SAM (Scone, Aberdeen, Muswellbrook) U3A

SAM U3A is the University of the Third Age serving Scone, Aberdeen and Muswellbrook in the Upper Hunter area of NSW. Established in 2014, it operates as a voluntary organisation providing accessible learning for mature-aged people through volunteer facilitators. The U3A follows the worldwide movement that began in France in 1972, emphasising learning through fun without formal entry qualifications, homework or examinations.

The organisation offers an increasingly wide range of courses across diverse subjects, with facilitators drawn from the community who volunteer their time. Courses are designed to be inclusive and low-cost, making education accessible to retired and semi-retired people. Members benefit from learning in a supportive, friendly atmosphere where knowledge and skills are shared across the group.