Addressing social and community planning issues with spatial information

In Australia today, there is still relatively limited use being made of spatial information systems (SIS). Nevertheless, the technology and methodology is developing rapidly. What is already available has the capacity to assist in the process of making social service provision and community planning more people oriented, more effective and more equitable in its outcomes. Recognising the need for a sound social science context, this paper demonstrates, using a range of examples especially geared towards rural and regional Australia, the work of the National Key Centre for Social Applications of Geographical Information Systems.