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.
2025 Competition guidelines
- Prepare your speech for your division’s heat with the provided topic (see below).
- Present your speech at your division’s heat (heats are scheduled for approximately 5.30 pm or 7.30 pm, to be allocated the week before the heat).
- 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: 22 May
Grand Final: 12 June
Intermediate Division (Grades 9–10)
Heat: 8 May
Grand Final: 5 June
Senior Division (Grades 11–12)
Heat: 24 July
Grand Final: 14 August
North Queensland (Townsville and surrounds)
Venue: School House, Townsville Grammar School, 45 Paxton Street, North Ward, Townsville
Junior Division (Grades 7–8)
Heat: 7 May
Grand Final: 12 June
Intermediate Division (Grades 9–10)
Heat: 7 May
Grand Final: 5 June
Senior Division (Grades 11–12)
Heat: 16 July
Grand Final: 14 August
Toowoomba and West
Venue: Edmund Rice Cultural Centre, 80 Hill Street, Toowoomba
Junior Division (Grades 7–8)
Heat: 3 April
Grand Final: 12 June
Intermediate Division (Grades 9–10)
Heat: 3 April
Grand Final: 5 June
Senior Division (Grades 11–12)
Heat: 26 June
Grand Final: 14 August
Please read the terms and conditions, as well as FAQs at this link.
General information
Submissions open: 10 March
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 universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” —Eden Phillpotts*
Prepared speech length: 3 minutes
Impromptu speech length: 2 minutes (Grand Final only)
*This quote is attributed to both Eden Phillpotts and WB Yeats.
Intermediate Division (Grades 9–10)
Topic: “Life is not about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself.” —George Bernard Shaw
Prepared speech length: 4 minutes
Impromptu speech length: 2 minutes (Grand Final only)
Senior Division (Grades 11–12)
Topic: “In matters of style, swim with the current. In matters of principle, stand like a rock.” —Thomas Jefferson
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 phone 0423 295 721 or 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
Heat 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
Heat and Grand Final held at: Seven Hills Hub, 28 Tallowwood Street, Seven Hills, Brisbane
Toowoomba and West
Heat 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.
Competition news
To be published
Sign up and register
Junior Division (Grades 7–8)
To be published
Intermediate Division (Grades 9–10)
To be published
Seniors Division (Grades 11–12)
To be published