Many of you have worked through what has been a challenging year for us all, and particularly for community organisations run by volunteers. Perhaps your U3A has experienced a drop in membership that has led to financial challenges that were not anticipated, planned for or easily overcome. At Network, we congratulate you on coping with the shutdowns and the challenges brought on by the pandemic and being able to keep your local U3A operating through tough times.

As the year draws to a close, I reflect on the highlights and the moments that have, for me, defined the U3A Network Queensland’s year:

• My election to the role as Network President.
• A successful Network Conference hosted by U3A Pine Rivers.
• The launch of the new Network website.
• The restructuring of the incoming Network committee.
• The establishment of the Network Liaison program.
• The mentoring of U3A Rockhampton & Districts as they plan for our 2023 State Conference and the celebration of 50 years of U3A worldwide.

Of course, the highlight of 2023 will be the Network State Conference in Rockhampton in May 2023 that will include the celebration of 50 years of U3A worldwide. I hope you and members of your U3A can join us for this historic event and celebration. For more information about the Conference and celebrations please go to our website here.

For all management committee members, the Network Liaison program has been particularly satisfying, with all our member U3As welcoming the committee members assigned to liaison duties across the State. During my visits to Warwick, Granite Belt, Ipswich & West Moreton, Rockhampton & District, Capricorn Coast and Gladstone U3As I have been so appreciative of the welcome and hospitality afforded to me on those visits, also the genuine appreciation that Network has come to find out what they have to say.

The pleasure to chair Presidents’ Council meetings in Townsville and Beaudesert has also been a joy along with the opportunity to open the U3A Ipswich & West Moreton Art Exhibition.

You and your U3A members will have other highlights and defining moments that demonstrate the significance of belonging to the Network, including the value of sharing information, consulting with our colleagues on common issues and having the option of tapping into the experience of others. These benefits are beyond measure and we aim to build on those important benefits during 2023.

As is always the case, the optimism, enthusiasm and positiveness of all U3As will be the key to ensuring that 2023 will be a year of growth and development.

To each and every volunteer, regardless of where you are in this beautiful state, I say a heartfelt “Thank You.” Thank you for your dedication, loyalty and commitment. Our organisation would not exist without you, and the future success of U3A depends on you and your continued support.

To you and your loved ones I wish you all a safe and Happy Christmas and New Year. Together, let’s make 2023 a year to celebrate.

Rhonda Weston AM
President

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U3A Network Queensland has acted on concerns expressed by Presidents and Committees regarding a coherent vaccination policy applying to members attending U3A classes. As a result, policy guidelines for use by management committees have been published and communicated to U3As across the State.

The policy follows extensive consultations pro bono with legal practitioners about this very complex and tricky matter.  President Gail Bonser said that the policy and accompanying Question and Answer document were prepared by a Senior Counsel and U3A associations can make the policy their own with assurance that it has a legal foundation.

“The Q&A cites common questions about the policy, with suggested answers,” President Gail said.

“The Network Management Committee members have been pleased to be able to assist U3As by securing legal advice on their behalf.”

A suggested Vaccination Policy template for U3As may be viewed and downloaded here.

The Q&A Document that provides context to the policy document may be viewed and downloaded here.

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I am so pleased to be able to communicate directly with Presidents and Management Committee members through this communique, which provides a great opportunity to tell you about some of the many Network Committee activities. While Network News offers some news of Network activity, the communique is an opportunity to discuss the more strategic directions being pursued by the Network Committee.

An important facet of our work is making the U3A movement and its value better known. If the value of U3A is recognised at state and local government levels, by potential and actual stakeholders and in the wider community the derived benefits could be increased membership, a greater possibility of partnerships and strategic relationships and the opportunity for the establishment of U3As where currently there are none.

The Network Strategic Plan 2021 – 2025 focuses on five principal objectives – membership; communication; support; sustainability and innovation.
Work is proceeding towards achieving the actions set down in each objective area and details of some projects and strategies are outlined in this communique. For this issue I’d like to highlight actions being taken to build the brand, communicate more effectively and increase awareness of the value of U3A.

You may have noticed that the Network has adopted a brighter, fresher looking logo. The logo is outlined in the Brand Guidelines which can be found on the website. From now on, all Network presentations will follow the branding set down in the guidelines. While the branding was developed for the Network it is available for any U3A in Queensland to adopt.

The Network website is undergoing change as well, with the idea of it becoming more of an interface with U3A associations and stakeholders and a primary communication tool. While it will continue to carry the resources developed to assist U3As, expect to see news and events right up front.

It is essential that all who know and love U3A promote it widely. Brochures to assist in promotion have been produced by the Network Communication Sub-committee and all U3As will have received or are about to receive a bundle of them for their own promotion. Each brochure has a space on the back of it where a U3A can place their stamp or sticker to show their contact details.

