Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Biography
Professor David Gilchrist has worked in and around the human services sector for 30 years. He has held executive roles in, consulted to and been part of the governance team of various charitable human services organisations including in disability services, aged care and child protection. In all of these areas, David has contributed to policy and practice. Prior to joining the Academe, he was assistant auditor general for Western Australia and has taught at London School of Economics and Portsmouth University in the UK, and Curtin University and Edith Cowan University here in Australia. He was national associate dean of the business school at Notre Dame where he was also adjunct professor of Not-for-profit leadership.
David has researched in the areas of nonprofit sustainability, economics and governance and has written over 100 industry reports and papers focusing on key issues related to the sector. He has written, edited or contributed to eight books, is currently chair of Paraplegic Benefit Fund Limited and Primary Focus Limited. David was co-founder and co-director of the NPO Research Unit at Hebei GEO University, People's Republic of China where he is a visiting professor. David is also a visiting fellow at Queensland University of Technology's School of Accountancy and visiting professor Airlangga University in Surabaya, Indonesia. David was made a Fellow of the Parliament of Western Australia in 2021 and received a Meritorious Service Award from Chartered Accountants Australian and New Zealand in 2024.
Engagement
Visiting Fellow, Queensland University of Technology, School of Accountancy
Visiting Professor: Airlangga University, Surabaya, Republic of Indonesia
Member: Asian Centre for Civil Society Research, 2021 -
Funding overview
Total Research Funding Achieved: $8,676,288
Example Recent Funding & Major Projects
2025
Funder: Allambee Counselling Incorporated
Project: Estimating the Economic Cost of Sexual Violence in Australia
Funding: $20,000
Funder: Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Project: Toward Interoperability of Australia-China Sustainable Finance Taxonomies
Funding: $580,000
2024
Funder: Melaleuca Australia
Project: Nonprofit Ecnomic Papers Program Support
Funidng: $5,000
Funder: Northern Territory Council of Social Service
Project: State of the Northern Territory Sector Report 2024
Funding: $25,000
Funder: Australian Capital Territory Government
Project: Forecasting Human Services Need
Funding: $25,000
Funder: Trawalla Foundation
Project: Pathways to Politics for Women Programme II
Funding: $75,000
Funder: Australian Accounting Standards Board
Project: Nonprofit Accounting Standards Research
Funding: $61,552
Funder: Australian Capital Territory Government
Project: Tools and Resources to Support Fully Costing Human Services Delivery
Funding: $150,000
2023
Funder: Minderoo Foundation
Project: Pathways to Politics for Women Programme I - Travel & Accommodation Assistance
Funding: $30,000
Funder: Trawalla Foundation
Project: Pathways to Politics for Women Programme I
Funding: $50,000
2022
Funder: Australia New Zealand School of Government
Project: Governance and Smaller Statutory Agencies
Funding: $98,000
Funder: Institute of Community Directors Australia
Project: Australian Nonprofit Accounting Standards Research Program
Funding: $220,000
Funder: Tasmanian Council of Social Service
Project: The Tasmanian Human Services Indexation Project
Funding: $20,000
Funder: Queensland Council of Social Service
Project: The Queensland Human Services Indexation Project
Funding: $20,000
Funder: Australian Research Council
Project: The Economic and Social Contribution of the Western Australian CME Sector
Funding: $395,790
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Economic History, PhD, Imperial Theory, Colonial Pragmatism, University of Notre Dame (Australia)
Award Date: 31 Dec 2015
Political Science and History, BA, Curtin University
Award Date: 31 Dec 2004
Accounting, BBus, Curtin University
Award Date: 31 Dec 1992
External positions
Deputy Chair - Trans Tasman Nonprofit Advisory Committee, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
2024 → …
WA Committee Member, Economic Society of Australia
2024 → 2025
Trans-Tasman Nonprofit Advisory Committee, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
2023 → 2024
Committee Member, Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand
2023 → …
Member, Practitioner Advisory Group, IFR4NPO
22 Apr 2021 → 2025
Forum Member, Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
31 Jan 2021 → 2024
Chair, Primary Focus Limited
2021 → …
Chair, Public Sector & Nonprofit Special Interest Group, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand
2019 → 2022
Member, Australian Accounting Standards Board Academic Advisory Panel
2014 → …
Industry keywords
- Disability
- Government
- Social and Welfare Issues
- Ageing
- Finance and Business
- Health
Research expertise keywords
- Nonprofit Governance
- Nonprofit Finance
