U3A :: University of the Third Age :: ABOUT U3A CITY OF MELBOURNE

U3A CITY OF MELBOURNE

The University of the Third Age, City of Melbourne Inc. is the oldest U3A in Australia having been established as a result of a Public Meeting in July, 1984. We an incorporated association, currently with a membership of over 800. Our campus is centred in the Melbourne CBD, although members travel in from many suburbs and some from outlying districts.

U3A is a wholly self-funded, voluntary organisation formed to provide lecture courses to members who are mostly retired, in a wide range of stimulating subjects. Details of these can be found in our current Newsletter or from the Courses page. We also have social activities of interest to our age group, please check the City News for current activities and items of interest.

U3A City of Melbourne currently has about 800 members, all with active minds and eager to learn. They come from a wide range of educational, vocational and cultural backgrounds, with varied life reflected in the wide range of course and other activities available. A critical feature is the self-determination and self-help principle; the membership determines the field and levels of learning activity and all who participate in U3A do so on an entirely voluntary basis.

The 2008 Committee

Barry Fenton (President), John Besley (Vice President);, Ailsa Miles (Secretary), Jim Norton (Treasurer), Jack Turner (Public Officer), George Boag, Mary Horsfall, Helena Ling, Eva Meredith, Valerie Pincus, David Philips, Margaret Rees, Anne Riddell, Peter Salmon, Jill Thompson.

Becoming a member

New members are welcome.

Applications for membership must be made on a form available either by contacting the U3A office or downloaded from here. Return the completed form and your payment to the U3A office along with a self-addressed stamped envelope large enough to take A4 sheets folded into three. Your membership card will be sent to you along with information about courses. Alternatively you may join and pay at the office, although this may involve some waiting if staff are busy. Your membership cost covers all participation in courses throughout the year (although tutors may seek reimbursement of small expenditures on class materials, e.g. photocopies).


»	U3A City of Melbourne Information Sheet PDF
»	Membership Form
	Right click the document links & select "save target as" from the menu to save the form to your computer, where it can be printed using Word (DOC) or Acrobat (PDF).
»	$30.00 Individual membership
»	$50.00 Joint membership
	For two persons, who live at the same address and wish to share newsletters, notices and other mailed material
»	$20.00 Associate membership
	This is available to members of other U3A who wish to join courses at U3A City of Melbourne. Associate members receive copies of the monthly newsletter by mail *Please note that the office does not have EFTPOS or credit card facilities.*

Our courses

There are over 40 ongoing courses or activity groups on the program for 2008. Broadly they cover:

»	languages - French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish
»	insights into other cultures
»	literature, writing, book discussion
»	current affairs, philosophy
»	music ensemble, choir
»	painting, craft, floristry
»	chess, mahjong, cryptic crosswords
»	wine appreciation
»	exercise, tai chi, relaxation and yoga
»	computer use, software applications

Most courses run weekly from March to December, with classes lasting from one to two hours. Some break in school holidays, most do not. Additionally, a summer program of short courses runs during January and February each year.
New courses are added according to the availability of tutors - all of whom are unpaid and come from within the membership. Members are encouraged to contact the Courses Coordinator with ideas for new courses, particularly if they could themselves act as tutors.
There are no entrance qualifications for membership or for enrolment in courses, neither is any certificate of accreditation given on completion of courses.

Other Activities

Members have the opportunity to attend luncheon forums four times a year - a chance to meet up with fellow members over a sandwich lunch and hear a short talk by an interesting guest speaker. From time to time workshops are held on subjects of topical interest, and there are periodical conferences and joint activities with other U3A or related bodies.
Organised social activities include guided walks and visits to places of interest, cruises or coach trips, and outings to theatres and other entertainment venues. U3A members are also offered opportunities to take part in research on aspects of retirement and ageing.

Tutors

Tutors for the most part are members who have practised and/or taught their subject professionally for some years before retirement. In other cases, they are enthusiasts who have gained knowledge or experience through the pursuit of a particular leisure time activity. Many tutors are themselves students in other courses run by U3A City of Melbourne.

Behind the scenes

U3A City of Melbourne is managed by a committee of office-bearers and members, elected at an annual general meeting each November. The committee meets monthly. Matters of general interest are reported to members in City News.
The office personnel are also voluntary and willingly give of their time and energy to perform administrative duties.

Privacy Statement

To conform with Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2002 all information given on this form is kept confidential and cannot be accessed by any person or organisation unless by consent of the member

The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cant read them. Mark Twain

Please contact us with any enquiries.