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Appendix B: Method

Table B1: Classification of legal events

Area of law (no. of items)	Survey question no.	Legal event group (no. of items) Legal event
Civil (76)		Accident/injury (4)
	19	Car accident — property damage
	39A	Car accident — personal injury
	39B	Injury at work
	39C	Other personal injury
		Business (2)
	7	Problem as landlord
	9	Problem re own business
		Consumer (5)
	20F	Problem re superannuation
	21	Problem re goods/services
	22	Dispute with financial institution
	23	Problem re insurance
	56	Complaint about lawyer
		Credit/debt (5)
	20A	Problem paying bill/debt
	20B	Dispute re credit rating
	20C	Problem re money owed to you
	20D	Problem as guarantor
	20E	Bankruptcy
		Education (6)
	35A	Unfair exclusion from education
	35B	HECS issue
	35C	School bullying/harassment
	37A	Unfair exclusion from education — parent
	37B	HECS issue — parent
	37C	School bullying/harassment — parent
		Employment (5)
	2A	Dispute re employment conditions
	2B	Unfair termination of employment
	2C	Workplace harassment/mistreatment
	2D	Workplace discrimination
	2E*	Other problem re employment
		Government (15)
	5	Problem re gov. pension/benefit
	31C	Problem re gov. services — carer of disabled/elderly
	43A	Problem re gov. disability/community services
	44A	Dispute re taxation/debt
	43E*	Other problem re gov. services — disabled person
	44B	Problem re freedom of information request
	44C	Immigration problem
	44D	Local council problem
	51	Non-traffic fines you challenged
	53A	Problem re medical treatment — immigration detention
	53B	Problem re legal advice — immigration detention
	53C	Safety threats — immigration detention
	53D	Harassment/abuse by staff — immigration detention
	53E	Problem re release — immigration detention
	57B*	Problem re legal system
Civil (76)		Health (11)
	31B	Involuntary psychiatric hospitalisation — carer
	31F*	Problem re quality of medical treatment — carer
	31G*	Problem re disability facilities — carer
	42A/52	Involuntary psychiatric hospitalisation
	42B	Other mental health care issue
	43B	Problem re non-government disability services
	53A	Problem re medical treatment — psychiatric ward
	53B	Problem re legal advice — psychiatric ward
	53C	Safety threats — psychiatric ward
	53D	Harassment/abuse by staff — psychiatric ward
	53E	Problem re release — psychiatric ward
		Housing (11)
	10A	Bought/sold home
	10B	Dispute with neighbour
	10C	Homelessness
	12	Tenancy problem
	14	Home ownership problem
	16A	Strata title problem
	16B	Problem re caravan/home estate
	16C	Problem re boarding house/hostel
	16D	Problem re retirement home/village
	31A	Nursing home problem — carer of disabled/elderly
	43C	Nursing home problem — disabled person
		Human rightsa (8)
	24A	Discrimination — marital status
	24B	Discrimination — age
	24C	Discrimination — gender
	24D	Discrimination — religion
	24E	Discrimination — sexuality
	24F	Discrimination — ethnicity
	24G	Discrimination — disability
	31H*	Discrimination — carer of disabled/eldery
		Wills/estates (4)
	32A	Make/alter will
	32B	Executor of estate
	32C	Dispute over will/estate
	32D	Power of attorney
Criminal (16)		Domestic violence (3)
	47A	Victim of domestic violence by family member
	47B	Victim of domestic violence by household member
	48	Domestic violence allegation against you
		General crime (11)
	46A	Unfair treatment by police
	46B	Criminal charge
	46C	Problem re bail/remand
	46D	Police failing to investigate crime
	47C	Assault victim
	49	Property stolen/vandalised
	53A	Problem re medical treatment — prison/juvenile detention
	53B	Problem re legal advice — prison/juvenile detention
	53C	Safety threats — prison/juvenile detention
	53D	Harassment/abuse by staff — prison/juvenile detention
	53E	Problem re release — prison/juvenile detention
		Traffic offences (2)
	50A	Loss of driver’s licence
	50B	Other traffic fine/offence you challenged
Family (9)		Family (9)
	25A	Problem re residence/contact for child
	25B	Problem re residence/contact for grandchild
	27A	Problem re child support payments
	27B	Child protection issue
	27C	Fostering/adoption/guardianship issue
	29A	Divorce/separation
	29B	Dispute re matrimonial property
	31D	Guardianship problem — carer of disabled/elderly
	57A*	Other family law problem
Unclassified (3)		Unclassified (3)
	31E	Other problem — carer of disabled/elderly
	43D	Other problem re disability
	57	Other problem

