Dr John Tower to make key addresses on the value of leisure services at 2017 ARV Conference

Leading sport and recreation academic Dr John Tower is to make two significant presentations on the value of public sector leisure services at the 2017 Aquatics and Recreation Victoria Industry Conference next week.

Dr Tower, an Honorary Research Fellow at Victorian University’s Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL) will be presenting on Measuring and explaining the value of public leisure services on the first day of the conference (Thursday 14th September) and on Leisure outcomes vs. Outputs - Are we evaluating the impact of our services? on the second day (Friday 15th September).

Measuring and explaining the value of public leisure services
There is increasing pressure on governments to make a case for why they should invest in the delivery of leisure services. In particular, issues such as greater scrutiny of aquatic and recreation centres’ budgets and operations are demanding the value of these centres be quantified. The case for more accountability is countered by increasing awareness of community health issues, particularly physical activity, of local residents. Most aquatic and recreation centres do not have the data to address these issues.

The purpose of this presentation is to explore some of the challenges of how aquatic and recreation centres assess and report the value they provide to their local community. The presentation will include a participative exercise that will enable the conference delegates to share general information about how they currently measure and report the value of their leisure services. The presentation will also share information about some of the current measures being used to analyse the value of aquatic and recreation centres and propose options for how they can be more effective in explaining their value.

Leisure outcomes vs. Outputs - Are we evaluating the impact of our services?
The 2016 Victorian Auditor General’s Office Report about local government’s delivery of recreation facilities identified a need for the centres to begin to evaluate outcomes rather than outputs. This presentation will explore the nature of aquatic and recreation centre output and outcome measures. In particular it will draw on other studies and frameworks that may be adopted by aquatic and recreation centres to better understand the outcomes that they are generating in their communities. 

Being held at the Pullman Melbourne on the Park on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th September 2017, the leading industry conference will feature how the aquatic and recreation industry touches a broad section of the community, involving the building and maintenance of millions of dollars in infrastructure and community assets and provides a significant economic contribution through its multiple employment opportunities and high levels of revenue generation. 

Click here to view event details in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

1st September 2017 - AQUATICS AND RECREATION VICTORIA INDUSTRY CONFERENCE: WORKING TOGETHER FOR A BETTER INDUSTRY 

2nd July 2017 - GROUNDBREAKING STUDY SHOWS THE WELLNESS BENEFITS OF SWIMMING

17th June 2017 - CITY OF BOROONDARA AND YMCA VICTORIA RECOGNISED AT AQUATIC AND RECREATION VICTORIA AWARDS

22nd March 2017 - ARV LAUNCHES 2017 INDUSTRY AWARDS

10th January 2017 - SIGNIFICANT YEAR FOR AQUATICS AND RECREATION VICTORIA

23rd June 2016 - ARV AWARDS SHOWCASE THE BEST OF VICTORIA’S AQUATIC AND RECREATION SECTOR 

1st April 2016 - AQUATICS AND RECREATION VICTORIA RELEASES ENERGY BENCHMARKING STUDY FOR AQUATIC CENTRES 

21st May 2014 - LANDMARK RESEARCH INTO ECONOMIC AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF AQUATIC AND RECREATION FACILITIES