University Of The Third Age Melbourne City

Are you aged 50+ and are retired or semi-retired from the workforce? Want to keep your brain – and body – active and develop new social networks? Want to share your skills and experience with others? Then come and join U3A Melbourne City, located in vibrant Flinders Lane in the heart of Melbourne CBD.

Our volunteer tutors and course leaders offer an extensive course program and there is bound to be something that sparks your interest. There are no academic prerequisites or entrance requirements other than a passion for and interest in learning and wherever possible sharing your own knowledge and skills. There are no examinations or tests, and no awards are granted. U3A Melbourne City is a self-help, voluntary, not-for-profit organisation, and part of the world-wide network of Universities of the Third Age (U3A).

U3A Melbourne City. is the oldest University of the Third Age in Australia, established as a result of a public meeting in July 1984. We are an incorporated association, currently with approximately1500 members. We are located in the Melbourne CBD, although members travel in from many suburbs and some from outlying districts. In keeping with the U3A ethos, we are a self-funded, voluntary organisation formed to provide learning opportunities to members aged 50 plus who are retired or not working full-time.

Our courses cover a wide range of stimulating subjects. Details can be found on the MyU3A page and also in the current issue of our newsletter City News - which also advertises social activities and other items of interest. A critical feature of all U3As is the self-determination and self-help principle. A committee of management is elected annually from the membership, and all administration and tutoring is carried out by volunteers. There is an expectation that every member will, at some time, contribute to the extent that they are able.

You don’t have to be a tutor and do all the teaching yourself in order to run a group. And you don’t necessarily have to have a background in teaching or lecturing, or be an expert in the field! If you are passionate about or have a strong interest in a particular subject – an interest that you think others might share - then perhaps you might consider convening your own special interest group.

One way in which we can help get a special interest group up and running is by using course materials from U3A Online. U3A Melbourne City has recently become a member. This means that, for a small cost, we can download course materials that a group can work through together, face-to-face, at their own pace. There are about 55 independent study courses (and course materials) to choose from.