U3As in Australia and New Zealand: Society's $4 million bonanza

Abstract

The self-help model of the University of the Third Age (U3A) has developed strongly since its comparatively recent introduction to Australia and New Zealand. This article reports on findings from a survey of 84 U3A groups in Australia and 14 U3A groups in New Zealand. The survey had three discrete aims. The first was to demonstrate a method for explicating the nature and extent of the voluntary activities underpinning the self-help approach, and to ascribe a dollar value to these activities. Conservative calculations show that the annual value of voluntarism in Australian U3As is in excess of $4 million and, in New Zealand U3As, in excess of $300,000. A second aim was to reveal regional similarities and differences in approaches, as well as to highlight the educational characteristics of the very successful self-help model of adult education. The third aim of the study was to gain a measure of U3A administrators' preparedness to respond to possible social change, by analysing responses to 18 futures-oriented questions. Findings show that U3A administrators have a vision that extends well beyond the immediate confines of their own groups and are prepared to consider the introduction of research projects, communications involving new technology, and activities that involve their groups in interactions with the wider ageing community.