Faculty of Science

Public Open Space

Public Open Space fact sheet

A follow-up study was conducted in 2008 by Alissa Sunarja, Gina Wood and Professor Billie Giles-Corti to develop a fact sheet on the size, proximity, design and required facilities for parks to serve multiple uses by multiple users.


Files for download

POST version 2004 [PDF, 57.7 KB]
Updated 27 Aug 2009


POST Manual [PDF, 162.0 KB]
Updated 27 Aug 2009


The Quality of Public Open Space Audit Tool (POST) was developed in 1996 as part of the SEID I project.

The POST is designed for auditing public open spaces such as parks and ovals, with particular emphasis on the physical attributes that may either encourage or discourage their use for physical activity.

The instrument allows the collection of data in the following domains:

  • activities
  • environmental quality
  • amenities
  • safety

Minor modifications to the POST were undertaken in 2003 to facilitate the collection of data on amenities relevant to children and dogs.

The revised instrument was tested for reliability and results indicated that the tool was generally reliable. Items showing low reliability were amended, and a training and reference manual was developed for users of the POST.

If you wish to use the audit tools, please use the following citation(s):

POST Audit Tool

  • Broomhall M, Giles-Corti B, Lange A (2004). Quality of Public Open Space Tool (POST). Perth, Western Australia: School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia.

POST Training and Reference Manual

  • Lange A, Giles-Corti B, Broomhall M (2004). Quality of Public Open Space Tool (POST): Observers’ Manual. Perth, Western Australia: School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia.

Public Open Space Fact Sheet

  • Sunarja A, Wood G, Giles-Corti B (2008). A fact sheet on healthy public open space design for multi-users and multi-uses. Perth, Western Australia: Centre for the Built Environment and Health, School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia.