As always, our students engaged in the Debating Association of Victoria (DAV) Inter-School Debating program, fielding 14 teams in the Senior Competition and another four in the Junior Competition. They engaged deeply with ideas, issues, and perspectives that matter. We completed a wonderful season, with two Year 9 teams making it through to the second round of finals, and Year 10 student Belinda Lim winning the coveted Swannie Award.

On home turf, our Year 12 students also won The Greenway Cup (a long-standing competition between Ivanhoe Girls’ and Ivanhoe Grammar) for the second consecutive year, showcasing our students’ passion and commitment to debating. Our representatives included Debating Captain Mily Ruiz, Drama Captain Nicolette Stavridis, and Sport Captain Fiona Finch, alongside their research associates, Zoe Koufalas and Connie Bai.

Mily Ruiz, in her capacity as Debating Prefect, was wonderful this year, bringing added joy, fun and vibrancy to the House Debating Program. Staging outdoor events, she asked the hard-hitting questions of our House Debating teams about what colour really is the truly the most special – and in turn changed debating into an interactive and dynamic experience that will encourage everyone to try debating!

Debating nurtures curiosity, encouraging students to question assumptions, explore multiple viewpoints and investigate topics with rigour and openness. The program demands bravery and the courage to speak publicly, to defend ideas under pressure, and to respectfully challenge others while remaining open to learning and growth. The Ivanhoe Girls’ Debating Program is a lived experience of our School Values!

Ms Amanda Baker
Debating Coordinator