Throughout this past semester, the Perception and Critical Thinking elective program (PCT, hereafter) has run an Ethics Olympiad Task. This program has presented the Year 9s with many interesting cases surrounding current world events and issues, alongside inquisitive questions they would have to solve in the most ethical way possible, using a range of professional techniques. For example, PCT has seen students creating presentations addressing issues surrounding the unethical ‘Tiger King’ documentary - popular Netflix documentary series which displays the dangerous and abusive actions of Joe Exotic, a self-described gun-carrying redneck, towards animals and his demonizing behaviour towards Carol Baskin, an Animal Rights Activist (including his attempt to assassinate her). In this case, the students had to look at a wide range of ethical theories to attempt to solve a question surrounding the topic such as; consequentialism - determining whether something is ethical based on what determines the best implication. After months of preparation, two teams were selected to participate in the Ethics Olympiad Competition.

The Ethics Olympiad gave an opportunity to the students to share their ethical theories towards these cases with other students from Australia and South-East Asia. Throughout the course of the day, in teams of 5, the Year 9 students had to discuss and rebut 8 cases against students from Years 10 - 12. The students were then judged by professionals from universities around the world, such as Harvard, and the University of Texas. One of the teams placed 6th out of the 16 schools.

Overall it has been a very fun and insightful experience for the students, which has helped develop our public speaking skills dramatically and has introduced us to the topics of Philosophy and Ethics. Furthermore, the Ethics Olympiad has encouraged and exposed students to a new area, which they may take up as a profession in the future.