AusDBF News
REMINDER: Wearing PFDs + Distress Signal
This is a reminder: from 01st July it is mandatory for any person in a dragon boat not paddling MUST wear a PFD during training sessions (e.g. club, corporate, come & try etc) and regattas.
This includes all paddlers under the age of 18 (AusDBF events) as well as all paddlers who are unable to swim at least 50m or who are not water competent MUST wear a PFD when both training and competing. Where local regulations at a race site require water users to wear PFDs, all crew will wear them irrespective of their experience in the sport. In such cases it is the Event Organisers responsibility to notify crews whether the water operator provides PFDs and if NOT, it is the Crews Managers responsibility to ensure that the crew has sufficient of their own to cater for any conditions that they may encounter.
Refer to AusDBF Sweep Guidelines
All documents are available on the AusDBF website
Should Clubs, notice individuals from other clubs in dragon boats (who are not paddling) NOT wearing a PFD, Clubs have the option to document the observation by submitting a report using the SAFE365 APP including date, time, location and photo and notifying the State Sweep Coordinator, who will follow up with the club in question.
What is the International Distress Signal?
Refer to AusDBF Rules of Racing (CR7.11) - In the event that a crew member is lost overboard or in need of urgent medical attention during a race that necessitates the use of the 'Distress Signal', the drummer must wave their hands over their head to attract attention. If the drummer has fallen overboard or is unable to wave their hands then one of the competitors in seat 1 must wave their hands to attract the attention of the rescue boat.
Information is also available in the Drummers Masters Class document.
AusDBF Sweep Classification Levels
Following extensive consultation and collaboration within the AusDBF Sweep Coordinator Group, AusDBF is pleased to release the updated Sweep Classification Level document. Click Here
inclusion which helps with providing an overview of what has occured over the last 12 months across Australia. Click here
Introducing Paradragons
Paradragons is an exciting new division in dragon boating that expands the AusDBF Inclusion strategy to include paddlers who have an impairment. This new division includes athletes who have some form of physical, psychological, neurological, sensory, developmental, or intellectual impairment. There are over 100 paddlers across Australia currently participating in the sport who have some form of disability.
AusDBF Inclusion Strategy incorporates increasing awareness of persons with disability and encourages their participation in the sport across the country, from club level through the athlete's pathway to elite performance. AusDBF has appointed 3 disability ambassadors from ACT, WA and Queensland to contribute to the development of the sport and that it is sensitive to the needs of impaired athletes.
Recently appointed Tanya White, Head Coach of the Australian dragon team, the Auroras, has commenced the process to put together Australia’s first Paradragon squad as an integral part of our national team to compete in the next World Dragon Boat Championships in Germany in 2025. Tanya commented, “I am excited about the launch of the Paradragons division and bringing together a network of ambassadors and advisors to help make this happen”
AusDBF currently have a strategic partnership with Disability Sports Australia (DSA). This strategic collaboration falls under DSA's Sports Incubator program, designed to empower sporting organisations to enhance inclusive pathways for individuals with a disability. AusDBF Director IanGeary who has the portfolio of Diversity and Inclusion within the AusDBF, has been leading this initiative.
To further support AusDBF partnership with Disability Sport Australia, AusDBF has upgraded its website to include the UserWay accessibility widget which AusDBF hopes will provide a better user experience and remove barriers for participants with a disability to access online content
The inclusion of Paradragons into the national dragon boat team creates a pathway for impaired athletes to compete at the highest level in the sport.
National Athlete Pathway (NAP) + National Uniform Branding Guidelines (NUBG)
National Uniform Branding Guidelines can be found on the AusDBF website.
AusDBF has recently received a number of enquiries from clubs who are in the process of updating their club uniforms. Please take the time to read through the document so you understand the permission process plus what logo's should be used where on uniforms (this is the important piece of information, due to the requirements from the Australian Sports Commission with regards to correct placement and usage of their logo).
AusDBF also encourages States to review the document for their State Team uniforms for 2025 and beyond. It is also an opportune time to review the correct usage of the AusDBF and State Member logo's in email signatures, and collateral (letter head, business cards and digital).
Thank you to Maggie Boyce for her work on the National Athlete Pathway and Lachlan Marginson for his work on the National Uniform Branding Guidelines.
Dragon Boater Inducted into IDBF Hall of Fame
At a ceremony in Sarasota, Florida, Jonathan Taylor was posthumously inducted into the inaugural International Dragon Boat Federation Hall of Fame. Read More
AusDBF General UpdateS : AusDBF General Updates