Due to concerns about Covid-19, the PESA National Finals may be cancelled for 2021. ACT prizes are still in effect.

The winner of the ACT Finals will progress on to represent The ACT in early August this year. The Australia Britain Society ACT will provide financially for this trip to be possible. See more about the Australia Britain Society here. 

Last year the finals were in Brisbane and took place over a weekend. Our state winner, Caitlyn Crick, got to go on the Brisbane Eye, see the Queensland State Gallery and Library, eat out with the entire competition contingent and explore some local markets. 

​This year the National Finals will be held in Sydney. The winner will go on to represent Australia in London at the International Public Speaking Competition (ISPC) in 2022.

"I would certainly recommend the Plain English-Speaking Award to anyone and everyone. Before the competition, I had absolutely no public speaking experience (except of course the compulsory primary school rostrum competition, but we don’t talk about that 😂) yet I choose a topic I was passionate about, practiced and was lucky enough to be allowed to travel to Brisbane and participate in the national final. It was an incredible experience with astonishing, like-minded students which helped develop not only my independence but also my confidence. PESA gave me an unforgettable opportunity which any high school student would be crazy to pass up on!"

Caitlyn Crick, 2019 ACT winner. ​