a Human rights events are not related to employment.
* Legal events marked with an asterisk were not specifically asked about in the survey, but were identified by post-coding. While the question number listed for each of these events in the table does not appear on the survey, it indicates the survey question from which the event was post-coded. For example, the legal event numbered 43E was post-coded from question 43.

Table B2a: Gender and age breakdown in sample and population, Campbelltown, 2003

Age (years)		15–24	25–34	35–44	45–54	55–64	65+	15–65+
Sample
Males	no.	64	21	33	37	19	14	188
	(%)	(16)	(5.2)	(8.2)	(9.2)	(4.7)	(3.5)	(46.9)
Females	no.	24	57	49	44	20	19	213
	(%)	(6)	(14.2)	(12.2)	(11)	(5)	(4.7)	(53.1)
Males and females	no.	88	78	82	81	39	33	401
	(%)	(21.9)	(19.5)	(20.4)	(20.2)	(9.7)	(8.2)	(100)
Population
Males	no.	13 091	10 302	10 790	10 594	6 554	4 404	55 735
	(%)	(11.5)	(9.1)	(9.5)	(9.3)	(5.8)	(3.9)	(49.1)
Females	no.	12 299	10 888	11 776	10 957	6 115	5 689	57 724
	(%)	(10.8)	(9.6)	(10.4)	(9.7)	(5.4)	(5)	(50.9)
Males and females	no.	25 390	21 190	22 566	21 551	12 669	10 093	113 459
	(%)	(22.4)	(18.7)	(19.9)	(19)	(11.2)	(8.9)	(100)

Notes:
1. Population data are estimated resident population as at 30 June 2003 (unpublished ABS data).
2. Each % is based on the cell no. divided by the total sample no. in the LGA (405) or the total estimated population in the LGA (55 840), as appropriate. (Data on age were missing for one survey participant.)
3. Three chi-square tests were conducted comparing sample numbers with the corresponding expected numbers based on the population data. (The expected number for each cell = cell % for the population multiplied by the total sample no., e.g. expected no. of males 15–24 years = 8.6% x 405 = 35).
a. one-way x2 for gender: x2=0.00, df=1, p=0.957 (N=406)
b. one-way x2 for age: x2=3.52, df=5, p=0.621 (N=405)
c. two-way x2 for gender by age: x2=19.27, df=5, p=0.002 (N=405)

Table B2b: Gender and age breakdown in sample and population, Fairfield, 2003

Age (years)		15–24	25–34	35–44	45–54	55–64	65+	15–65+
Sample
Males	no.	45	35	38	26	23	26	193
	(%)	(11.3)	(8.8)	(9.5)	(6.5)	(5.8)	(6.5)	(48.3)
Females	no.	38	40	49	45	20	15	207
	(%)	(9.5)	(10)	(12.3)	(11.3)	(5)	(3.8)	(51.8)
Males and females	no.	83	75	87	71	43	41	400
	(%)	(20.8)	(18.8)	(21.8)	(17.8)	(10.8)	(10.3)	(100)
Population
Males	no.	14 539	13 620	14 756	12 999	8 866	8 830	73 610
	(%)	(9.8)	(9.2)	(10)	(8.8)	(6)	(6)	(49.7)
Females	no.	14 281	13 959	14 237	13 014	8 280	10 579	74 350
	(%)	(9.7)	(9.4)	(9.6)	(8.8)	(5.6)	(7.1)	(50.3)
Males and females	no.	28 820	27 579	28 993	26 013	17 146	19 409	147 960
	(%)	(19.5)	(18.6)	(19.6)	(17.6)	(11.6)	(13.1)	(100)

