A study was conducted to describe the use of study centers and study center networks as a support system in distance education in Australia. Information was obtained by interviewing students, tutors, and coordinators of study centers within four distance-education systems. The University of Queensland, the Riverina College of Advanced Education, the Victorian TAFE Off Campus Network, and Deakin University were the four participating institutions. Differences among supervision of study centers were considerable although there were marked similarities in patterns of student usage of the centers. Also noted was ambivalence toward the place and meaning of the centers in the minds of the staff and administrators. A number of deficiencies in study centers were identified. From these descriptions, a model of study centers was developed with discussion on a variety of ways to put such a model into effect. Further research is being done by the institutions to determine the feasibility of providing more comprehensive services to students through networking of the study centers. (Author/KC)