Rostrum Voice of Youth is Australia's premier competition for secondary school aged speakers. It began in 1975 and has improved the speaking skills of hundreds of participants since then.

The competition is conducted in Junior and Senior divisions. Contestants first select a topic from a set list which changes each year. Seniors then prepare an eight minute speech, while Juniors prepare a six minute one. The contestants then deliver this speech in a first round heat. This is held in Mildura around March.
  

In the second and subsequent rounds of the competition, contestants are required to give a three minute short-notice speech, in addition to the prepared speech. If speakers reach the national final, they must compose an additional prepared speech.

The state final is usually held in Melbourne, while the national final is usually held in a state or territory capital city. These finals in held in July. National finalists have their airfares and accommodation provided by Rostrum.
 

The main prizes are perpetual trophies that are held by the winners’ schools and personal trophies that are held by the winners. There are other prizes on offer along the way.

If you are in secondary school, please consider having a go. People from Sunraysia have done very well in the past, even reaching the national final on a number of occasions.

In 2006, this district produced three state finalists and one national finalist. Articles about these competitors appeared in the Sunraysia Daily and made the cover of the Mildura Midweek.

Information on the 2007 Rostrum Voice of Youth competition will be included here when available.

For more information, or to recieve new information as it becomes available, please contact us.