Managing a regional leisure service across 3000 kilometres. An evaluation of the Division of Regional Services of the Ministry of Sport and Recreation, Western Australia

Abstract

Perth, Western Australia, is often described as the most isolated city in the world. From Perth the Western Australian Ministry of Sport and Recreation co-ordinates a recreation and sport service across 2.5 million square kilometres to a population of 1.7 million people. This study reports on a state-wide study conducted to evaluate community perceptions of the Ministry's performance through its nine regional offices. The survey was complemented by workshops with Regional Managers to inform them of the views of their communities and to compare community perceptions with the strategic directions of the Ministry. The results raise some broad questions for the Ministry as it reviews its centrally driven strategic approach in the light of the specific community emphases identified through this study. These issues are also discussed in this paper.