Changes in Australia's rural economy have resulted in reductions in the availability of government services and education and training. One response to these reductions has been the emergence of community-managed multirole facilities that deliver a range of community services, including access to education and training. Although these centers are used for education and training purposes by many rural people, they are not designated expressly for education delivery and do not necessarily employ educational professionals on their staff. Multirole centers have a valid place as education and training access points for smaller rural communities that are too small to sustain dedicated distance education facilities. Telecenters have become the most common form of the multipurpose center approach to community service delivery in rural areas. Telecenters are community-managed facilities that provide public access to computers and information technology for education and training, business enterprise development, and access to a range of government and community services. Multirole access facilities such as telecenters are particularly suited to learners returning to education after a lengthy absence. Australia currently has approximately 120 telecenter-like facilities that are generally highly valued by their host communities and funded by a range of federal, state, local government, and community sources. (MN)