About Network

U3A Network Victoria is the peak body for the University of the Third Age (U3A) movement in Victoria. It represents 104 Member U3As, and their 35,500 members.

For media enquiries: please contact our office on (03) 9670 3659 or fill in the form below.

Our story

It is often said that ‘from little things big things grow’ and that is true for how the U3A movement in Victoria, Australia began.  Four friends were sitting having coffee at a gerontology conference in Melbourne in 1984.  Each independently had experienced the development of the U3A movement in Europe and the UK.  They were enthusiastic about the potential to offer an opportunity to address the neglect of the educational needs and aspirations of older Australians.

A public meeting was held later that year to assess the interest from retired members of the community.  The venue was filled to capacity.  The four friends answered numerous questions and it became clear that the notion of a self-managed education program operated for and by older people had struck a chord.  An interim committee of volunteers was formed and a plan of action developed.  Within a very short time four U3As were established.

From these four U3As established in 1984, the movement has grown to 104 across metropolitan and rural Victoria with 35,500 members in 2023.  Each U3A is an independent body operating under an elected Committee of Management.  They are managed by volunteers.  Members pay an annual subscription fee to join which ranges between $25 and $100 and gives members access to a diverse range of exciting and interesting activities.

Our governance

U3A Network Victoria is governed by a volunteer committee of management, comprising representatives of our Member U3As

The Committee is made up of the President, two Vice Presidents, the Secretary and Treasurer plus six Committee Members

President                      Anne Grigg, U3A Kingston
Vice President              Susan Webster, U3A Box Hill
Vice President              John Taubman, U3A Kyneton
Secretary                      Neil Head, U3A Brimbank
Treasurer                      Ann Corcoran, U3A Baw Baw

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Cynthia Paciocco, U3A Bentleigh

Graham Gosling, U3A Port Phillip

Glen Wall, U3A Whittlesea

Three vacant committee positions

In addition to the Committee, there are a number of sub-committees and working parties that work on specific projects.  These include the Executive Committee, the Finance Subcommittee, Technology Steering Committee and the Combined Regions Committee.

There are a number of regular meetings which Network Committee Members attend.  They are:

• Member Council Meetings

• Network Committee Meetings

Information about these meetings can be found in the members only area for U3As of this website.

In addition, Committee Members represent Network at various regional meetings and occasionally at U3A Annual General Meetings.  Arrangements for attending these are made via Network Office.

Committee Members and other officers of Network can be contacted through Network Office on (03) 9670 3659 or info@u3avictoria.org.au