The B Well Project

Measuring what matters

The challenge

Aquatic and leisure centres are recognised as trusted, place-based community assets with significant reach across the life course. Every day, the services and programs offered within them help people live healthier, happier and more connected lives. A child learns to swim, a member builds confidence, someone finds a sense of belonging, and another improves their health. These outcomes matter, not only for individuals but for entire communities.

Yet traditionally, the sector has measured success through participation numbers, memberships and attendance alone. While these metrics are important, they only tell part of the story. They show how many people engage with a service, but don’t evidence the difference that service or program makes to their health, wellbeing and quality of life.

Play

Why it matters

As communities face increasing health challenges and social disconnection, understanding and demonstrating the impact of aquatic and leisure centres in a way that aligns with policy expectations has never been more important. Three-quarters of children don’t meet recommended physical activity guidelines, while two-thirds of adults are overweight or living with obesity. Women are less likely than men to meet activity guidelines, and our most disadvantaged communities face the greatest barriers. Most confronting, the average Australian can expect around twelve years of declining health later in life.

At the same time, local governments and community organisations are being asked to make increasingly informed decisions about where to invest limited resources. They need evidence that demonstrates not just participation, but meaningful outcomes. Understanding what improves health, strengthens social connection and supports long-term wellbeing is critical to creating healthier, more resilient communities for the future.

B Well aims to close this gap

B Well is a population health and wellbeing initiative designed to demonstrate the real impact aquatic and leisure centres have on community health and connection. Developed by Belgravia Leisure and aligned with the Australian Government’s Measuring What Matters framework, B Well allows us to understand, measure and evidence the impact aquatic and leisure facilities have on the communities they serve.

The initiative combines three key elements: health assessments, participant wellbeing surveys and existing operational data collected through venues. Together, these measures create a clear picture of community wellbeing and allow us to understand how health, wellbeing and social connection are changing over time. We value participant’s privacy and all data is collected and stored securely, de-identified and reported in aggregate.

Supported by a trusted evidence-based methodology, B Well draws on validated wellbeing measures and internationally recognised wellbeing valuation expertise from State of Life, a leading authority whose methodologies inform UK Treasury guidance.

Benefits and early pilot results

Rather than simply measuring participation, B Well measures outcomes, helping quantify the broader value that aquatic and leisure services create for individuals, communities and councils.

By understanding the needs of local communities, venues can create more accessible, inclusive and responsive experiences that support people at every stage of life. The initiative also provides transparent and credible reporting that helps councils benchmark performance, strengthen community engagement and demonstrate the value of aquatic and leisure infrastructure.

Early pilot results – made available from 300+ exercise physiology members across five participating venues – have already highlighted both significant community need and measurable improvements in participant health outcomes. 91% of participants are living with chronic disease and 54.2% have two or more chronic conditions. Of these participants, 67% have reported improvements in key strength and movement measures that support everyday mobility, function and independence, with further data to be released shortly.

Through B Well, we can move beyond assumptions and use evidence to build healthier, more connected and more resilient communities together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Participation is entirely voluntary. You can choose not to participate, skip any question or stop at any time. Your decision will not affect your membership, access to services, participation in programs or relationship with the venue.

Health and wellbeing are complex and influenced by many factors. Surveys help us understand how people feel about their wellbeing, quality of life and social connection, while health checks can provide additional physical health information. Together, these measures provide a more complete picture of wellbeing outcomes.

Most surveys take approximately 10–15 minutes to complete. Where applicable, health checks are brief and conducted by trained staff.

Yes. Information is collected and stored using secure systems and used only for agreed project purposes. Wherever possible, results are de-identified and reported in aggregated form to protect participant privacy.

No. Participation is optional and choosing not to participate will not impact your membership, services or access to programs.

No. Whether you are just getting started, returning after a break or already active, your experience is valuable and helps us better understand what works for different people.

Participation is voluntary. If you have any questions or concerns about taking part in any aspect of the project, you may wish to discuss them with your usual health professional.

No. Participation in the B Well Project is free.

No. Depending on the venue and program, surveys may be completed on a venue device, via a survey link or with assistance from staff.

For health checks, participants may receive feedback about their results at the time of assessment. In some programs, participants may also have access to information about their progress over time. Availability may vary by venue and program.

You can skip any question you do not wish to answer. Your comfort and privacy are important to us.

At this stage, participants must be aged 18 years or older.

We aim to make B Well as inclusive and accessible as possible. Where available, translated materials, staff support or simplified information may be provided. Please speak with venue staff if you require assistance.

B Well is not a medical service and staff do not provide medical advice or diagnoses. If a result falls outside an expected range, participants may be encouraged to discuss the result with their GP or usual health professional.