This report covers studies carried out in 1976 and 1977 into the conduct of parent workshops and the operation of preschool education groups in the Span program, a program for geographically isolated families in Queensland, Australia. The 1976 workshop was designed to increase parents' knowledge, skills and participation in playgroups for their children. The evaluation of the workshop employed questionnaires, interviews and observation of Span groups. In 1977 an evaluation questionnaire was administered to workshop participants to obtain background information on mothers, their reasons for attending the workshop and their playgroup experience. Structured individual and group interviews later were conducted with 357 Queensland parents attending Span groups. The individual interview focused on demographic characteristics, Span group characteristics, previous involvement of parents in other organizations, and attitudes about the Span workshop. Group interviews sought parent opinion on topics ranging from group characteristics such as meeting place and ages of children present, to group policies concerning supervision and parental responsibilities. Among the conclusions, it was found that in general parents perceived that their children benefited from social contact with age peers but did not see positive program effects on their home situations. Span program materials, evaluation instruments and supplementary data are included in 12 appendices. (Author/RH)