If you have a burning question about writing your speech or the competition itself, you might find the answer here. But if you don't, then feel free to contact us!

1. How long should my speech be?
   The video of your first speech should be no more than 90 seconds in length.

2. What sort of issues should I talk about?
   It is up to you but remember that as a Member of Parliament, you are representing the people in your electorate. For this reason, it would be a good idea to choose a topic that is of interest or concern to your community.

3. What should I wear?
   As a representative of your community, you should dress appropriately for a broad, family audience. Please avoid wearing commercial logos, brands or slogans on your clothing.

4. Is there anything I can't put in my speech/video?
   Your speech/video must be all your own material. The videos of your first speech may be posted online for public viewing, so for your own protection, avoid mentioning your full name or provide any identifying information in your speech. Your speech must be appropriate for a family audience therefore, swearing, sexual content or hateful remarks will result in elimination.

5. What sort of camera should I use?
   Use a camera that can capture a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels or more. Most iPhones and Android phones are more than suitable for this purpose. When using a phone make sure it is held sideways so it records your video in widescreen format.

6. Do I have to use a microphone?
   Don't forget this is a speech competition so it is important we can hear you. Place either a separate microphone or the one on the camera as close to you as possible when recording your speech. If you are unsure, run some tests first to see if your speech can be heard.

7. Can someone else present my speech on video?
   The purpose of this competition is to write and deliver your own speech. Although you are welcome to get help with this task, there can only be one winner. This is the person who writes and delivers the speech and is named as the sole entrant on the entry form.

8. What is a transcript?
   A transcript is a written version of your spoken words.

9. How do I enter?
   Visit the My First Speech website and click “How to enter”. On the How to enter page you will see instructions on submitting your entry through the online portal. Once you complete the form and submit your entry, you will only be contacted if there is a problem or you have not met the terms and conditions. Remember to keep your video under 500mb. There will be instructions on the How to enter page to guide you if you're having trouble getting your video under 500mb. Don’t forget to have your transcript ready in a document you can copy and paste from into the online form.
   You will be asked to nominate the electorate you are entering from. If you don’t know your electorate you can look up your address on the AEC website. We want to know the electorate of your home rather than your school.

10. Can I incorporate music or titles into my video?
    No. We only want to see/hear your speech.

11. Who can enter the competition?
    Any student enrolled in Australia and in year 10, 11 or 12 is eligible to enter the competition. However, anyone under the age of 18 will need a parent or guardian to fill in and sign the Consent and Release Agreement part of the entry form.

12. How are winners chosen?
    Entries are first shortlisted by staff from the Department of the House of Representatives using the Judging Criteria. The shortlisted entries are then given to the judging panel who make the final decision. A winner from each year group will be chosen for the 2024 competition.