Have Your Say!
DOGS NSW Governance Framework Working Party

The DOGS NSW Governance Framework Working Party has been established to undertake a review of the DOGS NSW governance framework. This important piece of work, which enacts pillar seven of the DOGS NSW Strategic Plan (Governance, Transparency and Leadership Development,) will ensure that the Constitution (Articles of Association), Rules and Regulations, organisational policies, guidelines and committee structures are fit for purpose, transparent, and aligned with modern governance standards and relevant legislative requirements.

This work will be undertaken in stages over the next six to twelve months and will include seeking input from various stakeholders including subject matter experts, affiliates, DOGS NSW members as well as the various DOGS NSW committees and working parties. In Stage 1, we will seek to simplify and streamline rules and regulations, and move towards removing discrepancies and conflicts both within the DOGS NSW framework and where possible with the frameworks of Dogs Australia.

Once we have completed this review, a set of recommended changes will be developed which will be circulated to all stakeholders for comment and further feedback before progressing to the Board for consideration and approval.

Your views as DOGS NSW members are important to this piece of work - we want to hear from you. We are therefore asking members to contribute and have their say by completing a short survey. The responses to the survey questions will help us identify and focus on any aspect of the current articles, rules, regulations, policies and procedures that DOGS NSW members consider are not fit for purpose or have conflicts. We want your ideas and suggestions about where improvements can and should be made.

Your insights and experiences are essential in ensuring that the future governance framework reflects the operational realities of our clubs, dog sport participants, exhibitors, officials, and volunteers.

You can remain anonymous in completing the survey if you wish. Your participation and engagement in this process will directly support the Working Party in developing recommendations that strengthen and modernise the governance structure of DOGS NSW. The survey will close on Friday 4 December 2026 and we will communicate with you further about the next steps once feedback has been collated.

Committee Members:-
Nel Buttenshaw
Melissa Chapman
Hugh Gent
Glen Gregory
Christina Rafton
Natalie Robbins
Nicola Yates

* denotes required response

Question Title

1. What is your involvement within DOGS NSW? (Required.)

Dog Sports Participant

Conformation Exhibitor

Breeder

Judge

Steward / Show Official

Club Committee Member

Club Member

Volunteer

Other (please specify)

Question Title

2. How long have you been a DOGS NSW member? (Required.)

Less than 1 year

1–5 years

6–10 years

11–20 years

More than 20 years

Question Title

3. Which Dogs Australia disciplines are you currently involved in? (Required.)

Agility

Bale Seek

Canine Disc

Conformation

Obedience

Dances With Dogs

Draft Test

Endurance

Earthdog

Field Trials

Flyball

Grooming

Herding

Lure Coursing

Rally

Retrieving /RATG

Scent Work

Sled Dog

Sprintdog

Track and Search

Trick Dog

Utility Gundog Ability

Other (please specify)

Question Title

4. How actively are you involved in these disciplines?

Regularly (monthly or more)

Occasionally (a few times per year)

Rarely

Not currently active but previously involved

Question Title

5. Have you personally experienced any issues with accessing, complying with or interpreting any of the following aspects of the DOGS NSW Governance

	Yes	No
Articles of Association (Constitution)	Articles of Association (Constitution) Yes	Articles of Association (Constitution) No
Committee Structure	Committee Structure Yes	Committee Structure No
Rules/Regulations	Rules/Regulations Yes	Rules/Regulations No
Codes of Ethics	Codes of Ethics Yes	Codes of Ethics No
Policies, Procedures and Guidelines	Policies, Procedures and Guidelines Yes	Policies, Procedures and Guidelines No
Forms (e.g. title applications)	Forms (e.g. title applications) Yes	Forms (e.g. title applications) No

If yes, please describe the issue

Question Title

6. How would you rate the clarity and accessibility of DOGS NSW governance documents? (Required.)

Often Unclear

Neutral

Very Clear

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

Question Title

7. Do you have suggestions for improving DOGS NSW governance documents?

Question Title

8. Are there specific regulations or procedures you believe should be updated, clarified, or reviewed?

Question Title

9. What improvements would you like to see in communication or education around DOGS NSW rules and policies?

Question Title

10. What is one change you believe would positively impact DOGS NSW members?

Question Title

11. Should we need to undertake any further consultation or ask for more detail in relation to your feedback, would you be willing for us to contact you? (Required.)

Yes

If you answered yes please leave your contact details below.

Question Title

12. Name

Question Title

13. Contact Email

Question Title

14. Contact Number

Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. Your input is valuable and will help shape future improvements within DOGS NSW.

Have Your Say!DOGS NSW Governance Framework Working Party

Question Title

* 1. What is your involvement within DOGS NSW? (Required.)

Question Title

* 2. How long have you been a DOGS NSW member? (Required.)

Question Title

* 3. Which Dogs Australia disciplines are you currently involved in? (Required.)

Question Title

* 4. How actively are you involved in these disciplines?

Question Title

* 5. Have you personally experienced any issues with accessing, complying with or interpreting any of the following aspects of the DOGS NSW Governance

Question Title

* 6. How would you rate the clarity and accessibility of DOGS NSW governance documents? (Required.)

Question Title

* 7. Do you have suggestions for improving DOGS NSW governance documents?

Question Title

* 8. Are there specific regulations or procedures you believe should be updated, clarified, or reviewed?

Question Title

* 9. What improvements would you like to see in communication or education around DOGS NSW rules and policies?

Question Title

* 10. What is one change you believe would positively impact DOGS NSW members?

Question Title

* 11. Should we need to undertake any further consultation or ask for more detail in relation to your feedback, would you be willing for us to contact you? (Required.)

Question Title

* 12. Name

Question Title

* 13. Contact Email

Question Title

* 14. Contact Number

Have Your Say!
DOGS NSW Governance Framework Working Party

1. What is your involvement within DOGS NSW? (Required.)

2. How long have you been a DOGS NSW member? (Required.)

3. Which Dogs Australia disciplines are you currently involved in? (Required.)

4. How actively are you involved in these disciplines?

5. Have you personally experienced any issues with accessing, complying with or interpreting any of the following aspects of the DOGS NSW Governance

6. How would you rate the clarity and accessibility of DOGS NSW governance documents? (Required.)

7. Do you have suggestions for improving DOGS NSW governance documents?

8. Are there specific regulations or procedures you believe should be updated, clarified, or reviewed?

9. What improvements would you like to see in communication or education around DOGS NSW rules and policies?

10. What is one change you believe would positively impact DOGS NSW members?

11. Should we need to undertake any further consultation or ask for more detail in relation to your feedback, would you be willing for us to contact you? (Required.)

12. Name

13. Contact Email

14. Contact Number