2025 Speech Competition | Robert Menzies Institute

Speech Competition 2025

“If truth is to emerge and in the long run be triumphant, the process of free debate, the untrammelled clash of opinion must go on.”

– Robert Menzies

Outline

The Robert Menzies Institute Speech Competition is a program for secondary students in Australia to practice oratorical skills in a speech relating to the legacy of Australia’s longest-serving Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies. Robert Menzies was well-known for his powerful speeches, including the Jefferson Oration, delivered on US Independence Day at Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia in 1963. Sir Robert Menzies spoke often of the importance of a good speech: “Aim at simple, clear speech, and if you aim at that and achieve it, you will find that this will make a very great difference right through your lives.”

2025 Theme

How important is respectful debate to the health of a democracy?

You must refer to Robert Menzies’s involvement in advancing debate through his actions and policy.

Key Information:

Prepare, practice, record and upload a speech addressing the 2025 theme. You must refer to Robert Menzies’s involvement in advancing debate through his actions and policy.

Finalists will be selected and invited to deliver their speeches at a live event in August 2025.

Year 7/8 Category: 3-5 minutes

Year 9/10 Category: 4-6 minutes

Year 11/12 Category: 5-7 minutes

Download Free Speech Competition Poster

Judging

Speeches will be judged on:

Preparation
Subject matter
Structure
Delivery

Students must provide a hardcopy of the speech and supporting notes to show their research and include a list of references.

The speech must engage directly with the theme and demonstrate strong argumentation with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.

Students will be judged on their use of confident and appropriate language that is clear and audible to the listener.

Helpful Resources

Provided is a document that offers useful resources that may be referenced in delivered speeches in order to link to Robert Menzies’ actions and legacy.

Speech Competition Resources

Located below are additional resources to assist in successfully delivering and writing speeches.

Tips for public speaking
Resources for speech structure

Submission

Submissions open in January 2025.

Previous Winners

2022 Winner: Ysmene Ostik-Smith (Wesley College)

To see Ysmene’s speech visit: 2022 winning speech

2023 Winner: Vasish Vaisreddy (Melbourne High School)

To see Vasish’s speech visit: 2023 winning speech

2024 Winner: Thomas Maguire-Nguyen (Salesian College)

To see Thomas’ speech visit: 2024 winning speech

Prizes

Year 7/8 Category: major cash prizes + $200 worth of Connor Court Books

Year 9/10 Category: major cash prizes+ $200 worth of Connor Court Books

Year 11/12 Category: major cash prizes + $200 worth of Connor Court Books + invited to deliver their speech at the Robert Menzies Institute Annual Conference in November 2025.

Further information

The Robert Menzies Institute values the privacy of all entrants. Written permission will be sought from the entrant and their guardian/s before any material is published or shared.

If you have any questions, please contact Matthew Allanby at schools@robertmenziesinstitute.org.au