Across Australia, NAIDOC Week celebrates the histories, cultures and achievements of First Nations peoples - the oldest continuing cultures on earth. It is a time for communities to gather, listen, learn, celebrate and share stories that have travelled across generations for thousands of years.
For many U3A members, that idea feels surprisingly familiar because learning at U3A is rarely just about information. It is also about people, about passing knowledge from one person to another, about conversations over morning tea, shared experiences, curiosity and connection.
Telling Stories:
A gardening class becomes a discussion about seasons and sustainability. A local history group uncovers stories hidden in old photographs. A language tutor shares not only words, but culture, humour and memory. A walking group exchanges life lessons while moving through familiar streets.
Different backgrounds. Different histories. Yet the spirit of learning together feels very much the same.
That is one of the quiet strengths shared by both First Nations communities and U3A communities. Knowledge grows when it's shared.
For First Nations peoples, storytelling has always carried deep meaning. Stories connect people to Country, family, culture and community. They hold wisdom, responsibility and memory. They help younger generations understand where they come from and where they belong.
At U3A, members do something similar every single day, through conversation, volunteering, teaching, organising and simply showing up for one another week after week.
There is something deeply human about wanting to pass things on.
Not just possessions, but values.
Kindness. Curiosity. Respect. Resilience. Community.
Maybe that is why so many people in their 50s. 60s and beyond find themselves reflecting more often on what really matters. What stories will our children or grandchildren remember? What wisdom have we gained that may still help someone else? What communities are we helping build for the future?
Conversations:
NAIDOC Week creates space for these conversations.
It also reminds us that learning never truly finishes, particularly in U3A, where the exchange of knowledge keeps communities vibrant.
In a world that can sometimes feel rushed and divided, there is something reassuring about rooms filled with people listening carefully to one another. You see it in U3A classes and activities. You see it at local NAIDOC Week events. Celebration matters!
The Invitation:
An invitation to learn something new through NAIDOC celebration.
To attend a local event. To start a conversation. To listen more deeply. To encourage someone new to join a U3A activity. To volunteer. To help organise a class or community event.
Sometimes communities grow stronger through very small actions.
A welcome at the door. An hour of volunteering. A conversation over tea.
A willingness to learn from someone whose life experience differs from our own.
These moments matter more than we realise.
They create belonging. They create understanding.
So perhaps this NAIDOC Week is a good time to ask a simple question: what stories are we passing on to our kids? What kind of future are they helping to create?
Lyn Goodall, U3A Victoria Vice President