U3A Newsletters – U3A Network Queensland

Network Queensland Conference a Great Success

15/05/2023

The U3A Network Queensland State Conference 2023, hosted by U3A Rockhampton from 8 to 11 May 2023, has been hugely successful with about 190 participants celebrating 50 years of U3A worldwide. The Rockhampton organising team received well deserved accolades for an impressive lineup of guest speakers and memorable events that made this conference an outstanding success.

Theme for the Conference was ‘U3A Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’.

The Conference marked the 50th Anniversary of U3A and attracted international guest speakers including Professor Francois Vellas, President of AIUTA (Association of International Universities of the Third Age) and Professor Maria Chester, Secretary General AIUTA (via video link).

View photos from the Conference here

Profiles of all guest speakers at the Conference

Photo: AIUTA President Professor Francois Vellas’ presents “U3A in the Beginning and our Future.”

IAUTA celebrates 50 years

19/01/2023

A moment in U3A history was celebrated recently when Professor François Vellas, President of the International Association of Universities of the Third Age (IAUTA), chaired the opening of the 50th Anniversary of the Universities of Third Age in Toulouse, France on January 17th, 2023.

IAUTA brings together U3As from all the continents. For five decades IAUTA has defended elderly people’s cause through lifelong education by means of university exchanges and, above all, innovations in the fields of education and scientific research in order for everyone to find their place in society.

In Australia, U3As offer much more than academic pursuits having developed a more holistic lifestyle approach, expanding the courses and activities that people who are no longer working full time can choose including activities in the arts, wellness, fitness and a whole range of other life-fulfilling pursuits.

A major objective of U3A is to mitigate some of the more damaging effects of ageing, enabling older Australians to age mentally strong and leading a healthy, active life.

Present at the 50th Anniversary meeting were Montse Amoros, AIUTA GB Member, President U3A Alto Palanci, SPAIN with Albert Evrard Sj, ICT, BELGIUM and Yves Marre, BANGLADESH participates to this ceremony with Gaetan Veyrent and seniors students from Toulouse U3A.

The 50th anniversary will be celebrated in the six continents Africa, Americas, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia Pacific with AIUTA participating in events in 2023 Turkey, Australia, Chile and in 2024 Nigeria, France, Tunisia and India/China.

Pictured above: Professor François Vellas, President of IAUTA opens the U3A 50th Anniversary meeting in Toulouse, France.

Countdown to Network State Conference

04/01/2023

It’s time to start planning to attend the 2023 U3A Network State Conference in Rockhampton 8 – 11 May 2023. Registrations for the Conference open 1 February 2023.

The highlight of this year’s Conference is a two-day celebration of 50 years of U3A worldwide including a gala 50th Anniversary Dinner on Tuesday evening, 9th May. This is an historic event not to be missed.

The Conference Organising Committee are organising a celebration of what 50 years of U3A has meant to the world, and they have booked an impressive lineup of guest speakers who will provide delegates with informative and interesting presentations on a range of subjects of keen interest to seniors in particular but also to the broader community.

And what a great place to celebrate U3A. Rockhampton is booming; a modern throwback to the heydays of Queensland’s colonial past, offering cosmopolitan conveniences in a contemporary riverside setting. And when the sun sets on the mighty Fitzroy River, premium dining can be found along the heritage-listed streets, with some of the best steak houses, restaurants, pubs, clubs and cocktail bars found anywhere in regional Queensland.

So, save the the date for the Conference and be ready to register for this celebration of all things U3A.

Conference Registrations open 1 February 2023

01/01/2023

Only days to go before registrations open for the historic U3A Network State Conference 2023 in Rockhampton 8 -11 May 2023 featuring two days of celebrations to mark the 50th Anniversary of U3A worldwide along with the Network Queensland AGM.

From 1 February 2023 you can register for the Conference here.

October 22 Federal Budget – COTA Review

17/12/2022

COTA Australia have released a policy alert reviewing the October 2022 Federal Budget, from the perspective of older Australians.

This second Budget for 2022 responds to the priorities of the newly elected Labor Government and changing economic circumstances, with the COVID pandemic is still impacting the Budget especially the Health and Aged Care portfolios.

Many of the COTA Australia’s Policy Recommendations for the 47th Parliament have progressed in the budget, especially in the area of aged care. Many reforms are underway now, some are already in place while others will take some time to be fully in effect, and others and others are scheduled for a up to a couple of years away and will take longer to achieve.

Read COTA’s policy alert to get an in depth analysis.

