How to effectively disseminate analysis is an ongoing challenge for proponents of the use of data and evidence in policy development and operational strategy. This paper describes the Law & Justice Foundation of NSW’s experience of developing a web-based tool, intended to provide interactive access to data for legal assistance service providers and their funding organisations. Client enquiry data is analysed in conjunction with census data to provide information on the rate of enquiries for different types of legal matter, demographic groups and geographical locations.

The usual challenges of using administrative data were encountered, including concerns over data quality and missing data. Combining data from different service providers meant handling disparate datasets lacking common definitions of services provided or client demographics. The web-based tool that was developed to display this data is a Business Objects application, incorporating additional spatial mapping software.

Although this approach undoubtedly has great potential for the increased use of administrative data at a strategic and operational level, it is certainly not without its challenges. Developing a bespoke IT solution requires ongoing multi-skilled resource to maintain it, which is particularly challenging within a small research focused organisation.