History of U3A Bundaberg

University of the Third Age (U3A) is an international organisation, embodying the principles of life-long education and the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, in an atmosphere of mutual learning and teaching. Each U3A is a learning community, organised by and for people who can best be described as being active in retirement - the so-called Third Age of their lives.

The term "University" is used in the original and medieval sense of an association or community of teachers and scholars, united in the pursuit of knowledge. 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. It spread rapidly throughout Europe, and the first Australian U3A was opened in Melbourne in 1984. U3A Bundaberg Inc. was established in 1988. There are now over 100 U3A organisations in Australia with a total national membership exceeding 40,000 that 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.

All U3A branches are voluntary, self-help organisations. Each U3A is autonomous and democratic, with a management committee voted in by the membership. We have no employees, all workers including tutors are volunteers, who willingly devote their time to serve our members.