Richard McGrath

A focused service quality, benefits, overall satisfaction and loyalty model for public aquatic centres

This study supports a parsimonious range of key service quality dimensions that have a strong influence on customer loyalty at public aquatic centres using data from two major centres in Australia (n = 367 and 307). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported a model that included three process services quality dimensions and two benefits (outcomes) dimensions. Using structural equation modelling (SEM), it was found that one of the outcome dimensions (relaxation) and two process dimensions (staffing and facility presentation) significantly influenced overall satisfaction, which mediated significant relationships with three attitudinal loyalty variables. The data from the second centre provided a validation sample to confirm the potential to replicate the model for a different respondent profile. The parsimonious set of dimensions identified in this research could provide a common core suitable for inclusion in service quality research for a range of contexts.

Exploring discourses of equity, social justice and social determinants in Australian health care policy and planning documents

The Australian National Health Reform agenda includes aims to reduce health disadvantages and provide equitable access. However, this reform will be implemented through state and territory governments, and as such will be built on existing conceptualisations of health as a social justice concept (core to understandings of social determinants). A selection of state and territory health policy documents were analysed within a critical discourse framework focussing on their use of terms relating to social determinants. Analysis revealed that the understandings of social justice concepts vary across Australia and are generally apolitical, belying core concerns inherent in a social determinants understanding. Such differentiation bears recognition by reformers seeking to implement national consistency. This paper also considers how health professionals might become aware of their own cultural enmeshment in neo-liberal frameworks of understanding, recognising a social determinants framework as counter-cultural and hence requiring radical thinking.

Beyond recreation: Personal social networks and social capital in the transition of young players from recreational football to formal football clubs

The relationship between sport and social capital is drawing the attention of a growing number of writers and researchers. However, its analysis is often limited to social capital accruing to communities or regions through involvement with sport and to the effects this may have on local wellbeing. While participation in sport can facilitate social capital creation at the community level, social capital accruing to wider communities, and particularly sporting communities, can affect the technical development of athletes. This paper reports on research employing both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore the role of social capital in the development of female football players (i.e. soccer) in South Australia. In particular, this paper considers how social capital accruing to players from their personal social networks can influence their early ‘career step’ between recreational and school football to formal football clubs. The paper focuses on social networks encompassing players, their families and acquaintances, and highlights both positive and negative implications of social capital accumulated by means of membership in those networks.

What do they say they are doing? Thematic analysis of local government Disability Action Plans.

Abstract Australian local governments have for some time now been encouraged to develop Disability Action Plans (DAPs) to assist in eliminating barriers and constraints faced by people with disabilities. While these documented plans may be viewed as value‐neutral, they also have the potential to propagate particular views and ideologies. Using a critical discourse analysis method, this study analysed 29 local government DAPs to assist in identifying and highlighting any imbedded values. Overwhelmingly the findings suggested that local government authorities’ focus in regard to eliminating barriers and constraints was on ensuring that the built environment was suitable for people with disabilities. Conversely, references within the analysed documents that focused upon other constraints faced by people with disabilities, such as the social or organizational aspects, were either briefly addressed or found to be non‐existent. The researcher concluded that the information provided in Australian local government DAPs was mainly a reflection of a broader neo‐liberal, socio‐political environment that supports non‐interventionist practices over and above providing direct services to particular groups in society. These findings are also being used to inform consequent interview stages of a larger PhD study.

Promoting physical activity among children and youth in disadvantaged South Australian CALD communities through alternative community sport opportunities

Issue addressed: Recently arrived migrants and refugees from a culturally and linguistically diverse background (CALD) may be particularly vulnerable to social exclusion. Participation in sport is endorsed as a vehicle to ease the resettlement process; however, in Australia, this is often thought as a simple matter of integration into existing sport structures (e.g. clubs). This approach fails to place actual community needs at the centre of sport engagement efforts.Methods: A consultation framework was established with South Australian CALD community leaders and organisations to scope needs for community-based alternatives to participation in traditional sport (e.g. clubs), co-design a suitable community sport program and pilot it in five communities. Interviews and questionnaire surveys were conducted with participants, community representatives, stakeholders and volunteers.Results: Regular, free soccer activities engaged 263 young people from a great variety of nationalities, including over 50% refugees, in secondary state school and community-based sites.Conclusion: Alternative community sport programs can provide a basic but valuable forum to promote physical activity and associated well being in CALD and refugee communities.So what?: Alternative approaches can extend the health benefits of sport participation to disadvantaged children and youth who are excluded from traditional sport participation opportunities.

