In 1984 Australia's federal government decided to reactivate the Curriculum Development Centre, an agency abandoned in the early 1980's for political and economic reasons. This paper examines the context in which the center currently acts and the operations that it conducts. The paper first considers background issues related to national curriculum development, including the respective roles of the national and state governments in education, the needs of various client groups, and the relative value of producing instructional materials rather than seeking broader goals. The next section of the paper discusses and presents examples of three basic approaches to national curriculum development: (1) identification and national dissemination of successful local practices; (2) the development of national consensus on curricular topics; and (3) the attraction of national attention to problems or issues of common concern. The paper concludes with a brief review of the practical steps necessary to ensure adequate communication between the national center and local delivery systems or practitioners. The importance of maintaining a sense of partnership among those affected is stressed. (PGD)