Telecottages originated in Scandinavia in the 1980s in an attempt to reverse the decline of isolated communities by giving them access to information and services, facilities for training and distance education, and the opportunity to produce income through telecommuting. In 1992-1993, the Australian government began funding the Telecentre Program, which finances the establishment of community-based telecenters in rural communities. The telecenters' mission is to assist in adoption of new technologies and business practices through the use of modern telecommunications and computing technologies. As of June 30, 1994, 31 community-managed telecenter projects had been approved and were in various stages of development. It is anticipated that the 40-45 grants to be approved under the Telecentre Program will permit the establishment of individual telecenters or outstations in more than 70 communities. Telecenters are seen by many as vehicles for improving management of agricultural industries and their resource base in a manner consistent with the principle of ecologically sustainable development; and developing strong, viable, economically diverse, and socially just rural communities. The future of telecenters in Australia's rural communities depends largely on whether the existing telecenters are able to attain self-sufficiency and have a broad impact on their communities. (MN)