Sport for development (S4D) as ‘core university business’? Modelling university participation in sport-based social development

ABSTRACT Among the recognised strengths of the ‘Sport for Development’ (S4D) framework there is the capacity of sport to contribute to positive community networks, education and community participation. However, its relevance to tertiary education institutions is often under-appreciated. In this framework, the Football United® program was recently piloted in South Australia with an innovative approach offering significant opportunities for integration with university activities, including academic, extra-curricular and skill acquisition programs, as well as for community outreach. This approach is based around four key strategic areas of community engagement, student engagement, research and aspirations towards education. It aims to encourage university leadership and participation and it has a focus on awareness and aspirations towards tertiary education in educationally disadvantaged communities. While it is important to address considerations about the meaning of development and the role that sport can play to facilitate it, this paper argues that there is scope for universities to become increasingly involved with the delivery of sport-based social development programs.

Community engagement and sport? Building capacity to increase opportunities for community-based sport and physical activity

ABSTRACT An ‘engagement through sport’ agenda has emerged in the last few years in Australia, expecting sport governing organizations to increase opportunities of inclusion in sport and physical activity in the community. However, it can be maintained that stagnant or declining physical activity must be addressed through a sound community development approach that transcends sport per se in favour of broader benefits and objectives of participation. This paper reports on the development of a community project in South Australia, run in collaboration between a tertiary education provider and sport, education, community, government and charity organizations. The project provides an example of good practice for efforts to increase physical activity among disadvantaged populations. In particular, it highlights that capacity-building strategies to form partnerships with organizations having access to an appropriate pool of volunteers can assist with increasing physical activity at the community level as well as contribute to broader community development outcomes.

A critical self‐reflection of teaching “disability” to international business students

Purpose – This paper has been developed to explore and discuss aspects related to teaching social justice, equity and inclusive understandings to business students in an Australian university, in particular within the area of disability inclusion in business settings. This paper seeks to describe the authors journey of reflection and re‐definition of disability and to serve as a case study for other academics interested in pursuing a similar path in other areas of tertiary business education.Design/methodology/approach – This paper has adopted a self‐study research approach that, through the use of reflection in and on practice, seeks to improve the practice of teachers by understanding themselves as teachers, the purpose of which is to ultimately assist in improving the education.Findings – This paper identifies some positive outcomes of using thirdspace pedagogical teaching practices. These outcomes include the opportunity for international and local students to develop deeper understandings with respe...

Fresh air, sunshine and happiness: Millennials building health (salutogenesis) in leisure and nature

ABSTRACT This paper explores intersections between health creation, leisure and nature emerging from research with Millennial university students in Australia studying to become health(system) professionals. Most enter university believing that ‘health’ is a bio-medical (illness and disease focused) concept. This reflects the dominant discourse of ‘health’. The term ‘salutogenesis’ (meaning health as a resource) is used to disrupt this discourse. In 2015 and 2016 students completed an online survey in which they subjectively identified three things that build their health and how these work for them. Many identified factors that fit within a broad definition of ‘leisure’. About one quarter refer to nature. What emerges are insights into the manner in which leisure, nature and wellbeing intersect for these Millennials and suggests that their subjective understandings of health creation, including for some a leisure: nature intersection can assist future health professionals to understand ‘health’ as not only bio-medical.

Identifying the influence of leisure-based social circus on the health and well-being of young people in Australia

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to identify how leisure-based participation in social circus-arts may impact the health and well-being of children aged between 8 and 14 years in Australia. Research regarding the influence of arts participation has shown positive health outcomes. Performing and visual arts have been used as therapy, in illness prevention and for the promotion of good health. However, a gap in knowledge currently exists regarding the influence participation in the circus-arts may have for Australian youth in the general population. This qualitative study collaborated with a community embedded, not-for-profit, South Australian Circus School. Focus group results indicated active participation in circus for leisure, positively influenced children’s mental well-being, aided socialisation skills, encouraged enjoyment of physical activity and built resilience to adversity. Circus participation for leisure may be viewed as a resource for positively influencing participant’s health and well-being.