The Measure of Leisure
After work and rest comes play.
After many years of experience accommodating remote and regional workforces, Geoff Stowe from Collie Hills Village says the measure of good downtime often comes down to one thing: choice.
And it stacks up. Research from Curtin University into fly-in-fly-out and other regional workforces has found that in "liminal" environments — where work and personal life blend together — protecting workers' autonomy and giving them genuine choice over their downtime supports psychological detachment from work and better wellbeing outcomes.
“What we see in the Village is that guests need access to different types of recreation: both group and individual. Someone might really enjoy a BBQ and game of darts with their mates one night, but their ideal day off might be a solo bushwalk. Making guests aware of their options, both on and offsite, means they can exercise full autonomy," he says.
It's another way the team at Collie Hills have shifted in their understanding of being a simple accommodation provider — with beds, showers and meals — to a more genuine hospitality mentality of caring for guests.
Collie Hills Village Manager Chirs Brettig agrees.
"Anyone can put a guest in a room with a bed and a TV. But without real choices about how they spend their downtime, that separation between work and rest just doesn't happen," he says.
Another way the Village provide a service in this area is by paying attention to where guests are from. Some may have driven down from Perth with the boat on the trailer, ready to spend their day off on the water at Wellington Dam or Minningup Pool — where Adventure Connections' kayak hire is also an option. Others may have flown interstate and know almost nothing about the area, and what is available.
"It’s not unusual for guests on a regional project to stay for two months or more: that's not an insignificant amount of time," adds Chris.
Fortunately, Collie is well situated for a range of activities, from riding trails to quieter pastimes such as bushwalking and birdwatching. Guests after an easy stroll can try the Collie River Trail, a 9 km dual walking and cycling path from Minninup Pool to Telfer Pool, while those chasing something bigger on their days off can tackle sections of the Wiilman Bilya Trail, an 87 km loop through jarrah forest around Wellington Reservoir.
With Bunbury only a 40-minute drive away, cafes and shopping are an option for those wanting a change of pace. And, as Chris points out, there is plenty to discover closer to home. "Many people in Perth still haven't explored Ferguson Valley, yet the area has 20 vineyards and wineries producing small-batch wines," he says.
Both the research and our lived experience agree: the measure of leisure is choice. And our guests agree too.
"Incredible management that care about everyone from checkin to checkout and all the adventures along the way. These are the special times in our lives we should treasure forever. Thank you, we are your home away from home, second family."
— Scotti English