Introduction to Toastmasters

What is Toastmasters?

Toastmasters is a non-profit educational organisation. In its many Clubs, members learn communication and leadership skills by practising public speaking and working with others in a warm and friendly environment.

What happens at a club meeting

A typical Toastmasters Club is made up of 15 - 25 people who meet twice each month for about two hours. Each meeting gives members an opportunity to enhance their public speaking skills by:

• Giving impromptu speeches

  Members present one minute impromptu speeches on assigned topics.

• Presenting prepared speeches

  Three or more members present speeches based on projects from the Toastmasters Pathways education program. Projects cover topics such as speech organisation, voice, language, gestures and persuasion.

• Presenting other assignments

  There are many other roles at a meeting to ensure every member has a speaking opportunity at each meeting.

• Offering constructive evaluation

  Every speaker is assigned an evaluator who highlights the speaker's strengths and offers suggestions for improvement.

Testimonials

See some testimonials from members of Toastmasters.

Listen to Julian Leeser MP speaking to Federal Parliament about the benefits of Toastmasters.

Taking the first step

To find out more about Toastmasters you can:

• Visit a Club

  Guests are always assured of a friendly welcome at every Toastmasters Club. Visitors may attend one or more Clubs a number of times to see the Toastmasters program in action without any obligation. Clubs differ in size, culture, types of venues, meeting times and lengths and meal arrangements, so "shopping around" is sometimes necessary to find a suitable Club.

• Choose a Club to visit

  Go to our Find a Club section to find details of the Clubs in your area. Please use the contact phone number or email address to contact a Club before you visit them. This ensures that you will be expected and enables the Club to explain any special aspects of their next meetings.

• Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page

  Go to the FAQs page to learn more about Toastmasters and what if can do for you.

• Contact our Enquiries service.

  to our enquiries service.