At VCE level the oral presentation asks students to present a point of view presentation on a topic that has been discussed in the media. In Unit 2 and 4 students often are unsure what they can talk about but here is a list that might connect with you based on issues that have come up since September last year. It’s important that you choose a topic that is of interest of you and that you are passionate about as your argument will then sound more authentic to your audience.

This list is a working document and I will be adding on to it as the year goes on.

• Should weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy be listed on the PBS?
• Should authors be cancelled if they commit criminal offences?
• Should toy manufacturers be more inclusive? https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/groundbreaking-chloe-hayden-disability-advocates-celebrate-first-autistic-barbie-20260113-p5ntla.html
• AI and the creation of sexually explicit images using children and individuals unknowingly
• Should authors/creators/artists voice their political views in their craft? (Banning of author Randa Abdel-Fattah due to their views on Palestine at the Adelaide Writer’s Festival)
• Should educational institutions allow political views to be voiced by their employees? (teachers and academics?)
• Should Trump invade Greenland?
• Should you be allowed to ‘reserve’ you spot at the beach? https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/shady-behaviour-tensions-flare-in-popular-holiday-spots-over-cabana-sprawl-20260108-p5nsll.html
• Should courts allowed the suppression of publicly naming alleged offenders?
• Has digital technology such as AI and delivery apps made society lazy? Is this a good or bad thing? https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/silicon-valley-made-us-fear-friction-but-what-if-it-is-the-secret-to-a-better-life-20260107-p5ns9k.html
• Should shark culling be introduced to improve beach safety?
• Should e-bikes and e-scooters be regulated?
• Should there be more disciplinary action towards students who consistently behave badly in schools? Is expulsion the answer? https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/across-the-state-expulsions-are-surging-among-one-group-of-students-20260120-p5nvgd.html
• Should schools be less restrictive on student’s hairstyles? Is the mullet an appropriate style for school? https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/backtoschool-post-leaves-parents-fuming/news-story/6d06b81ee273cd96241fed67a60527cc
• Should burning the Australian flag be illegal?
• Should we make owning a cat illegal in Australia? https://www.theage.com.au/national/don-t-bell-australia-s-cats-just-make-it-illegal-to-own-one-20260212-p5o1v0.html
• Should every state have a public holiday on the following Monday if a national day falls on the weekend? i.e. ANZAC Day?
• Should the government abolish the fuel excise tax permanently?
• Should teachers be allowed to monitor bathrooms to stop poor behaviour such as vandalism and vaping
• Is the growing development of AI going to impact the economy in a positive/negative way? https://www.theage.com.au/technology/this-time-is-different-why-we-must-conquer-ai-before-it-conquers-us-20260313-p5oa47.html
• Overtourism – there should be limits placed on tourist destinations that are being threatened due to over tourism https://www.theage.com.au/traveller/inspiration/i-refuse-to-feel-guilty-about-visiting-this-pristine-destination-20260302-p5o6q3.html
• Is Melbourne really the best city in the world? https://www.theage.com.au/national/is-melbourne-a-better-city-than-sydney-the-evidence-is-pretty-much-in-20260312-p5o9wh.html
• Should teachers be paid more and have better working conditions? https://educationhq.com/news/furious-victorian-public-school-staff-receive-green-light-for-strike-action-207202/
• Should we go back to using cash instead of debit cards?
• Do sporting clubs have a responsibility to take greater care of their players? (Elijah Hollands incident https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/rita-panahi-its-clear-in-the-elijah-hollands-saga-that-carlton-failed-a-vulnerable-young-man/news-story/9dbc33aee5ae0b4624adce292a67091e)
• Should we have free public transport?
• Should teachers be allowed to have a public social media profile? https://www.heraldsun.com.au/education/schools-hub/teacher-influencers-hit-back-after-chatfield-sparks-social-media-ban-fury/news-story/afeb306b278cb48894c4af23c35b068e
• Should we start to ban petrol cars and move to electric?
• Should influencers post their political views online?
• Does the manosphere provide a necessary space for men’s self-improvement, or is it primarily a gateway to extremist misogyny? https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/the-manosphere-is-obsessed-with-pilates-it-s-about-far-more-than-fitness-20260331-p5zkci.html
• Should social media platforms regulate the posting of ‘health’ information by influencers?
• Should maths be a compulsory subject for VCE? https://www.theage.com.au/national/hsc-advanced-maths-exodus-adds-up-but-it-points-to-another-problem-20260421-p5zprd.html