek 1From opinion to argument
Discover how a debate works and turn “I think…” into an argument that can be explained and supported.
Week 2Building a stronger case
Learn how reasons, examples and evidence make an argument more convincing.
Week 3Listening and responding
Practise finding the most important part of the other team’s case and responding respectfully.
Week 4Working as a team
Learn how to divide ideas, support other speakers and make every speech part of one clear case.
Week 5Speaking with impact
Work on pace, pauses, eye contact and body language, then prepare for the final debate.
Week 6The family debate
Bring everything together in a final team debate, with families invited to watch and celebrate how far the group has come.
Topics are chosen to be age-appropriate and worth arguing. Children sometimes argue a side they would not choose, which is how they end up seeing an idea from more than one angle.
There is no pressure to be the loudest person in the room.
What they leave with
04More than a certificateSix weeks of their own work, and the habit of speaking up.
- A team debate behind them every single week
- Practice at building, explaining and answering an argument
- A final debate delivered in front of an audience
- Six weeks of ideas and feedback in their Case Book
- Prompt cards and tools they can use again
- A certificate recognising their progress
The people in the room
05Group size and safetyA small group with plenty of speaking time.
Capped at eight
Eight at most, so everyone has a real speaking role and the coach can give individual feedback every week.
A coach, and one of ours
Led by our debating coach, with a La Vita Nova team member in the room throughout. We will publish the coach’s name, photograph and experience here before enrolments open.
Everyone working directly with the group holds a current Victorian Working with Children Check and follows our child safety policies. Read our child safety commitment →
Course details
06The first cohort- Format
- Six consecutive Sundays, booked as one complete course
- Session length
- 90 minutes, with a slightly longer final session for families
- Experience
- No previous debating or public-speaking experience needed
- Location
- La Vita Nova, 51a Grosvenor Street, South Yarra
- What to bring
- Nothing. All course materials are supplied
The first cohort is coming soon
We are finalising the dates and price now. Leave your details and we will send you everything before enrolments open publicly. Nothing is booked and nothing to pay.
Join the first cohort list
Under a minuteYour details come straight to us and are never shared. See our privacy policy.
Looking for a school, community or private group program? Enquire here →
Good to know
Questions, answeredDoes my child need debating experience?
Not at all. The course begins with the basics and introduces one new skill at a time.
What if my child is nervous about speaking?
That is completely okay. Children begin with short games, guided preparation and supported speaking roles. Confidence is built gradually rather than expected from the first week.
Can we book one Sunday?
The Debate Makers is booked as a six-week course because each week builds on the one before it. Our Sunday art workshops, Masters in the Making, are the opposite: every one is complete on its own.
Will my child choose which side they argue?
Not always. Learning to understand and explain a different point of view is an important part of debating.
Is there a winning team?
The children debate properly, but we do not announce a winner each week. Feedback focuses on their ideas, delivery and structure.
Do families attend every week?
Regular sessions are just for the children and the program team. Families are invited to the final debate in week six.
When will dates and pricing be announced?
Everyone on the first cohort list will receive the details before enrolments open publicly.
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