U3A Brisbane
U3A is the University of the Third Age, which is the age of active retirement, coming after the age of youth and work and home making. University is a loose term - there are no academic requirements for membership and no exams.
U3A is a worldwide self-help organisation promoting learning for personal enjoyment and wellbeing. Keeping the brain active, doing interesting things and making new friends are essential for helping older people to maximise their chances of independence, and this is what U3A does very effectively. U3A is making a very substantial contribution to society by helping its members to remain healthy and active for longer.
U3A Brisbane is one of many similar U3A organisations in Australia. Formed in 1986, we are a totally volunteer organisation, and provide leisure and educational courses to local seniors. We have over 3000 members and offer more than 200 educational courses each term, all of these at low cost. Most classes are in-person, but we also offer online classes.
Our City Campus classes are held at our own premises at 97 Creek Street Brisbane, and in leased rooms nearby at 232 Adelaide St Brisbane, just a short walk from bus, train or ferry. Other City Precinct classes are held at various locations in the CBD.
We also have classes in surrounding suburbs and districts - in Logan (our largest district outside the city), Southside, Northside, Westside and Wynnum.
See the Class Search page for information on all current classes, and our How to Join page for information about joining U3A Brisbane. Our Site Map provides links to all pages on our website.
How we Operate
To attend our classes, you must first become a member. Membership is for a calendar year and costs $45 per annum. You can then enrol in classes via the Class Search page. District (suburban) classes are generally free of charge, but our City Campus classes require an upfront fee for the term. There are 4 terms per year based on Qld school terms. For more information see our How to Join page.
OUR CLASS MIX
We currently have about 160 face-to-face classes in our City Campus and district venues. We also have many active classes employing various Remote Learning methods, e.g. email, discussion groups, including 40 Online Classes using Zoom videoconferencing. Congratulations to both tutors and members who have embraced the new learning opportunities.
LATEST eNEWS September 2023
Term 4 Classes
To join a new class, enrol through the Class Search page by clicking on the Enrol button, or contact the tutor directly. If you book online you may assume your enrolment is accepted unless the tutor advises otherwise.
If you are currently enrolled in a Term 3 class that you wish to continue attending in Term 4, you can use the Member Dashboard to re-enrol.
Search Classes and Enrol
Class Help Page Download Class Schedule PDF
2023 Term dates:
| Term | From | To | Weeks |
| 1 | 23 January | 31 March | 10 |
| 2 | 17 April | 23 June | 10 |
| 3 | 10 July | 15 September | 10 |
| 4 | 3 October | 8 December | 10 |
2024 Term dates:
| Term | From | To | Weeks |
| 1 | 22 January | 28 March | 10 |
| 2 | 15 April | 21 June | 10 |
| 3 | 8 July | 13 September | 10 |
| 4 | 30 September | 6 December | 10 |
Special Online Event in September
Wednesday 27 September 11am-12:30pm. QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute: New Better Health Together Program – bringing your perspective to the research we do
The Better Health Together program sees community members and people with lived experience of illness or chronic conditions partner with the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute to influence, shape and co-deliver research projects. Dr Nancy Cloake is the Consumer and Community Involvement Lead at the Institute, and is responsible for coordinating the Consumer and Community Involvement Program called Better Health Together. She supports both researchers and members of our community at all stages of the research cycle, ensuring involvement is meaningful for all.
www.qimrberghofer.edu.au/our-research/guide-our-research
Nancy will explain what consumer and community involvement is (and is not), how the Better Health Together program works, and how you can get involved with researchers at QIMR Berghofer. You will also hear a QIMR Berghofer researcher share their experience of having a community member partner with their team. Lastly, have your chance to share your stories with Nancy, when she asks has anyone here been involved in a research project?
Nancy trained as a medical researcher with a focus in novel treatments for multiple sclerosis, a devastating autoimmune condition, earning her PhD in 2015. Since leaving the laboratory bench she has held roles in communicating research, inspiring curiosity in science within the community, and attracting support for research innovation. She has a keen interest in discoveries that improve human life and human health, and a passion to ensure this knowledge is built upon and shared so it may help those with the greatest need.
QR Code Attendance System
U3A Brisbane uses our own internal QR Code system to record class attendances. See Using the QR System for more information.
Accessibility
U3A Brisbane endeavours to ensure that classes and information are provided in an accessible manner where possible. This includes the use of Closed Captions for online classes. See our Accessibility page for more information.
U3A Discussion Forum
U3A Brisbane now has a Discussion Forum, mainly intended for members to discuss class content with each other. In order to access the forum, members who have not otherwise registered a password as Tutor or staff Volunteer need to firstly:
Register a username and password via Website Registration. Make sure you respond to the security email otherwise the password won't be registered. If you ever forget your password, you can re-set it via the same process.
Once you have a username and password:
1. Login via the login window at top right of home page.
2. Go to Members menu that will then show on the right and select Discussion Forum.
Tutors may request a new forum category for their class. See Discussion Forum explanatory page for more information.
COVID Safe Plans
U3A Brisbane is required to have COVID-19 Safe Plans in place for face-to-face classes and current plans are available below. Tutors must contact the relevant District Coordinator if you wish to conduct a face-to-face class and you must agree to abide by the relevant Plan.
COVID Safe Plan - City Campus 2023COVID Safe Plan - District Classes 2023
Acknowledgement of Country
In the spirit of reconciliation, U3A Brisbane (the inner city area is traditionally known as Meanjin) would like to acknowledge the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples, the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connection to land, sea and community. U3A extends this acknowledgement to all Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
