This project had three goals: (1) to seek out the policies and practices currently in place to prepare academic teaching staff to develop, write, and teach in distance education; (2) to identify effective professional preparation and staff development practices for distance education currently in use in Australian postsecondary institutions; and (3) to provide some conclusions and recommendations concerning professional preparation and staff development activities that might help to improve future distance education practice. The first of four sections of the report describes the aims and methodology of the project, and the second reviews the relevant literature on professional preparation and staff development in distance education. Section three presents case study information about the institutions surveyed for the study, including subsections on policies and priorities, professional development practices, and ongoing professional development. The fourth section presents conclusions and recommendations in the areas of policy, responsibility and communication, resources, selection of appropriate staff, induction programs, ongoing professional development, institutional collaboration, and evaluation of staff development methods. Four appendixes include copies of the survey instruments, and four tables of data are provided. (113 references) (GL)