Notes:
1. Population data are estimated resident population as at 30 June 2003 (unpublished ABS data).
2. Each % is based on the cell no. divided by the total sample no. in the LGA (400) or the total estimated population in the LGA (147 960), as appropriate. (Data on age were missing for one survey participant.)
3. Three chi-square tests were conducted comparing sample numbers with the corresponding expected numbers based on the population data. (The expected number for each cell = cell % for the population multiplied by the total sample no., e.g. expected no. of males 15–24 years = 9.8% x 400 = 39).
a. one-way x2 for gender: x2=0.42, df=1, p=0.516 (N=401)
b. one-way x2 for age: x2=4.04, df=5, p=0.544 (N=400)
c. two-way x2 for gender by age: x2=16.09, df=5, p=0.007 (N=400)

Table B2c: Gender and age breakdown in sample and population, South Sydney, 2003

Age (years)		15–24	25–34	35–44	45–54	55–64	65+	15–65+
Sample
Males	no.	41	68	45	28	15	24	221
	(%)	(10.1)	(16.8)	(11.1)	(6.9)	(3.7)	(5.9)	(54.6)
Females	no.	22	59	42	27	22	12	184
	(%)	(5.4)	(14.6)	(10.4)	(6.7)	(5.4)	(3)	(45.4)
Males and females	no.	63	127	87	55	37	36	405
	(%)	(15.6)	(31.4)	(21.5)	(13.6)	(9.1)	(8.9)	(100)
Population
Males	no.	4 794	9 658	6 410	3 838	2 727	2 895	30 322
	(%)	(8.6)	(17.3)	(11.5)	(6.9)	(4.9)	(5.2)	(54.3)
Females	no.	4 762	8 002	4 234	3 172	2 233	3 115	25 518
	(%)	(8.5)	(14.3)	(7.6)	(5.7)	(4)	(5.6)	(45.7)
Males and females	no.	9 556	17 660	10 644	7 010	4 960	6 010	55 840
	(%)	(17.1)	(31.6)	(19.1)	(12.6)	(8.9)	(10.8)	(100)

Notes:
1. Population data are estimated resident population as at 30 June 2003 (unpublished ABS data).
2. Each % is based on the cell no. divided by the total sample no. in the LGA (405) or the total estimated population in the LGA (55 840), as appropriate. (Data on age were missing for one survey participant.)
3. Three chi-square tests were conducted comparing sample numbers with the corresponding expected numbers based on the population data. (The expected number for each cell = cell % for the population multiplied by the total sample no., e.g. expected no. of males 15–24 years = 8.6% x 405 = 35).
a. one-way x2 for gender: x2=0.00, df=1, p=0.957 (N=406)
b. one-way x2 for age: x2=3.52, df=5, p=0.621 (N=405)
c. two-way x2 for gender by age: x2=19.27, df=5, p=0.002 (N=405)

Table B2d: Gender and age breakdown in sample and population, Newcastle, 2003

Age (years)		15–24	25–34	35–44	45–54	55–64	65+	15–65+
Sample
Males	no.	43	35	35	36	19	29	197
	(%)	(10.5)	(8.6)	(8.6)	(8.8)	(4.7)	(7.1)	(48.3)
Females	no.	32	38	42	39	29	31	211
	(%)	(7.8)	(9.3)	(10.3)	(9.6)	(7.1)	(7.6)	(51.7)
Males and females	no.	75	73	77	75	48	60	408
	(%)	(18.4)	(17.9)	(18.9)	(18.4)	(11.8)	(14.7)	(100)
Population
Males	no.	11 036	11 097	10 229	9 160	6 890	9 617	58 029
	(%)	(9.2)	(9.3)	(8.6)	(7.7)	(5.8)	(8)	(48.6)
Females	no.	11 235	10 777	10 110	9 037	6 759	13 534	61 452
	(%)	(9.4)	(9)	(8.5)	(7.6)	(5.7)	(11.3)	(51.4)
Males and females	no.	22 271	21 874	20 339	18 197	13 649	23 151	119 481
	(%)	(18.6)	(18.3)	(17)	(15.2)	(11.4)	(19.4)	(100)

