Secondary: ICOM Debaters Reach the DAV Octo-finals

ICOM has achieved a significant milestone in this year's Debaters Association of Victoria (DAV) Schools Competition, progressing to the Octo-finals following a successful 

Playoff Round.

The achievement is particularly significant as it marks the first time ICOM has progressed to this stage since the COVID period, when the competition was conducted online.

The Playoff Round was held on Thursday 20th August at Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School in Essendon, bringing together some of the strongest teams from across the different regions of the competition.

ICOM faced a strong team representing the Watsonia region and debated the topic:

“That employers should be prohibited from using artificial intelligence to eliminate job applicants before human review.”

Competing on the Negative side, our students delivered a strong performance and secured the win, earning their place in the Octo-finals.

Reaching this stage is an outstanding achievement and reflects the students' dedication, critical thinking, teamwork and continued development throughout 

the 2026 debating season.

We are incredibly proud of our students and the way they have represented ICOM throughout the competition. We wish them all the best as they prepare for the Octo-finals!