Our aspiration is for our data and findings to be as useful as possible. Our small area modelling research, with our friends at the Victoria Law Foundation, is about bringing data to life, enabling more people to use it in more ways. The project uses data from the Public Understanding of Law Survey (PULS) to calculate and predict civil legal problem prevalence. The project uses models developed on PULS data and applies them to Census data that is then aggregated to the small area level. A final key product of the project will be an interactive map that illustrates the predicted prevalence of civil legal problems across the state of Victoria.

This project is pioneering and represents world-leading efforts to geographically map legal needs through comprehensive survey models. While similar exercises have been attempted elsewhere, our models' compatibility with Australia's person-level census data enables unprecedented complexity and accuracy in legal needs mapping. The final models and tools will provide powerful applications for strategic planning and resource allocation. We will also seek to update and improve upon them through our ongoing LULU survey research.