Voice Competition

How does Voice work in Tasmania?

Speech Format
The competition is split into two parts — the Pitch and Question Time.

The Pitch:

This is the portion of the competition where participants deliver a prepared speech on one of the topics provided on the topic list. This speech will outline the participant’s original solution to the given world problem contained in the topic they have selected. Students may present new solutions to long-standing problems or new solutions to largely untouched issues. In this section the judging panel will be assessing the ability of participants ability to provide tangible and innovative solutions to the problem at hand, rather than just identifying their chosen issue in the abstract and delivering a call to action.

Students will need to record a video of them delivering their speech and submit that to the Judging Panel in an mp4 file prior to the Video Submission Date (Tuesday 5 October 2021, 11:59PM AEST). All students will be emailed the link to the video submission platform prior to the Video Submission Date deadline.

Question Time:

In this portion of the competition, participants will answer two impromptu (unseen) questions asked by the Judging Panel, lasting for approximately one minute each, on the solution they presented in The Pitch.

Question Time will take place on Zoom. All participants will need to attend one (1) Question Time round. There are ten (10) Question Time rounds to choose from and the registration form will ask students to select all rounds that they are available for. Students will be notified via email which Question Time round they have been allocated to four (4) weeks before that round. Students who register less than four weeks before the date of the round they have been allocated to will receive their round allocation email shortly after registration. Each Question Time round will last for one (1) hour, but students will be given a fifteen (15) minute time-slot within that one hour and will only need to be present on the Zoom call for those fifteen minutes.

Speaking Time
Junior Division (Year 7 and 8): 4 minutes
Senior Division (Year 9 and 10): 5 minutes

Question Time
Junior Division (Year 7 and 8): 1 minute preparation, 2 minutes speaking time
Senior Division (Year 9 and 10): 1 minute preparation, 2 minutes speaking time

Topics
Students will be emailed the set topic list four (4) weeks prior to the Video Submission Date. Students who register less than four weeks before the Video Submission Date will receive their topic list via email shortly after registration. It is encouraged that students register as early as possible so that they have the maximum possible time to prepare for the competition.

Students are to choose one of the topics from the topic list and present a solution to the issue contained in the topic they have selected. The topics are the same for ALL three divisions. Please note that you only need to deliver a speech on one (1) of the topics from the topic list. These Sample Topics from 2016 will provide you with some information on the types of questions Voice asks students to grapple with. 

Question Time Preliminary Round Dates & Times

Each competitor needs to attend one Question Time Preliminary Round. The registration form will ask competitors to select all the dates that they are available for. Students will be allocated into a round by the Convenor and will be notified of their round allocation four (4) weeks before that round. The full list of dates and times can be seen below.

• Thursday 14 October 5pm – 6pm AEDT
• Friday 15 October 5pm – 6pm AEDT
• Saturday 16 October 2pm – 3pm AEDT
• Monday 18 October 5pm – 6pm AEDT
• Thursday 21 October 5pm – 6pm AEDT
• Friday 22 October 5pm – 6pm AEDT
• Saturday 23 October 4pm – 5pm AEDT
• Tuesday 26 October 5pm – 6pm AEDT
• Thursday 28 October 5pm – 6pm AEDT
• Saturday 30 October 3pm – 4pm AEDT

Important Information

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about the Voice Competition and the Judging Criteria to ensure your speech ticks all the boxes.