It is often said that ‘from little things big things grow’ and that is true for how the U3A movement in Victoria, Australia began.  Four friends were sitting having coffee at a gerontology conference in Melbourne in 1984.  Each independently had experienced the development of the U3A movement in Europe and the UK.  They were enthusiastic about the potential to offer an opportunity to address the neglect of the educational needs and aspirations of older Australians.

A public meeting was held later that year to assess the interest from retired members of the community.  The venue was filled to capacity.  The four friends answered numerous questions and it became clear that the notion of a self-managed education program operated for and by older people had struck a chord.  An interim committee of volunteers was formed and a plan of action developed.  Within a very short time four U3As were established.

From these four U3As established in 1984, the movement has grown to 104 across metropolitan and rural Victoria with 38,064 members in 2024.  Each U3A is an independent body operating under an elected Committee of Management.  They are managed by volunteers.  Members pay an annual subscription fee to join which ranges between $25 and $100 and gives members access to a diverse range of exciting and interesting activities.