The Adam Marshall Medal, named for the TDU's founding President, was created shortly after his retirement from the organisation in 2013. It is awarded each year to the most outstanding College debater.
Established in 2015 the Dean's Medal is presented on behalf of the Dean of Law. It is awarded to the team with strongest case in each grade at the law round, as decided by consensus of adjudicators. These teams were adjudged to have the strongest Matter - compelling arguments and evidence - of any team in their grade during the round.
While the skill of debating also emphasises manner and method, these teams impressed their adjudicators and convinced their audiences on the basis of depth of understanding and articulation of important principles and facts.
This award is sponsored by the University of Tasmania Faculty of Law.
The National Schools Debating Championships (NSDC) are Australia's premier debating competition, coordinated by the Australian Debating Federation (ADF) and held every year in a different Australian capital. Tasmania has hosted NSDC four times, most recently in 2021.
As the sole Tasmanian affiliate of the ADF, the Tasmanian Debating Union selects the state team from a series of selection events held around the state. Tasmania has fielded a team in most Championships, and has won the Championships once, in 1980, and been Runner-Up twice.
The National Schools Debating Championships (NSDC) are Australia's premier debating competition, coordinated by the Australian Debating Federation (ADF) and held every year in a different Australian capital.
The Australian national team is drawn from NSDC, with Tasmania having been represented on a number of national delegations to the prestigious World Schools Debating Championships.
The National Schools Debating Championships (NSDC) are Australia's premier debating competition, coordinated by the Australian Debating Federation (ADF) and held every year in a different Australian capital.
Each year between 2012 and 2025, a number of highly commended speakers were named after the conclusion of the NSDC Grand Final. In 2026, the Australian Squad was expanded from 9 speakers to 12, which subsumed the need for highly commended speakers.
In 2022, 9 outstanding debaters from the National Schools Debating Championships were selected to the Australian Debating Squad, from which the Australian Team to represent the nation at WSDC would be chosen. An Australian Squad was not chosen in 2023 or 2024, but was chosen once again in 2025. Since 2026, an Australian Squad of 12 outstanding debaters are chosen at the conclusion of NSDC and announced after the Grand Final.