PROJECT
Digital Nomads
Started at UWA: 2024
Digital Nomads
The aim of this study is to discover who nomads are in WA, what their living conditions are like, and to ascertain their digital infrastructure needs. To date, although research has been conducted on ‘grey nomads’; retirees who choose to travel rather than stay in a permanent location, little work has been done on digital nomads; people who work online while travelling.
Nomads can work part time or full time. They can be self-employed or employed by a company or organisation. Nomads might also identify as ‘grey nomads’, ‘travellers’ or ‘families or individuals on a gap year’.
By ascertaining the general demographics of nomads, and their needs and experiences, this project may be used to identify key areas where further information-gathering and research is required, as well as communicate needs to governments, ideally leading to improved digital and bureaucratic infrastructure; hence the term ‘Digital Nomad’.
Our goals are to:
- Ascertain the demographics of nomads in WA
- Ascertain the living conditions of nomads in WA
- Understand the digital infrastructure and bureaucratic needs of nomads in WA
Team
- Amanda Davies
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Professor Amanda Davies is a social scientist with expertise in demography, population geography and rural and regional development.
Her research focuses on examining population growth, distribution and patterns of demographic change, particularly in response to economic, social or climatic challenges.
Amanda has undertaken research on Australia’s nomadic population with open access outputs including:
- Katarina Damjanov
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Dr Katarina Damjanov is Senior Lecturer in Media and Communication.
Her research engages with digital technologies and infrastructures, media, cultures and mobilities, and the socio-environmental impact of emerging technology.
- Sian Tomkinson
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Sian Tomkinson is a media and communication scholar.
Her specialties include game studies and gender studies, and she has experience coordinating and managing research projects.
