DBV Releases 2025-2028 Strategic Plan
Published Tue 09 Sep 2025
Dragon Boat Victoria (DBV) is excited to announce the launch of its 2025–2028 Strategic Plan - a comprehensive roadmap set to guide the association’s growth, performance, and community impact over the next three years. Developed with significant input from board members Heather Watts, Caroline Mulcahy, Stephen Arrowsmith, Jacqui Hillas, and Tricia Lewis, this plan is the result of months of dedicated work and collaboration.
Why Members Should Read the Plan
This new Strategic Plan sets a bold new direction for our sport. A cohesive, future-focused plan was the goal and DBV is proud to now have a document that sets out specific, actionable goals for every part of our community. The Board is genuinely excited to share a vision that puts member clubs, coaches, volunteers, and paddlers at the heart of everything DBV does. The plan will drive the expansion of events, inclusivity initiatives, and pathways from grassroots to elite competition.
The heart of our strategic direction is captured in the vision: “A thriving, inclusive dragon boat community where everyone can participate and achieve their desired goals.” Our mission reinforces this commitment: to promote, develop, and govern dragon boating in Victoria by providing opportunities, resources, and leadership for clubs, paddlers, and volunteers. These aims are underpinned by strong values—inclusion, community, integrity, excellence, and collaboration—each of which shapes every strategic choice and interaction DBV makes.
Aspirational Goals
The Strategic Plan sets high aspirations:
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Increase access: Ensure dragon boating is available to all, across metropolitan, regional, and underrepresented communities.
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Drive participation and retention: Grow overall membership annually, support the next generation, improve retention, and foster lifelong involvement.
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Promote excellence and support: Deliver high-quality coaching, training resources, and competitive opportunities, from club to state and national levels.
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Innovate and expand events: Broaden the calendar with diverse and engaging regattas and community initiatives.
This plan ensures regular policy reviews, transparent and open communication, inclusive opportunities for every member, and the systematic tracking of progress so that every member can see how their voice and contribution matter. The Board believes that this document will be the driving force behind DBV’s ambition to grow, promote, and celebrate dragon boating across Victoria in all its forms.
Read the full plan to find out how DBV will enable the entire Victorian dragon boat community to thrive over the next three years—this is the foundation for the future, and every member is invited to be a part of the journey.