A discussion of contemporary issues in Australian study centers for distance education students introduces six case studies which show how some institutions in Australia have endeavored to set up study centers or "borrow" existing local facilities to provide a measure of support for their students. Attempts to set up a telecommunications network at some centers for staff and student interaction are also described, as well as approaches which stress more direct interaction between teaching staff and students. There are two emerging patterns in the provision of study center facilities: (1) the willingness and effort of some institutions to pool resources or to share with others, and (2) the increasing difficulty of funding study centers. An abstract is provided for each of the studies, and a selected, annotated bibliography lists materials on study centers and their functions, and on applications of new technology in student support. (DJR)