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month

27/09/2022

Cyber Security Awareness Month that starts in October is a reminder for all Australian individuals to stay secure online and practise good cyber hygiene.

Weekly themes for Cyber Security Awareness Month are:

Week 1 (3-9 October 2022) – Theme: Have you been hacked?
Week 2 (10-16 October 2022) – Theme: Is your email secure?
Week 3 (17-23 October 2022) – Theme: How do you act now to stay secure?
Week 4 (24-30 October 2022) – Theme: It’s time to take action!

How can I get involved?

The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) encourages everyone to participate and/or host an activity in your workplace, home, community or school.

Download our online resources to support your event

Join the conversation about Cyber Security Awareness Month:

Use the #AusCyberMonth22 hashtag.
Share the ACSC social media posts using the hashtag #AusCyberMonth22.
Report all cybercrime and cyber security incidents to the ACSC via ReportCyber or call the Australian Cyber Security Hotline on 1300 292 371 (1300 CYBER1).

Where can I find the Cyber Security Awareness Month 2022 Resources?

All 2022 resources are now available for download from cyber.gov.au. These resources include:

Posters to promote Cyber Security Awareness Month 2022.
Posters promoting the steps to being cyber secure.
Email banner.
Desktop wallpaper.
Social media banner.
Microsoft Teams/Zoom banner.
PowerPoint wallpaper.
Social media tiles.
Guides for you to use and share.
Get Social

Over the coming weeks, ACSC will post content to our social channels (Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn) and encourages everyone to share the posts throughout the month of October with friends and family.

Let’s work together to ensure all Australian individuals and businesses stay secure online.

Are you a victim of cybercrime? Visit ReportCyber to take your next steps:

Web | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

Network members farewell President Gail Bonser

08/07/2022

After four years of exemplary service to U3A as the Network President, Gail Bonser was farewelled in style at the Annual General Meeting held in conjunction with the Network’s State Conference hosted by U3A Pine Rivers at North Lakes.

In her final Annual Report to members Gail pointed to significant achievements by the Network Management Committee that have been a source of great satisfaction and pride in the tireless work of the Network Management Committee.

“It has been my honour and privilege to work with my team of absolute professionals in achieving excellent results in strategic planning and, most importantly, providing great support for our 35 member Associations,” Gail said.

“The past four years have been a mixture of wonderfulness and anxiety but we’ve come through together. When elected in 2018 there was much to do. The committee had started on the draft of a Strategic Plan, which was completed over the next few months. It defined the course for action by the committee over the next three years.”

Presenting the Annual Report, Gail covered a number of areas of development that were the Network’s purvue in recent years including:

A new Strategic Plan launched at the AGM i 2021 aimed at achieving a raft of initiatives including a new constitution, a new website and the development of resources aimed at making life as simple as possible for committees
The drafting of annual budgets for greater accountability , new methods of delivering training through webinars and the renewal and initiation of strategic relationships.
A Website Development Kit was put together with the assistance of three of our U3As, providing them with a website and for other associations a process for establishment of a new website or improvement of an existing site.
The Network committee also devised a strategy to support the establishment of new U3As in Queensland. There have been two newly established U3As and new branches of existing U3As formed since 2018. Negotiations are underway to establish two further new U3As.

While COVID 19 brought the whole of Australia to a standstill for a while during 2020, our U3A committees and members showed themselves anxious to restart activities as soon as they were able. The Network committee assisted through sharing risk management strategies and COVID Safe plans for reopening.

“The Network Committee has been pleased during 2021/22 to develop resources such as the promotional brochure and a video designed to promote the U3A movement,” Gail said.

“In bidding you farewell I’d like to draw your attention to an opportunity being provided through a partnership between U3A Network Queensland, COTAQ and the NBN for members to measure and improve their digital skills.

“My thanks to every committee colleague with whom I’ve served. To you and to the president and members of the new committee I send my best wishes as you continue on your lifelong learning journey.”

National Volunteer Week on Now

19/05/2022

This is National Volunteer Week and the Network Management Committee would like to take this opportunity to recognise the fabulous job done by every U3A Volunteer.

Whether you are a tutor, desk volunteer, social organiser, committee member, an occasional volunteer attending a busy bee or a volunteer in some other capacity, you are an essential cog in the smooth operation of your U3A.

Our U3As depend on the selfless contribution of volunteers. Without you, U3A would not be as effective in supporting its members every day.

Please visit the National Volunteers website to find out more about the events and celebrations connected to National Volunteer Week.

On behalf of the Network Management Committe thank you for all that you do.👏👏

Gail Bonser President
and the Network Management Committee