Invitational Teams

AIDA welcomes the participation of non-Australasian teams and adjudicators in the AustralAsian Championships. Past Championships have seen debaters and adjudicators from North America, the United Kingdom, and South Africa participate.

If you are from outside Australasia and interested in coming to the Championships, please contact the Organising Committee at the earliest opportunity.

Debaters - Restriction on participation
Article 24 of our governing Constitution prevents teams from outside the AustralAsian region contesting the final series.

This means that non-AustralAsian teams can compete in the preliminary rounds, but will be ineligible to make the break. A minimum of 7 preliminary rounds are held at each AustralAsian tournament.

If you have any queries as to whether you are an AustralAsian or Non-AustralAsian team, please contact the AIDA President.

Please note also that teams from outside the AustralAsian region will be subject to normal eligibility criteria, including the affirmative action requirement (one-third of debating contingent must be female). For more information on eligibility, please refer to Articles 22 and 23 of the AIDA Constitution.

Adjudicators:
There are no restrictions on the participation of non-AustralAsian adjudicators at the Championships. Such adjudicators are generally described as “independent” adjudicators.

An Independent adjudicator is an adjudicator who is not or no longer enrolled in a member institution of AIDA.

Independent adjudicators should apply directly to the Chief Adjudicator of the AustralAsian Championships, along with a copy of the debating and adjudication CV.

Independent adjudicators should note that strong preference is given to adjudicators that have passed the AIDA Adjudication Accreditation test. Such accredited adjudicators are also given a discount on their registration fees. Independent adjudicators are welcome to sit the AIDA accreditation test prior to the Championships. To get a copy of the Accreditation package, please email your full name and postal address to the Vice President of Adjudication

Independent adjudicators should note that as per Article 25.3 of the AIDA Constitution, adjudicators are only eligible to be selected for adjudication of the final series if they have adjudicated at least 5 preliminary rounds.

Resources for non-AustralAsian teams:
Except for the rule on definitions, the rules of the AustralAsian Championships are contained in the Australian Debating Federation Handbook. This handbook is currently being put into electronic format, and we hope to have it available on this site soon. This handbook is an extremely valuable resource, and we recommend that all non-AustralAsian teams read it before attending the Championships. To obtain a copy, please contact the Vice-President of Adjudication.

For the definitional rules, please see Article 28 of the AIDA constitution.

All debaters and adjudicators also receive a briefing on the rules on the first day of the AustralAsian Championships.