Meeting senior singles in Australia

Every listing below was checked against an official website on 17 or 18 October 2026. We've started with national services and the states where we could confirm current details; dates and numbers can change, so follow the link before you go or call.

Where older Australians meet people

Most people over 50 in Australia meet new friends, and new partners, through regular activities where they see the same faces each week. The most useful starting points are:

For ideas that work anywhere, see where senior singles really meet.

U3A: low-cost learning groups run by members

U3As (Universities of the Third Age) are non-profit, volunteer-run groups offering low-cost learning to older people who are retired or semi-retired. Because groups meet regularly, you get to know the same people. According to U3A Network NSW, by 2023 there were about 250 U3A groups across Australia with a combined membership of roughly 100,000, and U3As have formed networks in all states except Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

Where to start:

• New South Wales: U3A Network NSW lists its member U3As on its website, www.nsw.u3anet.org.au, and can put you in touch with a regional representative. (U3A Network NSW handbook)
• Victoria: U3A Network Victoria represents 104 member U3As and a combined membership of around 35,500. Phone 03 9670 3659 or email info@u3avictoria.com.au. (Seniors Online, Victorian Government)
• Queensland: U3A Network Qld keeps a list of member U3As, linked from the Queensland Government's seniors activities page.

Victoria: the Seniors Festival every October

The Victorian Seniors Festival runs from 1 to 31 October every year, with events delivered by the Victorian Government, all 79 local councils, community and cultural organizations and businesses. In 2026, Victorian Seniors Card holders also had nine days of free public transport across the state, from 3 to 11 October. (Seniors Online)

Festival events are a gentle way to try something new with other people your age, and many are run by the same councils and clubs that meet all year. If you find a group you enjoy in October, ask when it meets the rest of the year.

Queensland: seniors expos and help lines

The Queensland Government runs free Seniors Expos and Seniors Savings pop-ups around the state. Upcoming dates listed on 17 October 2026:

Expos need booking; check the seniors event calendar or call 13 QGOV (13 74 68), as dates and venues can change.

Also useful in Queensland:

• Seniors Enquiry Line: 1300 135 500, information for seniors and their families and carers.
• Volunteering Queensland: a state-funded volunteer referral service; see the Queensland volunteering page.
• Elder Abuse Helpline: 1300 651 192, weekdays 9am to 5pm, free and confidential. (Queensland Government)

For ideas on meeting people through volunteering, see volunteering as a way to meet people over 50.

Free help getting confident online

Be Connected is the place to start if technology is what's holding you back. It's an Australian Government initiative, funded by the Department of Social Services, that helps older Australians build digital skills. Its online courses, videos and tip sheets cover smartphones, the internet and staying safe online, and it's free. Through community partners such as local libraries, it also offers free face-to-face computer classes and one-on-one tech help. (About Be Connected)

It's a good place to practice the skills that online dating uses: photos, messaging and video calls. Our guides to setting up a video call and using a dating site on your phone cover the dating side.

Reporting a romance scam in Australia

If you've lost money, call your bank first, then report to ReportCyber; if you haven't, report to Scamwatch.

1. Call your bank first, using the number on your card or their official website.
2. If you've lost money or personal information, report it through ReportCyber, run by the Australian Cyber Security Centre. (cyber.gov.au)
3. If you were targeted but lost nothing, report it to Scamwatch, run by the National Anti-Scam Centre, to help warn others.
4. For help securing your identity, call IDCARE on 1800 595 160. It's a not-for-profit charity and doesn't charge individuals for its support. (IDCARE)

The Australian Cyber Security Hotline is 1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371). In Victoria, call Victoria Police on 131 444 for non-urgent help (Victorian Government). If you're in danger, call Triple Zero (000).

Scamwatch encourages people to have a heart-to-heart with loved ones about romance scams. If someone you love has a new online partner they've never met, a calm, curious conversation works better than a lecture. Our safety page has the warning signs, romance scams aimed at people over 50 explains the common stories, and where to report a romance scam covers other countries.

Dating online from Australia

Just Senior Singles is written in American English and open to members in Australia. Joining, writing a profile, browsing and saying hello are free, and you must be 18 or over. Reading and replying to messages needs a paid membership; our prices page lists US prices, and the members area shows the exact amount before you pay. Profiles are shared with partner sites in the same network, so you may see members in other countries; set your distance and location preferences with that in mind.