The internet is a fast and easy way to get information on a number of topics.
We have included some sites that could be useful to you or someone you know.

Short Courses for Older People

U3A Online is the website for a Virtual University dedicated to older people who want to study online and includes many other useful resources. On the sites home page it says, “U3A Online is a world-first virtual University of the Third Age delivering online learning via the Internet. All that's needed to study online is access to a computer with an Internet connection - and some basic computing skills.

Courses are open to all older people anywhere in the world. They are especially suited to older members of the community who are isolated either geographically, or through physical or social circumstances (including carers).

The U3A Online website provides upto- date contacts for all Australian and New Zealand U3As as well as facilities for their members to exchange ideas, resources and information about regional U3A events. The wide range of helpful information, including news items and links to many interesting websites, will also prove useful to other groups of older people.”

The site also has a section where research papers are released which look at the issues around the ageing population. “Successful ageing depends not only on understanding the physical effects of ageing but also the mental well being of older people. The papers here represent a small sample of current research and reports about older people, focussing particularly on the relationship between lifelong learning, volunteering, isolation, aged care and other factors, and physical and mental health particularly amongst isolated older people.

They will be of interest not only to older people themselves but to professionals and policy advisers in the fields of gerontology, adult learning, mental health and volunteering.”

Supported by Griffith University the site began in 1998 as a project for the United Nations International Year of Older Persons in 1999. Courses start from as little as $20 and cover everything from Ageing and Retirement to Genealogy and Italian Art.