Korowa's Year 12 Student, Alice, served as Captain of the Australian Debating Team at the recent World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC) in Panama.
As Korowa’s own Debating Captain, Alice has been at the forefront of our school’s growing debating culture, a program that builds confidence, sharpens critical thinking, and fosters community across year levels. Guided by the leadership of Head of Debating, Paul Stewart, Korowa students are seizing opportunities to test their ideas on state, national, and international stages.
The WSDC, the world’s most prestigious high school debating competition, brought together more than 60 national teams to debate issues spanning international relations, economics, and sport. Under Alice’s leadership, Team Australia delivered an outstanding performance, finishing second globally behind India.
Alice's History as part of the Australian Debating Team
Alice’s success on the global stage has been years in the making. Last year, as the only Year 11 selected for the Australian Debating Team, she travelled to Serbia and competed with distinction. This year, she had to re-qualify for her place and, through hard work and resilience, she once again secured her spot. She went further still, applying for and being appointed Captain of the national team.
This leadership role required Alice to work alongside her peers under immense pressure, balancing the weight of expectation with the drive to compete at the highest level. We are proud that Alice has been appointed Captain of the Australian team. Yet Alice is the first to point out that debating is never a solo pursuit; she credits the strength, skill, and determination of her teammates for every success.
A Korowa leader on the world stage
Alice’s achievements embody the values at the heart of Korowa: courage, curiosity, and integrity. From standing out as one of the youngest members of the Australian Debating Team, to leading her peers at the World Schools Debating Championships in Panama, she has proven that a powerful voice combined with determination can open doors on the world stage.
Her journey is a powerful reminder to our community that leadership is not about avoiding challenges, but about facing them with courage and conviction.
We congratulate Alice on her outstanding accomplishments as Captain of the Australian Debating Team and look forward to seeing where her voice will take her next.
