Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition
This competition encourages primary school students to explore ideas of multiculturalism in Australia while they practise their public speaking skills and improve their confidence.
Latest news
All the local finals will be running in the last 4 weeks of Term 2, and we've already emailed pretty much every school about where and when they're competing in 2025. If you still need a copy of that information for your local final email [email protected] as soon as you can and we'll get you a reply. You can read more about how things work below, and you can also access that information as a PDF by downloading the 2025 Multicultural Perspectives Information Guide (PDF 1.44 MB).
For the students competing we recommend you check out the 2025 Multicultural Perspectives Speaker Advice (PDF 4.37 MB). As the name suggests it's full of tips for how to give the best speeches you can in the competition!
Certificates
We know a lot of students write speeches for the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition at school level and compete to be chosen as a representative. The students who are chosen will receive participation certificates on the day, but for the ones who contribute at school level teachers can acknowledge their work with this 2025 Multicultural Perspectives Participation Certificate (PDF 989.98 KB). Use that link to download the certificate and you'll be able to type in your student's name and school.
Finally, for speakers who have represented their school at a local final and come home with a certificate they need to add their details to, you can download this Name and school template for certificates (PDF 760.51 KB). It's a blank page with spots where you can delete the words 'Name?' and 'School?' and add those details so that when you run the certificate through the printer they come out in just the right spot. Definitely do a test print first!
Best of luck to all the competitiors for a cracking series of 80 local finals!
Competition information
Welcome to the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition! For 30 years, this competition has encouraged primary school students to explore multiculturalism in Australia while they practise their public speaking skills and improve their confidence. Every year, around 2,000 students are chosen to represent their schools in the local finals, which in 2025 will again be running live and face-to-face all around the state (though there will, of course, be the option to compete online if the nearest final is too far away or your students have a date clash). Best of luck to everyone – we can’t wait to hear your ideas!
- Who can enter the competition?
- How do schools enter the competition?
- How much does entry cost?
- What are the 2025 prepared speech topics?
- What are the speaking requirements?
- What are the rules of the competition?
- Additional support for students
- What are the adjudicators looking for?
- Can we appeal the decision?
- How does the competition run?
- What are the prizes?
- Who are the organisers of the competition?
- Watch past finals
Who can enter the competition?
The Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition is open to all NSW government primary schools. The competition has 2 different age divisions – one for Years 3 and 4 students and one for Years 5 and 6 students. Schools can enter up to 2 contestants in each of the age divisions, totalling 4 contestants overall.
How do schools enter the competition?
You can enter the competition using the red button above. Entries should be submitted before close of business on Friday 21 March 2025. Please ensure that you include contact details for the teacher who will be looking after the entry.
How much does entry cost?
The entry fee for the competition is $25.00 per contestant, which means a maximum of $100.00 per school. Schools will automatically be debited for this amount once they submit their entry form. Please advise your school’s finance department that this will occur, and note that fees are due on entry and can’t be refunded even where students subsequently withdraw.
What are the 2025 prepared speech topics?
| 2025 Years 3 and 4 topics | 2025 Years 5 and 6 topics |
|---|---|
| Learning together | Learning together |
| Sport brings people together | Diversity and inclusion |
| What makes a good leader? | Multiculturalism and politics |
| The same but different | Sport – welcome to the club! |
| Watch your language! | Peace and trust |
| Colour matters | Names matter |
| When does a migrant become an Australian? | Everyone has a story |
| Welcome! | What happens there matters here |
| Learning from the past | Technology and multiculturalism |
| No hate – just mates | Rebuilding |
| How far have we come in 30 years? | How far have we come in 30 years? |
What are the speaking requirements?
In each stage of the competition, contestants deliver both a prepared speech and an impromptu speech. For the prepared speech, contestants must choose a topic from the supplied list. Speeches should engage with topics around multiculturalism. The chosen topic statement can be used as a starting point to explore a range of perspectives.
The impromptu speech will be based on a general, non-multicultural theme. Contestants will have 5 minutes to prepare, using only blank palm cards and paper.
The speaking times are outlined below. Note that speakers are expected to finish at or just beyond the official speaking time, and it will be considered poor timing to reach the continuous bell.
| Division/speech | Warning bell | Speaking time | Continuous bell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years 3 and 4 prepared | 2 minutes | 3 minutes | 4 minutes |
| Years 3 and 4 impromptu | 30 seconds | 1 minute | 1 ½ minutes |
| Years 5 and 6 prepared | 3 minutes | 4 minutes | 5 minutes |
| Years 5 and 6 impromptu | 1 ½ minutes | 2 minutes | 2 ½ minutes |
What are the rules of the competition?
Other than the entry rules and speaking times detailed above, it should also be noted that contestants are not allowed to use any props or external aids such as Powerpoint presentations during their speeches. They are encouraged to speak from palm cards and must present without the use of a lectern or microphone. Finally, a reminder that the prepared speech must explore multiculturalism.
Additional support for students
The Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition is an inclusive competition. If, for whatever reason, your students will require support to enable them to participate, please contact the Speaking Competitions Officer so that we can assist.
What are the adjudicators looking for?
The adjudicators will make their decision based on the matter, manner and method of the speakers. They will expect contestants to be confident and engaging, and will prefer speeches which balance personal opinion with information, and personality with sincerity. The prepared speeches need to show an understanding of multiculturalism, but the impromptu speeches do not. Finally, adjudicators will give equal consideration to the prepared and impromptu speeches. More detailed advice will be available here shortly for speakers to download.
Can we appeal the decision?
The adjudicator's decision is final. The adjudicator will be available after the event to discuss their decision and give further explanation and feedback, so speakers should make sure they allow a little extra time to stick around and ask any questions. If speakers or teachers still need further clarification or to make a complaint about any aspect of the competition us the Speaking Competitions Complaints Form.
How does the competition run?
Schools will likely need to conduct their own internal competition to select their 2 representatives for each age division. Next we’ll let you know the date and venue of the local final we’ve assigned you to. Local finals will run in the last 4 weeks of Term 2 at host schools, but we’ll hold online finals in early Term 3 for speakers who can’t travel to their nearest final or miss out because they’re ill on the day. The winners of local finals will proceed to regional finals which will be held in the second half of August. Regional winners will go on to compete at the state finals which will run in late October for Years 3 and 4 and then mid-November for Years 5 and 6.
What are the prizes?
All contestants involved in the competition will receive a certificate acknowledging their participation. Certificates of congratulations will then be awarded to all local and regional winners. State finalists will receive a silver medallion and an ACCO Artline prize pack, and the state winners in each division will receive a gold medallion and a perpetual trophy.
Who are the organisers of the competition?
The Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition is organised by the Arts Unit and the Multicultural Education team, both from the NSW Department of Education. The competition is made possible by the funding of the Multicultural Education team.
Watch the 2024 state finals
Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition 2018 – Promo
Duration: 2:29
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The 2025 Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition is proudly supported by the department's Multicultural Education Team and Prize Partner, ACCO Brands Australia and Venue Partner NSW Teachers Federation.
All Arts Unit programs are inclusive. If support is required to participate in the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition, please email [email protected] so that we can assist.
