Years 10 to 12 students get extra time to enter
Senior secondary students now have more time to enter the 2026 My First Speech competition, with the closing date pushed back to Wednesday 29 July 2026. Entries must be submitted by 11:59pm AEST on that date.
The programme is open to students in Years 10, 11 and 12. It asks each entrant to picture themselves as a newly elected Member of Parliament and write a speech lasting no more than three minutes about an issue they care about.
The Department of the House of Representatives created the competition as a way for students to engage with the Australian Parliament and learn more about how the House works. It is designed as both a writing task and a civics exercise.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick said parliamentary education for young people remained one of his main goals. He added: “One of my key priorities as Speaker has been to promote parliamentary education to students across the country, and this is yet another exciting way that young people can take an active role in our democratic system.”
Three students will win overall, with one winner chosen from each year group. Each winner will receive an expenses-paid trip to Canberra.
During that visit, the students will deliver their speeches at an award ceremony hosted by the Speaker at Parliament House. They will also tour the building and visit other places of national significance in Canberra.
The competition website includes tips and other resources to help students prepare a stronger entry. Those materials are aimed at guiding entrants as they shape a short speech with a clear message and a strong personal interest.
According to the competition brief, My First Speech is part of a broader effort to help school students connect directly with parliamentary life. By asking entrants to write as if they had just been elected, the contest puts them in the role of a federal lawmaker rather than a classroom observer.
The extended deadline gives schools, teachers and families extra time to prepare submissions before the late July cut-off. Students who plan to enter must still meet the final deadline of 11:59pm AEST on Wednesday 29 July 2026.
Further details, entry information, and writing support are available through the My First Speech competition website.