- Welfare Economics
- Public Sector Audit
- Nonprofit Audit
- Human Services
- Economic History
- East Asian History
- Not-for-profit Finance
- Human Services Funding
- Charities
Fingerprint
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
Research output
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AASB Research Report: Connectivity of Non-Financial Information and Financial Information - A NFP Private Sector Study
Ghoorah, U., Gilchrist, D., Furneaux, C., Hancock, P. & Schonfeldt, N., 2025, Australian Accounting Standards Board.Research output: Working paper
Open AccessFile11 Downloads (Pure) -
AASB Research Report: Service Performance Reporting for Private Sector Not-for-profits - An Updated Literature Review
Ghoorah, U., Gilchrist, D., Chu, V., Nikidehaghani, M., Yang, C. & Zhang, Y., 2025, Australia: Australian Accounting Research Foundation.Research output: Working paper
Open AccessFile12 Downloads (Pure) -
AASB Research Report: Service Performance Reporting - Insights from Domestic and International Experience
Ghoorah, U., Gilchrist, D., Chu, V., Hancock, P., Nikidehaghani, M., Yang, C. & Zhang, Y., 2025, Australia: Australian Accounting Standards Board.Research output: Working paper
Open AccessFile15 Downloads (Pure) -
A Critical Examination of Data for Market Stewardship: The Case of the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme
Malbon, E., Gilchrist, D., Carey, G., Dickinson, H., Chamberlain, D., Kavanagh, A., Chand, S. & Alexander, D., Jun 2025, In: Australian Journal of Public Administration. 84, 2, p. 442-454 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Allocating Charities' Financial Reporting Requirements Using Tiers: Australian Perspectives
Wen, H., Gilchrist, D., Agrawal, P. & Bayne, L., Jun 2025, In: Accounting & Finance. 65, 2, p. 1962-1986 25 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
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Allambee Cost of Violence Project
Gilchrist, D. (Investigator 01), Perks, B. (Investigator 02) & Maginn, P. (Investigator 03)
25/06/25 → 31/12/26
Project: Research
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NTCOSS Value of the Sector Report 2025
Gilchrist, D. (Investigator 01)
Northern Territory Council of Social Service
3/03/25 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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Towards Interoperabiity of Australia-China Sustainable Finance Taxonomy
Zhong, R. (Investigator 01), Cheng, W. (Investigator 02), Gilchrist, D. (Investigator 03) & Bamsey, H. (Investigator 04)
National Foundation for Australia China Relations
1/03/25 → 1/02/27
Project: Research
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Melaleuca Australia Research Grant
Gilchrist, D. (Investigator 01)
1/03/25 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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Variation 2 - Tools and Resources to Support Fully Costing Human Services Delivery
Gilchrist, D. (Investigator 01), Flatau, P. (Investigator 02), Lester, L. (Investigator 03), Callis, Z. (Investigator 04) & Perks, B. (Investigator 05)
1/01/25 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
Prizes
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UWA Business School Engagement and Impact Award 2021
Gilchrist, D. (Recipient), 10 Dec 2021
Prize: Award
File -
Activities
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Seminar: Proposed New Accounting Standards for Nonprofits
Gilchrist, D. (Speaker)
17 Feb 2025Activity: Conferences and workshops › Participation in workshop, seminar or course
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Centre for Social Impact UWA Webinar Series: Making Community Services Sustainable
Gilchrist, D. (Keynote speaker/Invited speaker)
1 Apr 2025Activity: Conferences and workshops › Participation in workshop, seminar or course
File -
Nonprofit Accounting Standards Update
Gilchrist, D. (Keynote speaker)
12 Feb 2025Activity: Service and engagement › Expert, expert witness or advisor
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Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand Western Australia NFP Round Table
Gilchrist, D. (Keynote speaker/Invited speaker)
29 May 2025Activity: Conferences and workshops › Participation in workshop, seminar or course
File -
Finance Leaders' Forum - Is Financial Sustainability In The Non-Profit Sector Truly Achievable?
Gilchrist, D. (Keynote speaker)
30 Apr 2025Activity: Service and engagement › Public lecture, debate or seminar
File
Press/Media
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Matters that Matter: For-Purpose Insights From Koda's Philanthropy & Social Capital Team
11/09/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Institute of Community Directors Advocacy - The Mergers Edition
17/07/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Footy Boot Exchange Program Cuts Waste, Saves Families Money
5/07/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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