Australian accounting academics: challenges and possibilities

Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to provide a thought-provoking, attention-directing diegesis about the quality of the experience for those working as academic accounting scholars. Design/methodology/approach –Using storytelling by the authors as narrators and a literature review, this paper examines challenges to, and possibilities for, accounting academics. Findings – The study reveals a number of possibilities for the sustainability of the accounting academy in Australia, all of which rely on the symbiotic relations between the three elements of the profession – practitioners, policymakers and academics – to prepare accounting and business professionals for the future. Practical limitations/implications - The study is limited to the Australian context of academic accountants and, therefore, the identified possibilities for accounting academics in other contexts may differ. Practical implications - This paper identifies the challenges for contemporary accounting academics in Australia and presents opportunities for sustainability of the Australian accounting academy. Originality/value – This paper uses a story to explore its overarching theme of the quality of the academic experience for accounting academics in Australia. The story is developed from the authors’ combined experiences of > 80 years as accounting academics who are also actively engaged with the profession.