David is an anthropologist and works as a research fellow at the ARC Centre for Healing Country, Curtin University. In addition to anthropology, he has training in health psychology and software engineering. He specialises in mixed-methods and interdisciplinary work, having conducted qualitative and quantitative research in a range of health and community settings. His research topics include Indigenous medicine, addiction, child health, homelessness, and entrenched disadvantage, among others.
Some examples of David’s research include a biopsychosocial evaluation of a novel addiction treatment program using Indigenous plant medicines in Peru, and the anthropology of cognition and mathematics with remote Indigenous communities in Bolivia. In Australia he has conducted fieldwork with Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley around recovery from natural disasters, the Pilbara on the benefits of community pools, and was also a key contributor to the Ngalang Moort Wangkiny report (100 Families), which highlighted key aspects of Aboriginal and Noongar strength even among disadvantaged families. With Healing Country, his research focuses on the intersection of human health and ecosystem restoration.