Protected, But Unprotected: Qualitatively Exploring the Experiences of Western Australian Academics During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on the ways in which academics engage in their work, with many unique demands, anxieties, and pressures placed on them. Adjustments to the work and home lives have been made as a result. I explored how Western Australian academics experienced working in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic. 11 participants were interviewed, and data was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings illustrated (1) how Western Australian academics initially reacted to the building COVID-19 concern, and its impacts on higher education, (2) the ways in which Western Australian academics responded to the daily changes, and (3) the lessons learned from the pandemic to assist academics moving forward. Overall, the findings of this study contribute to a growing body of literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education and provide important insights into the experiences of Western Australian academics.