My research has particular implications for government, and government agencies are a key audience.  The main impact that my research is intended to have is to inform those in the fire emergency service sector as to the true legal position governing their industry and to assist them in developing effective policy. I anticipate that my research informs them in their discussions with government and with the broader public. Relevant agencies that I have engaged with and continuing to engage with are:

1. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade;

2. The Attorney-General’s Department;

3. Emergency Management Australia;

4. State and Territory fire and emergency services;

5. Transport for New South Wales; and

6. New South Wales Department of Industry, Resources and Energy.

Industry:

The relevant industry that is the subject of my research is largely government operated so a key audience is the State and Territory fire and emergency services. There is however a growing private industry that is also an audience my research. This industry involves:

1. Private paramedic providers; and

2. Industry, and in particular mining, fire and emergency services.

Public:

Members of the public who have an interest in emergency management are also an audience my research.

Impact 

It is difficult to identify direct impact in this regard but I do note the following public acknowledgement of the impact my research:

1. My research was cited by Higgins CJ in his decision in State of New South Wales v West & Anor [2008] ACTCA 14;

2. In a Review of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005 (SA) the Hon. Paul Holloway said (at p 37):
   
   Associate Professor Eburn, and Professor Stephen Dovers of the Australian National University have also made an important contribution to the debate on the assessment of emergency service response to major disasters.
   
   With respect to post-event learning he referred to our work and recommended:
   
   ​When judging major incidents in the future, consideration be given to Eburn and Dover’s proposal to establish processes with a statutory basis that sufficiently balance the community’s interests in ensuring that true lessons, including lessons of error or neglect, are identified, whilst also protecting members of the emergency services. Processes need to be developed for emergency services such as those used in aviation and medicine, to facilitate open and honest disclosure of errors.At a recent conference of the National Council of Ambulance Unions the Shadow Minister for health cited my work in support of her argument to the national registration of paramedics.

3. As a result of my research I have been invited to contribute to discussions to help develop international law in this field in particular I was invited by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to attend expert meetings on international disaster law in both Kuala Lumpur and Geneva and I was invited to attend an experts meeting on the International Law Commission’s draft articles on the Protection of Persons in the Event of a Disaster in Rome.