At each AIDA Championship, there is a meeting of AIDA Council, which comprises one delegate from each participating University, and all members of the AIDA Executive. Each delegate shall have one vote.

AustralAsian Council, Easter Council and Women’s Council govern the operation of their respective Championships. AustralAsian Council is also the Annual General Meeting of AIDA. It is the highest decision making body in AIDA and governs the Association’s operation.

While the members of the AIDA Executive sit on Council, they may not vote and may not sit as an AIDA delegate representing a member institution.

AIDA council meetings are open to all participants at the Championship.

Preliminary and Main Meetings

Each championship will have a Preliminary and Main Council Meeting. The Preliminary meeting will be convened on the opening day of the tournament, prior to the commencement of the preliminary rounds of debate. It will determine eligibility disputes or constitutional disputes which require immediate attention. This meeting will also set an agenda for the next main meeting.

The Main meeting takes place after the conclusion of the preliminary rounds of debate and prior to the final rounds. The Main meeting may deal with any matter related to debating or the Constitution.

The agenda for the Main Council meeting will include:

1. the report from the host university of the previous year (including financial statement)
2. ratification of minutes from previous Council meeting
3. a report from current host university, including reports from the Convenor, Tournament Director, Treasurer and Chief Adjudicator
4. the Women’s Council report
5. reports from the AIDA Executive office bearers to Council (Secretariat and Vice-Presidents)
6. issues arising from last year’s minutes
7. AIDA policy and issues
8. the selection of a host for the following year, and acceptance of pre-bids for the year following that
9. proposed Constitutional amendments on notice
10. business without notice (including all constitutional motions which have not satisfied the notice requirements); and
11. the election of a new Executive

AIDA recognises the outstanding contributions of certain individuals by granting them life membership of the Association.  Life members do not have voting rights at Council meetings, but are accorded the respect due to the contribution they have made to debating in AustralAsia (and beyond).

Life Members of the Association:

• Clayton Long (1991)
• Greg Hunt (1991)
• Rufus Black (1991)
• Catherine Dunlop (1994)
• Simon Banks (1995)
• Ray D’Cruz (1997)
• Praba Ganesan (2002)
• Tim Sonnreich (2005)

AIDA welcomes new members from across the region.

The debating association of any tertiary education institution in Australasia is eligible to be a member of the Association provided:

• the association pays the annual registration fee before the main council meeting in the given year; and
• the institution is listed in Schedule III of the AIDA Constitution; or
• the Executive has provisionally admitted the institution to membership for one year.

There will only be one debating association recognised from each institution. If more than one association seeks membership, the Executive will decide on the eligibility to be a member and this will be subject to approval at the next meeting of the Council.

Membership Fees

The Annual Registration Fee has been set by AustralAsian Council at AUD$50 per member.

The fee can be paid at the AustralAsian Championship, (in which case it must be paid before the main AIDA Meeting) or at any time to the AIDA Secretariat. Please contact the AIDA Treasurer regarding payment of fees.

What if my institution is not listed in Schedule III?
Any institution not listed in Schedule III can apply to the Executive for provisional admittance for one year. The decision of the Executive will be reviewed by Council at the following Council meeting.

Usually, it is straightforward process getting provisional membership.

In some circumstances, complications arise where more than one debating association from any one tertiary institution seeks membership. In such circumstances, an institution not listed in Schedule III must prove to the Executive and to Council that it is significantly different from any existing institution listed in Schedule III. The following is a list of guidelines by which difference between institutions may be assessed, but Council will retain discretion:

• a substantially different university administration or student organization, and a distinct identity
• a separation by significant geographical distance, such that attending trials would involve a considerable amount of travel
• a different degree awarding institution

All applications for provisional admittance should be forwarded to the AIDA President.

Current Members

The following institutions are Schedule III institutions or were recognised at the Austrasian Council Meeting in July 2007. Please let us know if we've left anyone out.

Assumption University
Ateneo de Manila University
Auckland University
Australian National University
Canterbury University
Charles Sturt University
DAE
Delhi University
Deakin Universtiy
FLTRP
Griffith University
INTEC
International Christian University
International Islamic University
International Medical University
Keio University
Macquarie University
Massey University
Monash University
Multimedia University (MMU)
National University of Singapore
Nanyang Technological University
Otago University
RVCE
Santo Thomas
Temasek
Universitas Indonesia
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
Universiti Putra Malaysia
Universiti Teknologi Mara
Universiti Teknologi Mara Melaka
Universiti Teknologi Mara Penang
Universiti Teknologi Mara Arau
University of Adelaide
University of Melbourne
University of the Phil., Diliman
University of Queensland
University of Sydney Union
University of Tasmania, Hobart
University of Tasmania, Launceston (UTL)
University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)
University of Western Australia
Victoria University of Wellington

The Executive is responsible for carrying out the aims of AIDA during the course of the year, including

• Distributing information about AIDA and its tournaments
• Administering the AIDA Adjudicator Accreditation system
• Assisting host universities in the fulfilment of their duties

The executive is elected for a one year term, and the Secretariat (the President, Secretary and Treasurer) must all come from the same university.

