The Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN) manages multi-disciplinary datasets for researchers and academics across government and commercial sectors. AURIN’s online tools enable spatial and statistical modeling, planning and visualisation.  See https://aurin.org.au/

We were fortunate to host Xavier Goldie, Outreach Manager AURIN, at a recent professional development day. Xavier introduced the team to the AURIN platform and key data-mapping and reporting features relevant to the work we do in measuring and addressing the legal need. The session was very informative (and entertaining) and provoked much discussion around spatial mapping, service planning and the various types of socio-economic indicators. 

AURIN’s online resource reflects the recognition across government, non-profit and commercial sectors of the importance of evidence-based research, policy, and decision-making. Data management skills are critical for future employment across the knowledge sector for lawyers and law students alike. The value of evidence-based planning is further acknowledged by Victoria Legal Aid (the legal assistance sector’s main funder) in their establishment of an online tool to measure legal need: Tableau. 

The ability of community legal centres to assist its vulnerable cohorts will be greatly enhanced by data tools such as those developed by AURIN which will result in targeted deployment of limited resources and move further towards the ideal of access to justice for all.  

Xavier Goldie (5th from Left) and the BMCLC team