Please have a look at the 2021 Communication Plan within this communique.

Network has a number of strategic partnerships in place, one of which is with COTAQ, the organisers of Seniors Month. At Network we saw Seniors Month as an opportunity to celebrate with an activity to highlight the talent within our U3As. The Network ran a competition for short story writing and photography which all U3As and members of the seniors community could enter.

Network secretary Alison Taylor was the competition organiser, ably assisted by a judging panel comprised of U3A members with judging credentials.
Substantial prizes await winners in both categories, announcement of which will be made at a Zoom event on 3 December.

Of course there is much more happening than that outlined above but in the interests of keeping this column to a readable length I’ll save those for the next time.

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A recent Webinar hosted by U3A Network Queensland enabled participants to learn more about changes to the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 and the impact of these changes on governance of U3As.

Leisa Donlan, Governance Consultant, presented the webinar that was well attended by U3A Network Queensland Management Committee members and many U3A Management Committee members from across the state

The recorded webinar is available to view online and the Powerpoint presentation is also available to view online and download.

Please view and download the presentations here.

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A symposium held during Seniors Month attended by Network Queensland Vice President John Armstrong discussed the rapid increase in cyber attacks on individuals and organisations in recent times. Sponsored by nbn™, the Seniors Online Safety & Cyber Security Symposium brought together seniors network groups and community group leaders to discuss how to empower our seniors in online safety and cyber security.

Please download John’s report on the Symposium

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At a recent meeting of the U3A Alliance Australia all states voted to proceed with incorporation of the U3AAA as a Company Limited by Guarantee.

State representatives will be board members of the new incorporated body, and each state will have two representatives but only one vote. The Chair will be independent, as will the Secretariat.

U3A Network Queensland President, Gail Bonser said the Company Limited by Guarantee, as opposed to incorporation within a state, was the favoured option because incorporation within a state would limit the capacity for the incorporated body to do business outside that state.

“The newly incorporated body will also apply for ACNC registration and DGR status. A legal firm that deals with incorporation of NFP bodies recommended that a company limited by guarantee was the structure that would be favoured by the ACNC and ATO.

“There is an option for a body to incorporate within a state and then become registered with the ASIC but according to the material provided this is not necessarily the best option for groups seeking registration with the ACNC and DGR status. The material provided by the legal firm stressed that changing incorporation status can be a lengthy and expensive procedure.

“A further consideration was that the costs incurred in establishing incorporation within a state versus those of establishing a company limited by guarantee are roughly the same.”

The working party will now proceed with development of a constitution.

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As part of the public submissions to the Committee of Inquiry into Social Isolation and Loneliness in Queensland, U3A Network President, Gail Bonser, prepared a submission on the asset value of U3A in mitigating the effects of isolation and loneliness in the aged demographic.

The opening statement in that submission said, “The position of U3A Network Queensland is that Universities of the Third Age (U3As) and their programs are excellent antidotes to loneliness and social isolation. U3As are community based, volunteer run associations that provide older retired and semi-retired persons with a new place to belong, new friendship groups and an opportunity to contribute or participate in an area where they feel valued. U3A offers age appropriate, intellectually stimulating programs; improvement and maintenance of physical skills; social activities and friendship.”

The submission in full may be read here.

As a consequence of that submission, representatives of the Network Management Committee were invited as witnesses to the Inquiry held at Parliament House on 13 September.

President Gail Bonser made an opening statement to the Inquiry highlighting the difference U3As across Queensland, and indeed nationally and internationally, make in promoting inclusion and active ageing in the U3A membership.

“Within the 35 communities where we have a presence, the social connectivity U3As provide, in addition to the quality of our programs and the sense of purpose held by our members, all assist in mitigating social isolation and loneliness in these communities,” Gail Bonser said in the opening statement to Committee Members of the Inquiry.

The Opening Statement in full may be read here.

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The U3A family in Queensland has grown by one to 35 with U3A Gladstone being granted their certificate of incorporation in August. They are very excited about becoming incorporated and beginning their courses at the opening of the new school term.

Network President Gail Bonser said, “It is great to see planning set out in the Network Strategic Plan coming to fruition, with an additional U3A incorporated in Queensland.”

“At the Network we are committed to providing as much support as U3A Gladstone wants from us, as it is a strong principle of our Strategic Plan to help in any way we can to enable consolitation for U3As leading to sustainment in the longer term.”

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28/09/2021

A new U3A Association in the South Burnett area is becoming a reality, with support from the local Council and U3A Dalby taking on the ‘parent’ U3A role. A recent meeting with stakeholders in Kingaroy endorsed the need for a local U3A, and a steering committee has been formed. Network Queensland – through its representatives […]

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