Removing disaster barriers through policy reform

Building community resilience to natural disasters is a complex challenge that spans many policy areas. This research has delivered policy options to help governments and emergency services to strengthen resilience in communities. 

The study revealed significant tensions in the shared responsibilities between governments exercising power and community empowerment; between the conflicting needs of insurers and their clients; and within traditional models of post-disaster inquiries. It is proposed that restorative practices are trialed as a powerful alternative to adversarial post-event inquiries.      

Further reading

Dovers S (2017), Emergency management and policy: research impact and utilisation, research proceedings from the AFAC17 powered by INTERSCHUTZ conference, Sydney, September 2017.

Eburn M and Dovers S (2017), Reviewing high-risk and high-consequence decisions: finding a safer way, Australian Journal of Emergency Management 32(4) pp 24-27.

Eburn M (2016), The International Law of Wildfires in Research Handbook on Disasters and International Law, Edward Elgar (eds) Susan C Breau and Katja LH Samuel.

Eburn M and Dovers S (2016) Learning for emergency services, looking for a new approach, Discussion Paper, Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC.

Lukasiewicz A, Dovers S, Eburn M (2017), Shared responsibility: the who, what and how, Environmental Hazards, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17477891.2017.1298510

McDonald F, Eburn M, Smith E (2016), Legal and Ethical Aspects of Disaster Management in Disaster Health Management: A Primer for Students and Practitioners, Routledge (eds) Gerry FitzGerald, Mike Tarrant, Peter Aitken and Marie Fredriksen.