New South Wales
Rostrum’s Student Development Program for Secondary School Students.
The Competition
Rostrum Voice of Youth is a national speaking competition which provides an excellent opportunity for secondary school students to gain experience and confidence in expressing their views and communicating a message. Students first participate in heats held in March 2023, typically in their local area. Heat winners progress to a Regional Final with the winners of the Regional Finals competing in the NSW & ACT State Final in Sydney on Saturday 17 June 2023. State winners compete at the National Final, this year to be held in Melbourne on Saturday 29 July 2023.
2023 NSW & ACT Winners & Runners-Up
- Junior Winner: Akash Enjeti, Merewether High School
- Junior Runner-up: Syricia Rowston, Presbyterian Ladies College, Sydney
- Senior Winner: Jasmine Withford, Newcastle Grammar School
- Senior Runner-up: Sasha Prokhorov, Presbyterian Ladies College, Sydney
2023 Junior Finalists – NSW VoY
2023 Senior Finalists – NSW VoY
NSW VoY Winners 2023
Format
At all levels of the competition, contestants are required to present a prepared speech:
- 6 minutes – JUNIORS (aged 11 years as at 1/1/23 and in years 7, 8 or 9)
- 8 minutes – SENIORS (under 18 years as at 1/1/23 and in years 10, 11 or 12)
In addition, at the Regional Finals and the State Final, contestants present a 3 minute short-notice speech (with preparation time of 15 minutes). The heats do not include a short-notice speech.
Heat & Regional Final Topics for 2023
| JUNIOR PREPARED TOPICS (Years 7-9) | SENIOR PREPARED TOPICS (Years 10-12) |
| A Change Worth Making | Voice For The Voiceless |
| Harmony | Rite Of Passage |
| Opportunity Knocks | Shifting Gears |
| A Gift That Keeps Giving | Lost In Translation |
| Behind The Lens | Diamond In The Rough |
Topics for the State & National Final are available here.
Venues for the heats
| Tuesday 7 March 2023
Junior and Senior Heats |
Montgrove College, Orchard Hills (Penrith region)
4.30pm, 6.00pm |
| Wednesday 8 March 2023
Junior and Senior Heats |
Ascham School, Edgecliff
4.30pm, 6.00pm, 7.30pm |
| Tuesday 14 March 2023
Junior and Senior Heats |
St Patrick’s College, Campbelltown
5.00pm, 6.30pm |
| Wednesday 15 March 2023
Junior and Senior Heats |
Merewether High School (Hunter region)
5.00pm> |
| Tuesday 21 March 2023
Junior and Senior Heats |
Santa Sabina College, Strathfield
4.30pm, 6.00pm, 7.30pm |
| Tuesday 21 March 2023
Junior and Senior Heats |
Radford College, Bruce (ACT region)
5.00pm |
| Wednesday 22 March 2023
Junior and Senior Heats |
Pymble Ladies’ College, Pymble
4.30pm, 6.00pm, 7.30pm |
| Tuesday 28 March 2023
Junior and Senior Heats |
Smith’s Hill High School, Wollongong
5.00pm |
| Thursday 30 March 2023
Junior and Senior Heats |
Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta
4.30pm, 6.00pm |
How to enter
| Details for the 2024 competition will be published early in the new year. Details of heats and entry details will be provided at that time. |
Supporters
NSW Rostrum thanks our Voice of Youth supporters:
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| Easts Leagues Club | The Rotary Club of Northbridge | ivyO.org |
Enquiries
If you have any questions regarding NSW Rostrum Voice of Youth please contact the organisers:nswvoy@rostrum.com.au