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New research from Deakin University’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, developed in partnership with the Y and the City of Boroondara, is strengthening the case for the leisure industry to measure community wellbeing, inclusion and social connection alongside participation data.
The evaluation of Boroondara Leisure and Aquatic Facilities (BLAF) has tracked health, wellbeing and social impact since 2020 through annual member surveys and targeted interviews. More than 5,500 surveys have been collected across the study, with findings showing BLAF participants consistently report higher levels of physical activity, stronger wellbeing and deeper social connectedness than Victorian and national averages.
From 2020 to 2025, up to 86 per cent of adults aged 18 to 64 reported meeting aerobic activity guidelines in the previous week. In 2025, 3 in 4 people said they did most or all of their weekly physical activity at BLAF. The research also found that people who spent more time at BLAF were more likely to rate their health positively, feel connected to others and meet activity guidelines.
The work was established in response to the Victorian Auditor-General’s 2016 report on local government recreational facilities, which found Councils were not effectively evaluating whether aquatic recreation centres were contributing to broader social, health and wellbeing objectives. The report recommended Councils improve aquatic recreation centre monitoring, evaluation and reporting so they could better demonstrate the achievement of Council objectives and outcomes.
Ben Porteous, Area Manager of Boroondara Leisure and Aquatic Facilities at the Y, said the findings show why the leisure industry needs to look beyond output measures alone.
“Participation numbers still matter, but they only tell part of the story.
“This research shows the value of understanding how leisure services contribute to physical activity, connection, inclusion and wellbeing, and using that evidence to improve what we deliver for communities.”
The research has already informed changes across the Boroondara Leisure and Aquatic Facilities, including sensory-friendly quiet hours, improved accessibility features, clearer class information, tailored programs for older adults and stronger support for new users.
Ian Boorman, Social Impact Manager at the Y, said the sector still had more work to do if it wanted to clearly show its contribution to community wellbeing.
“The Auditor-General’s report made it clear that leisure needs to get better at measuring outcomes. For the Y, that meant building stronger social impact capability so we could give Councils clearer evidence about the health, wellbeing and social value these services create.
“Our Council partners see the value straight away.
“If we want leisure to play a bigger role in improving community wellbeing, we need to be more consistent about measuring who benefits, how change happens and where services can improve.”
That work has also shaped how individual community initiatives are assessed.
Since 2023, Deakin University and the Y have co-designed a program-level evaluation framework and applied it across initiatives including FitPark Series, Aquathon and Women Who Walk. The framework has strengthened reporting and consistency across programs, and the report notes it could be adopted more broadly across local leisure and recreation settings.