The Executive for 2008-09 is:

President: Nicole Lynch (Melbourne University)
Secretary: Duncan Campbell (Melbourne University)
Treasurer: Seamus Coleman (Melbourne University)
Vice President (Adjudication): Logandran Balavijendran (Chung Ang University)
Vice President (Women’s Affairs): Fiona Prowse (Monash University)
Vice President (Australia): Victor Finkel (Monash University)
Vice President (Asia East): Li Feng Tan (NUS)
Vice President (Asia West): Vibhu Sharma (NUJS)
Vice President (New Zealand): Chris Bishop (VUW)

Are you interested in running for the Executive?
Executive Members are elected annually by the delegates constituting AustralAsian Council. AustralAsian Council meets the day after the conclusion of the preliminary rounds of the AustralAsian Championships.

The only exception to this rule is the Vice-President of Women’s Affairs, who is elected by the Women’s Council meeting at the AustralAsian Championships.

To be eligible, a candidate for election must be enrolled as a student of a tertiary institution which is a member of the Association. Furthermore:

• the President, Secretary and Treasurer must attend the same University
• the Vice-Presidents shall not be from the same university as the Secretariat
• the Vice-Presidents of Asia East, Asia West, Australia and New Zealand must be students in the region which they represent
• the Vice-President of Women’s Affairs must be female

Past Executives:

2007-2008

President: Tom Gole (UQ)
Secretary:
Treasurer: 
Vice President (Adjudication): Ravi Prajapati (Assumption)
Vice President (Women’s Affairs): Divya (NTU)
Vice President (Australia): Nicole Lynch (Melbourne)
Vice President (Asia East): Kandahar (MMU)
Vice President (Asia West): Unfilled.
Vice President (New Zealand): Chris Bishop (VUW)

 

2006-2007
President: Chris Bishop (VUW)
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Vice President (Adjudication): Balloons (MMU)
Vice President (Women’s Affairs): Nicole Lynch (Melbourne) and Claire Lindsay (Monash)
Vice President (Australia):
Vice President (Asia East):
Vice President (Asia West):
Vice President (New Zealand):

2005-2006
President: Maryam Jahanshahi (Melbourne)
Secretary:
Treasurer: Tim Washington
Vice President (Adjudication): Rob Leeds (UQ)
Vice President (Women’s Affairs): Adiba Shareen (UT Mara)
Vice President (Australia): Sam Roberton (Adelaide)
Vice President (Asia East):
Vice President (Asia West):
Vice President (New Zealand):

2004-2005
President: Logandran Balavijendran (MMU)
Secretary: Suthen Tate Thomas
Treasurer: Sumithra Rajendra
Vice President (Adjudication): Maryam Jahanshahi (Melbourne)
Vice President (Women’s Affairs): Carina (Monash)
Vice President (Australia): Sam Roberton (Adelaide)
Vice President (Asia East): Jess Lopez (MMU)
Vice President (Asia West): Shameem Reza (Dhaka U)
Vice President (New Zealand): Sayeqa Islam (Victoria)

2003-2004
President: Paul Tan (NUS)
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Vice President (Adjudication):
Vice President (Women’s Affairs):
Vice President (Australia):
Vice President (Asia East): Logandran Balavijendran (MMU)
Vice President (Asia West):
Vice President (New Zealand):

2002-2003
President: Michael Smith (Monash)
Secretary:
Treasurer: Amanda Wolthuizen
Vice President (Adjudication): Logandran Balavijendran (MMU)
Vice President (Women’s Affairs):
Vice President (Australia):
Vice President (Asia East):
Vice President (Asia West):
Vice President (New Zealand):

 

The AIDA Constitution, in its present form, was adopted in 1997.  Since then, it has been amended to reflect the changing needs of the AustralAsian debating community and to adapt to new situations.

The current constitution can be found by clicking on the link below.

Jurisdiction of Council

Australs Council governs the operation of the AustralAsian Championship and the Association itself. It has the power to apply, interpret or amend Parts One, Two and Five of the AIDA Constitution.

Easters Council is the body which governs the operation of the Easter Intervarsity Debating Championship. Easter Council has the power to apply, interpret or amend Part Three (Easter Intervarsity) of the AIDA Constitution.

Women’s Council is the body which governs the operation of the Women’s Championship and has the power to apply, interpret or amend Part Four (Womens Intervarsity) of the AIDA Constitution.

Constitutional Amendments

Amendments to the Constitution must be passed by at least two-thirds of the appropriate Council.

There must be at least 21 days notice before the relevant Council meeting provided to member institutions for all proposed amendments by the AIDA Secretary.

Where a member institution proposes an amendment to the Constitution, they must notify the Secretary 28 days prior to the relevant Council meeting, to ensure that the Secretary can meet the notice requirement.

The notice provision may only be waived by the unanimous consent of the delegates present at the Council.