Information - U3A Network Victoria

General

Information

U3A Member Bonuses

Officeworks Buying Group

As a member of U3A Australia you now have access to exclusive member benefits on your 30 Day Business Account. These benefits include special business pricing on a wide range of office essentials including, office supplies, cleaning, washroom, catering products and much, much more. These are shown with a RED STAR / BUSINESS PRICE next to the price. Plus, all Officeworks customers have access to our free 2-hour Click & Collect service on stocked items in-store.

We are supporting a number of U3As who have joined the Buying Group have Art supplies added to the special business price list which will benefit all member U3As who have joined the Buying Group.

A 30 Day Business Account will also allow you to:

Consolidate all your purchases through the one account to monitor expenses and improve record keeping.
Shop online or in-store with the option to manage your spending through multiple store cards for the one account.
Utilise the Shopping List function to build lists of your favourite purchases
Free next-day delivery for in-stock items in metropolitan areas for orders $55 or more..
Access a dedicated Sales Support line
Access to our commercial Workspace Solutions (furniture) teams, Geeks2U and more.

With 30 days to pay, 169 stores in our network across Australia, next-day delivery in selected areas and longer trading hours membership of the Buying Group can help keep your U3A lower its costs of operations.

If you require assistance in having your U3A added to the Buying Group
Please contact u3aauatralia@officeworks.com.au

Or for individual support contact:
Simon Spivak Officeworks Business Specialist
Email sspivak@officeworks.com.au Mobile 0427 909 206.

Officeworks U3A Group Offer

U3A Australia Onboarding Flyer

How to use your Officeworks Account

VMIA - Victorian Managed Insurance Agency

The Community Service Organisation Program (CSO) through VMIA provides insurance coverage for eligible organisations funded by the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Department of Health and Department of Justice and Community Safety and other relevant departments. Incorporated U3As are eligible to receive the set of insurances, resources, and support from VMIA while they are members of Network Victoria, because Network is a CSO.

In partnership with VMIA, Network produced a scenarios-based risk management and insurance guide for U3A committees of management.

Enquiries about the VMIA insurance can be made directly to them: their contact details are:

VMIA

Phone: (03) 9270 6900 (including after hours emergencies)
Email: contact@vmia.vic.gov.au

Your U3A’s public liability insurance is provided as part of the Community Service Organisation (CSO) program because your U3A is a Member of U3A Network Victoria. The Victorian Government assesses the level of risk and coverage for insurance on an ongoing basis. They have recently added COVID-19 Event Insurance as an additional type of coverage, which is available at an additional cost to event organisers.

Information about the CSO program can be found on VMIA’s website.

Copyright Guidelines

Overview

Copyright regulations are complex. U3A Network Victoria has consulted with the appropriate agencies to provide this overview to Members. This guideline covers four aspects of copyright and intellectual property:

Licences – what is required, what is covered, and how to obtain licences
FAQs – frequently asked questions
Contact details for the copyright agencies
U3A Network and Member U3A intellectual property

Licences – what is required, what is covered, and how to obtain licences

There are six licence types which are relevant to U3As – with three different agencies having oversight responsibility.

One licence for copyrighted words and images – obtained from The Copyright Agency. The Education Licence is purchased by Network on behalf of all Victorian Member U3As each year.
One for copyrighted audio-visual materials – obtained from Screenrights. A licence may be necessary for your U3A if you record audio-visual programs or stream programs.

Purchasing a screenrights licence is the responsibility of the U3A

Four licences available for music licensing – all obtained from One Music.

One Music have produced an information sheet specific to U3As.

Live or recorded music used for your programs needs a licence.

Examples are: exercise, meditation, instrumental groups, singing groups, choirs, etc.

View the One Music U3A Guide

Audio-visual materials licence

Copying of broadcasted programs

As educational institutions, individual U3As can apply for a Screenrights Educational Licence.

The Licence is made available under provisions in the Copyright Act that permit tutors and members at licensed educational institutions to legally copy and communicate broadcasts for educational purposes.

