STRATEGIC PLAN AND ROADMAPJuly 2018 – June 2020

Our Vision

Dragon Boating has a centuries long history in China although in Australia it is only a matter of 25 short years. In early 2018 in NSW we are over 60 Clubs strong with over 3200 active paddlers spread across NSW – from Ballina in the North, Jindabyne to the South and Cowra to the West. We are the biggest member State in the Australian Dragon Boating Federation. The Chinese New Year Regatta in Darling Harbour has always been a unique high-profile event that blended Asian and non-Asian culture and traditions. It’s the Jewel in our Crown.

Our long-term growth achievement is that anyone across NSW who is interested in Dragon Boating and lives near a suitable waterway can participate. Their participation might be purely social and non-competitive while others pursue national and international performance levels. Age, gender, ethnicity and capability are no barrier. We have retained the diversity in our dragon boating community that began in the early days in Australia.

We are known for our:

• club and member culture with everyone feeling valued and respected and willing to contribute in some way to the operation of our community

• sustained success in national and international competitions

• suitable and well-managed infrastructure to support dragon boating as a year-round pursuit, safely and economically

• support from others to achieve the desired growth – Government, corporations, not-for profit organisations

• blend of the centuries long paddling traditions as well as new event formats e.g. involving other water sports.

We also know dragon boating brings immense benefits such as improved health, fun, teamwork, a sense of community and an opportunity to participate and/or compete locally, nationally and internationally.

We are well-recognised in the NSW community for what we achieve. We are proud to be dragon boaters in NSW.

Dragon Boating – find your energy on the water #getfiredup #insynch #foreveryone

25 YEARSof Dragon Boating in NSW, a centuries long history in China

60+ CLUBSin NSW as of early 2018

3,200 PADDLERSspread across NSW – from Ballina in the North, Jindabyne to the South and Cowra to the West

LARGEST MEMBER STATEin the Australian Dragon Boating Federation

Dragon Boat NSW Strategic Plan and Roadmap 2

Our Purpose

Lead the culture of Dragon Boating in NSW

Support Dragon Boating in NSW to achieve our

growth aspirations and to act as one inclusive community

(Paddler/Official/Coach/Volunteer/Supporter)

Advocate Dragon Boating across NSW and Australia

Develop and grow collaboration with other water

sports/other sports/other community groups

Dragon Boat NSW Strategic Plan and Roadmap 3

Our Community Our Business

Strategic Plan 2018 – 2020

Key Strategies

Strategic Focus Areas

Key Performance Indicators

Our Governance

• Expand membership in targeted demographics

• Improve Club structures, education and administrative processes

• Build member and club engagement

• Growth in novice members

• Decreased member loss rate

• Clubs complying with minimum standards (operational, regulatory, statuatory)

• Increasing membership satisfaction

• Build collaboration between Clubs across NSW

• Improve paddler, coach, officials and volunteer development pathways

• Collaborate with other member States and AUSDBF

• Build strategic alliances with other water sports

• Improved co-ordination within and between metropolitan and regional clubs

• Create development pathways

• Growth in volunteers, coaches and officials to help run our activities

• Increased applications for State selection

• Network of water-sport alliances established and assisting our community

• Revise the Regatta structure and calendar

• Increase social and elite event participation in both metropolitan and regional NSW events

• Develop new format events to complement current events

• Positive trend in event participation rate

• Increased participation in out-of-own area regattas (metropolitan to regional and vice versa)

• New competition and participation formats operating

• Develop a multi-year State-Wide Venues and Asset Development Strategy

• Improve current venues suitability and safety

• Improve environmental sustainability of our venues

• Explore new equipment and technology development

• Clubs increasing number of submissions for facility-related grants

• Decreased injury trend - Target is ‘zero’ incidents

• Clubs meet regulatory and statutory safety and environmental obligations in all venues

• Build our public brand awareness in NSW

• Leverage media potential of key events – CNY, Championships and International events

• Improve member and Club communications channels

• Develop and leverage engagement with NSW State and Local Government organisations

• Increased media profile

• Increased use of multi-media communications tools

• Increased 2-way member participation in communications

• Increased stakeholder engagement

• Increased profile of members as advocates of our community

• Pursue NSW-wide fundraising through sponsorship

• Develop a NSW-wide integrated Government Grants strategy

• Build strategic partnerships to drive Corporate and Charity events

• Financial performance meets current and future operational needs

• Growth in non-member income sources

• Align policies, procedures, structure, staffing and Committees to support our growing community

• Enhance safety and risk management of our paddling and non-paddling activities

• DBNSW meets all regulatory and statutory obligations

• Operating culture across NSW consistent with community expectations

Our Members and Clubs

Our EventsOur Paddling Community

Our InfrastructureFinancial and Commercial

PerformanceOur Communications

Our People and Systems

Dragon Boat NSW Strategic Plan and Roadmap 4

Our Community Our Business

Roadmap for the Strategic Plan 2018 – 2020

June 2018 – July 2019 Report Card

Strategic Focus Areas

July 2019 – June 2020

Our Governance

Develop a Club Sustainability Guide

Assess and improve Member Satisfaction via regular survey process e.g. Net Promoter Score

Develop a Club Health Check system

Promote existing Member Benefits e.g. AUSDBF insurance

Implement a Club Health Check system

• Monitor and assess a Club Health Check system

• Implement recommendations of Club Health Check per region.

• Share best practice Club operations via Website and Social Channels

• Explore new member categories and benefits

Establish collaboration opportunities for regional and metropolitan Clubs

Build Alliances with DB Member States and AUSDBF for operational synergies and policy alignment

Review selected Sub-Committees (such as Sweep, C&T, Regional, Metro/city, pathways)

• Implement revised Sub-Committees

• Collaborate with AusDBF to develop a whole of sport journey

• Encourage Club participation in selected local stakeholder forums

• Maintain alliances with AusDBF and Member States

Review and streamline current calendar of events for NSW

Initiate a new novelty event to start 2018/19 season

• Host AusChamps in collaboration with AusDBF

• Review and streamline Event Operations

• Establish a winter program prior to 2020/2021 season

• Develop a targeted events growth plan including corporate events (non-CNY), DBNSW and Club run events, school and community group activities

• Trial new event formats and modified sport

Map current NSW-wide Assets

Renew the NSW Roads and Maritime Services licence for Bank Street

Business cases submitted for a multisport boat shed at Bank Street

• Develop a State-wide Asset Plan for potential new assets and venues

• Prioritise and pursue asset development projects across NSW

• Business cases submitted for a multisport boat shed at Bank Street

Update current communication channels, content and frequency

Source external expertise from within current membership to help refine communications effectiveness

• Develop a Dragon Boating Ambassadors Program to help build Dragon Boating profile in corporate and local communities and engage new sport leaders

Pursue funding grants from Federal and State Agencies to support operations and infrastructure growth aspirations

Develop a DBNSW Sponsorship Policy

Establish accurate baseline data for Dragon Boating in NSW including Club demographics, commercial and sponsorship trends and infrastructure

• Develop a Grants process to assist Clubs

• Encourage Clubs to engage with DBNSW to develop sponsorship innovations

• Pursue Commercial Partnerships

Assess DBNSW staff, structure and operational processes

Conduct a Risk Policy Review

• Recommendation for Constitution amendments canvased

• Pursue technology to improve operational efficiency

• Monitor and review policies, procedures and processes

• Induct and review Staff, Board, Committee performances.

Our Members and Clubs

Our EventsOur Paddling Community

Our InfrastructureFinancial and Commercial

PerformanceOur Communications

Our People and Systems

Dragon Boat NSW Strategic Plan and Roadmap 5