Our SAAY Public Speaking Competition
The ‘Our South Australian Aboriginal Youth’ Public Speaking Competition (Our SAAY) was developed to elevate the voices of Aboriginal young people in a formal capacity, allowing them to strengthen and showcase their public speaking skills in front of their families and communities.
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OUR SAAY 2026 – Expressions of Interest Now Open!
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people across South Australia are invited to take part in OUR SAAY 2026 – Public Speaking Competition.
Applications Open: Monday 2 March EOI Due: Friday 3 April Video Speeches Due: Thursday 30 April Final Event: Friday 3 July
The Preliminary Round questions will be linked to the 2026 National Reconciliation Week theme, “All In” – a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day.
The Finals questions will be shaped by the 2026 NAIDOC Week theme, “50 Years of Deadly” – giving finalists the opportunity to respond to this important national focus and celebrate strength, culture, and leadership.
Submit your EOI
Conditions of Entry
All participants must be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and be enrolled in an educational facility within South Australia.
Overview
The South Australian Aboriginal Youth Public Speaking Competition (OUR SAAY)
provides a platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young
people to develop public speaking skills in a formal capacity and to amplify their
voices on important topics and issues that matter to them.
Launched in 2023, the competition strengthens young people’s confidence,
public speaking abilities, leadership, and cultural pride while supporting
statewide youth participation, including from regional and remote communities.
Judging Criteria
The following table is the criteria that the judges of the ‘Our SAAY’ competition will use to determine the best speeches for both the preliminary finals and finals.
Speech Topics
Preliminary Topics
The topic of the preliminary heats is:
“Tell us what the week of NAIDOC celebration means to you”
Choose one of the following areas when addressing this theme: You, Your Family, Your Community, Your School, Australia.
Please note that the speech topic is not aimed at the NAIDOC theme of 2024 specifically, but rather the week of celebration of NAIDOC.
It is at the discretion of the student to talk about their area of choice in their own informative way. This includes choice of words, expression use, pace, punctuation and articulation.
Please note: that the timeframes provided are indicators only and if you feel as if your question has been addressed in under the timeframe for your age category, this is fine.
However, all preliminary heat speeches will need to be no more than 3 minutes in length.
Finals
Four students from each category will progress through to the Finals.
Students who are successful with progressing to the finals will be notified of the finals question on Monday June 17.
Preliminary Heats
Preliminary heats will be held in person at the Commissioner’s office, 55 Currie Street, Adelaide CBD from 14th to 16th of May 2024. The preliminary judging panel will comprise of three Aboriginal Community Members who will review and assess in live time.
Students will be formally notified if they were successful in being selected to compete in the finals via their nominated email.
Please contact the Competition Coordinator, Alisha Staines, on 08 8226 3345 or alisha.staines@sa.gov.au, should the student be unable to participate in person. We are happy to negotiate where we can with students and families regarding their participation.
Finals
The finals event will be held during 2024 NAIDOC week in Adelaide on Wednesday 10th July.
Finalists from regional or remote areas who have been successful in the preliminary heats will be able to access travel assistance to attend the event. Please contact the Competition Coordinator, Alisha Staines, for further information.
Prizes
The successful winners will receive the following prizes:
Junior Primary (Years 3 and 4) – winner will each receive a trophy, certificate and an iPad.
Primary (Years 5 and 6) – winner will each receive a trophy, certificate and an iPad.
Middle (Years 7-9) – winner will each receive a trophy, certificate and an iPad.
Senior (Years 10-13)- winner will each receive a trophy, certificate, and a MacBook Air.
All entrants will receive a certificate of participation.
Contact
Xena Habel
Senior Project Officer
xena.habel@sa.gov.au
08 8226 3353
2025 Winners
Junior Primary
Students in years 3 & 4
Winner - Jordan Osborn
Moonta Area School
Runner Up - Taleah Bates
Avenues College
Runner Up - Harry Bowling
Avenues College
Withdrew - Jermaine Bates
Avenues College
Primary
Students in years 5 & 6
Winner - Aria Bilney
Ceduna Area School
Runner Up - Tevaiha Rankine-Lebois
Avenues College
Runner Up - Billy Brown
Millicent North Primary School
Withdrew - Khloe Coleman
Ceduna Area School
Middle
Students in years 7 to 9
Winner - Tysaiah Coleman
Ceduna Area School
Runner Up - Milly Moore
Moonta Area School
Withdrew - Wayden Sumner
Ceduna Area School
Senior
Students in years 10 to 13
Winner - Lakeisha Taylor
Cleve Area School
Winner - Indianna Probert
Xavier College - Two Wells
Runner Up - Keira Holberton
Mark Oliphant College
Runner Up - Aaron McCormack
Avenues College
Withdrew - Tresiah Iselin-Blumberg
Avenues College
2024 Winners
Junior Primary
Students in years 3 & 4
Winner - William Wasiu
2nd Place - Khloe Coleman
3rd Place - Teagan Cook
Primary
Students in years 5 & 6
Winner - Kaiya Muir
2nd Place - Kohen Miller
3rd Place - Salara Miller
Middle
Students in years 7 to 9
Winner - Ashley Abdulla
2nd Place - Cooper McInerheney-Madden
3rd Place - Kimberly Edson
4th Place - Taylor Whatman
Senior
Students in years 10 to 13
Winner - Aaron McCormack
2nd Place - Kase McInerheney-Madden
3rd Place - Lakeisha Taylor
2023 Winners
Junior Primary
Students in years 3 & 4
Tevaiha Lebois
Primary
Students in years 5 & 6
Tyreece Inglis-Biddle Burgess
Middle
Students in years 7 to 9
Kase McInerheney-Madden
Senior
Students in years 10 to 13
Shakyra Garlett-Pinkie
