Charity Property Assets in Australia: A Case for Reform?

Drawing on a corporate real estate management (CREM) perspective, this paper examines the property holdings of two long-established Australian charities to explore how real estate assets are governed, managed, and reported. The study investigates how charities account for property wealth, address associated risks and liabilities, and disclose information relevant to organisational accountability. Findings indicate that current reporting frameworks and the limited application of CREM principles obscure the scale, value, and performance of charitable property portfolios. Consequently, stakeholders may be unable to fully assess organisational financial health or long-term sustainability. The paper argues for stronger asset management practices, asset registers, and enhanced reporting frameworks that provide a more complete understanding of charities’ financial position and property-related risks.