The Licence covers you for showing broadcasts that you have recorded onto DVD in an educational setting.

Use of purchased DVDs

There is an exception in the Copyright Act under S28 that permits the communication and performance of copyright DVDs for education that is not conducted for profit. You cannot charge people to watch them.

You may not copy them without paying the copyright fee.

The Screen Rights Educational Licence allows access to thousands of programs that have been curated for education.

Licensed resource centres include ClickView, TV4Education and Informit EduTV.

Cost: A Screenrights Educational Licence is $0.22 per member per year (as at January 2023), which permits your members to copy and communicate broadcasts for educational purposes, including any program from free to air TV, pay TV or radio.

Information and a link to an online application form is available here: https://www.screenrights.org/screen-audiences/screenrights-licences/australian-educational-licences/

Purchasing a screenrights licence is the responsibility of the U3A

Music licences

Music Licences are obtained through OneMusic which acts on behalf of different agencies:

APRA only

APRA & PPCA

APRA, AMCOS & PPCA coverage

The One Music Licence is purchased by Network on behalf of all Victorian Member U3As

each year.

See the U3A Information Sheet from One Music for details

Copyright FAQs

Q: U3As are not for profit organisations. Do I still need to get permission to use someone else’s work?

A: Yes, you do, unless it is covered by our Education licence. Not for profit status does not change the provisions of the Copyright Act.

Q: I am a member of a U3A and produced a series of short stories which are going to be self-published. Do I need to register my copyright over the work?

A: No, you do not. Under Australian law, registration is not required for copyright to exist. Copyrights come into existence when you create the work.

Q: Where can I go to get advice on copyright related matters?

A: You can contact the relevant agency directly. Details below

Q: Can I use Ted Talks in my class

A: TED Talks Usage Policy

The TED website says: “At TED, our goal is to spread ideas. We encourage the TED community, non-profit organizations, bloggers, companies news media, and the like to share TED Talks that are open for distribution, through social media, other platforms and public events. While sharing ideas openly is a big part of who we are, we do license our content under certain conditions listed on the website.

Q: I use YouTube links in my classes regularly. Is this okay under the copyright laws?

A: YouTube can be used under Fair Dealing which allows you to use someone else’s content for five distinct purposes. This is generally in relation to you creating YouTube videos. Attribute everything.

criticism and review,
satire or parody,
news,
legal advice
research and study.

Q: Can I play Kanopy films by sharing my screen through videoconferencing tools like Zoom?

A: Kanopy is available free to many Library members across the country

In order to comply with the public performance rights (PPR) associated with the videos on Kanopy, each viewer must log in separately.

Virtual broadcasts (such as screen sharing through videoconferencing tools like Zoom) to groups that are not accessing Kanopy individually would not be allowed by PPR.

Many films on Kanopy are encrypted with Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection to prevent unauthorized viewing, such as the screen going to black when films are screen-shared through tools like Zoom.

For a virtual group screening, each user can log in on their own device. Many groups are watching films on their own, and then getting together for a virtual discussion or Q&A afterwards.

U3A Intellectual Property

U3A Network Victoria asserts its copyright over intellectual property (IP) which it develops, uses, and publishes. As noted above, registration is not required for copyright to exist.

Individual U3As may also assert copyright over material, performances, or practices which they develop.

In the era of open source practices, the IP which Network and Member U3As develop is a valuable asset. Network’s asserts its copyright on the first page of its course guides and other materials – The statement on the first page of the Curious about Science Course Guide is an example, :

This course guide is subject to copyright and is solely intended for use in U3A Victoria classes. For use outside of this group, contact the U3A Network Victoria office at info@u3avictoria.org.au

Network also references its intellectual property rights in the Memoranda of Understanding it signs with Member U3As and with outside organisations.

As a volunteer organisation, U3A Network Victoria is usually willing to share its intellectual property with U3As outside Victoria and with other community organisations under certain circumstances. Email for further information.