This paper looks at the pressures under which academics in Australia are currently working, with special regard to small regional universities. Some time will be spent in explaining the situation and context of those working in the field of education at Northern Territory University as an example. In many respects small regional universities are under greater pressures than their older and larger counterparts in the major centres of population. Regional universities, however, tend to be the sole providers of educational courses over huge areas, which often gives them greater local community support. Amongst the other pressures one sees at the smaller regional universities are the problems of retaining the educationally desirable diversity of courses in a situation where there is little opportunity for economies of scale. The greater use of technology may provide some relief from these pressures and this is currently being investigated. Here again examples will be given.