Building confidence and communication skills for tomorrow’s leaders
Our annual ESU Secondary School Public Speaking Competition builds confidence and communication skills in our potential leaders. Now the most extensive public speaking competition across Queensland, students compete in the regions of South-East Queensland, Toowoomba and West, and North Queensland.
Click here for South-East Queensland competition information.
Click here for Toowoomba and West competition information.
Click here for North Queensland competition information.
2026 Competition guidelines
- Prepare your speech for your division’s heat with the provided topic (see below).
- Present your speech at your division’s heat in your competition region (South-East Queensland, Toowoomba & West or North Queensland – please see the Education Queensland region map for where you should enter according to your school location.)
- Adjudicators will choose finalists to continue to the Grand Final, who will be given a new topic to prepare.
- Finalists deliver the new prepared speech and impromptu speech (2 minutes for Junior and Intermediate Divisions, 3 minutes for Senior Division) at the Grand Final in Brisbane.
Each student will receive valuable oral feedback on the speech presentation night. Friends, family and school staff are all welcome as audience members.
Prize money is awarded to the Grand Final winners in each division.
Heat and Grand Final dates
South-East Queensland (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast)
Venue: Seven Hills Hub, 28 Tallowwood Street, Seven Hills, Brisbane
Junior Division (Grades 7–8)
Heat: 21 May
Grand Final: 11 June
Intermediate Division (Grades 9–10)
Heat: 7 May
Grand Final: 4 June
Senior Division (Grades 11–12)
Heat: 23 July
Grand Final: 13 August
North Queensland (Townsville and surrounds)
Venue: School House, Townsville Grammar School, 45 Paxton Street, North Ward, Townsville
Junior Division (Grades 7–8)
Heat: 6 May
Grand Final: 11 June
Intermediate Division (Grades 9–10)
Heat: 6 May
Grand Final: 4 June
Senior Division (Grades 11–12)
Heat: 22 July
Grand Final: 13 August
Toowoomba and West
Venue: Edmund Rice Cultural Centre, 80 Hill Street, Toowoomba
Junior Division (Grades 7–8)
Heat: 23 April
Grand Final: 11 June
Intermediate Division (Grades 9–10)
Heat: 23 April
Grand Final: 4 June
Senior Division (Grades 11–12)
Heat: 25 June
Grand Final: 13 August
Please read the terms and conditions, as well as FAQs at this link.
General information
Submissions open: 23 February 2026
Cost of submission: $20 (all divisions, covers both heat and Grand Final participation)
Speakers are expected to be in attendance for the entire heat in which they are allocated. For the Grand Final, attendance is expected for the entire evening.
See links above for further information, including each competition’s heat times.
Junior Division (Grades 7–8)
Topic: “The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said.” – Peter Drucker
Prepared speech length: 3 minutes
Impromptu speech length: 2 minutes (Grand Final only)
Intermediate Division (Grades 9–10)
Topic: “The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller.” – Steve Jobs
Prepared speech length: 4 minutes
Impromptu speech length: 2 minutes (Grand Final only)
Senior Division (Grades 11–12)
Topic: “I raise up my voice – not so I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard.”– Malala Yousafsai
Prepared speech length: 5 minutes
Impromptu speech length: 3 minutes (Grand Final only)
Accessibility policy
The ESU (Qld) is committed to ensuring our events are accessible and inclusive for competitors and audience members. If adjustments or accessibility support are needed, please email publicspeaking@esu.org.au to arrange.
Prize categories
Senior and Intermediate Divisions
Grand Final Winner: $350
Grand Final Second: $250
Grand Final Third: $150
Junior Division
Grand Final Winner: $250
Grand Final Second: $150
Grand Final Third: $100
Specific locations for each region
North Queensland
Heats held at: School House, Townsville Grammar School, 45 Paxton Street, North Ward, Townsville
Grand Final held at: Seven Hills Hub, 28 Tallowwood Street, Seven Hills, Brisbane
The first-place winners of the North Queensland competition receive financial support to compete in the Grand Final in Brisbane.
South-East Queensland
Heats and Grand Finals held at: Seven Hills Hub, 28 Tallowwood Street, Seven Hills, Brisbane
Toowoomba and West
Heats held at: Edmund Rice Cultural Centre, 80 Hill Street, Toowoomba
Grand Final held at: Seven Hills Hub, 28 Tallowwood Street, Seven Hills, Brisbane
The first-place winners of the Toowoomba and West competition receive financial support to compete in the Grand Final in Brisbane if required.
Sign up and register
Junior Division (Grades 7–8)
Please register through Humanitix at https://events.humanitix.com/host/esuqld
Intermediate Division (Grades 9–10)
Please register through Humanitix at https://events.humanitix.com/host/esuqld
Seniors Division (Grades 11–12)
Please register through Humanitix at https://events.humanitix.com/host/esuqld