Notes:
1. Population data are estimated resident population as at 30 June 2003 (unpublished ABS data).
2. Each % is based on the cell no. divided by the total sample no. in the LGA (408) or the total estimated population in the LGA (119 481), as appropriate.
3. Three chi-square tests were conducted comparing sample numbers with the corresponding expected numbers based on the population data. (The expected number for each cell = cell % for the population multiplied by the total sample no., e.g. expected no. of males 15–24 years = 9.2% x 408 = 38).
a. one-way x2 for gender: x2=0.01, df=1, p=0.909 (N=408)
b. one-way x2 for age: x2=8.17, df=5, p=0.147 (N=408)
c. two-way x2 for gender by age: x2=14.39, df=5, p=0.013 (N=408)

Table B2e: Gender and age breakdown in sample and population, Nambucca, 2003

Age (years)		15–24	25–34	35–44	45–54	55–64	65+	15–65+
Sample
Males	no.	32	24	30	33	26	57	202
	(%)	(7.7)	(5.8)	(7.2)	(8)	(6.3)	(13.8)	(48.8)
Females	no.	16	17	40	55	38	46	212
	(%)	(3.9)	(4.1)	(9.7)	(13.3)	(90.2)	11.1	-51.2
Males and females	no.	48	41	70	88	64	103	414
	(%)	-11.6	-9.9	-16.9	-21.3	-15.5	-24.9	-100
Population
Males	no.	981	734	1 100	1 367	1 130	1 833	7 145
	(%)	-6.8	-5.1	-7.6	-9.4	-7.8	-12.6	-49.2
Females	no.	873	786	1 263	1 310	1 128	2 024	7 384
	(%)	-6	-5.4	-8.7	-9	-7.8	-13.9	-50.8
Males and females	no.	1 854	1 520	2 363	2 677	2 258	3 857	14 529
	(%)	-12.8	-10.5	-16.3	-18.4	-15.5	-26.5	-100

Notes:
1. Population data are estimated resident population as at 30 June 2003 (unpublished ABS data).
2. Each % is based on the cell no. divided by the total sample no. in the LGA (414) or the total estimated population in the LGA (14 529), as appropriate.
3. Three chi-square tests were conducted comparing sample numbers with the corresponding expected numbers based on the population data. (The expected number for each cell = cell % for the population multiplied by the total sample no., e.g. expected no. of males 15–24 years = 6.8% x 414 = 28).
a. one-way x2 for gender: x2=0.03, df=1, p=0.875 (N=414)
b. one-way x2 for age: x2=2.91, df=5, p=0.714 (N=414)
c. two-way x2 for gender by age: x2=20.35, df=5, p=0.001 (N=414)

Table B2f: Gender and age breakdown in sample and population, Walgett, 2003

Age (years)		15–24	25–34	35–44	45–54	55–64	65+	15–65+
Sample
Males	no.	33	31	42	43	38	37	224
	(%)	(8.3)	(7.8)	(10.5)	(10.8)	(9.5)	(9.3)	(56)
Females	no.	13	38	36	37	30	22	176
	(%)	(3.3)	(9.5)	(9)	(9.3)	(7.5)	(5.5)	(44)
Males and females	no.	46	69	78	80	68	59	400
	(%)	(11.5)	(17.3)	(19.5)	(20)	(17)	(14.8)	(100)
Population
Males	no.	494	606	676	716	640	549	3681
	(%)	(7.6)	(9.4)	(10.4)	(11.1)	(9.9)	(8.5)	(56.8)
Females	no.	414	530	553	511	420	368	2796
	(%)	(6.4)