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  University
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  Third Age

Welcome

History of U3A (University of the Third Age)

U3As are like universities in the original sense of the word - communities of people who come together to learn from one another. U3As are learning cooperatives of retired or semi-retired people. By offering many educational, creative and leisure activities to their members, they encourage positive ageing.

In any U3A community there are always some people willing to share their knowledge with others by acting as course leaders or tutors, or by assisting with administration. Quite often, members are leaders in some classes and learners in others.

Third Age refers to the life period of active retirement, which follows the first age of childhood and formal education and the second age of working life, and which precedes the fourth age of dependence.

The concept of U3A was developed in Toulouse in 1972, to bring older people into contact with academic programmes at the University. The first British U3A was established in 1982 at Cambridge. The British U3As have embraced principles of self-help and self-determination, structuring programmes and courses to meet the wishes of members and drawing on resources available within the membership as far as possible. These same principles have been adopted by U3A in Australia.

In Australia
The first U3A was established in Melbourne and the first courses were offered at the beginning of 1985. There are now more than 100 Australia-wide with a total national membership exceeding 40,000.

U3A Kingborough Inc started in 2000 and offers courses in Kingston at the Adult Education Building Block A, at the West Winds Community Centre in Woodbridge, and other venues as appropriate. It is one of seven U3As in southern Tasmania.

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this page last updated - 28 March 08