Notice of upcoming changes to COTA Victoria membership

COTA Victoria is reviewing our membership services, model, and framework, with a view of providing our valued members with a more comprehensive suite of benefits, value, and membership categories. As part of this review, COTA Victoria is in the process of transferring membership management services internally from COTA Membership at a national level.

We anticipate this transfer will be completed by 30 September 2023.

During this transition, we ask that those members that have approaching renewals do not pay to renew or continue their membership. We would like to reassure our members that their status as a COTA Victoria member will not lapse as a result and they will remain members in good standing.

Those who have recently paid to renew their membership for another year will continue to receive associated benefits through COTA Membership, including future editions of the OneCOTA magazine and the Ambassador Card.

We’ll be in touch as quickly as possible with the next steps in this process, including details of our entirely new Membership Services Framework and associated benefits.

One of the distinct focal points for the future Membership Services Framework for our organisation will be the introduction of free membership for every older Victorian. We recognise that the cost of living has dramatically increased in the past year, and don’t overlook the importance a saving of $42, or $52 for joint membership can be to a COTA Victoria member.

Further to this, our recently launched Older, Not Alone campaign features a number of financial rebates and support schemes for those struggling to keep up with the ever-increasing cost of living crisis.

If you’ve got any questions about this transfer process, feel free to email membership@cotavic.org.au or call our COTA Wise Helpline on 1300 135 090. Frequently asked questions (FAQs) can be found below.

For information about your current financial membership, please contact COTA Membership on 1300 140 050.

As always, we value your membership and ongoing support of COTA Victoria.

Please also note that our preferred method of communication for updates such as this is email, to do our part to preserve the environment and save on the printing and postage of physical materials. Should you wish to switch to email communications, please email membership@cotavic.org.au or call our COTA Wise Helpline on 1300 135 090, quoting your full name or membership number and preferred email address.

 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Am I still a member in good standing of COTA Victoria if I don’t pay to renew my membership as requested?

Yes, you’re still a valued member of COTA Victoria without paying for your membership renewal.

In fact, we ask that you not pay to renew your membership at this time as we are reviewing our membership model and framework to refine what value and services we can offer.

I used to donate to COTA Victoria on top of my membership renewal — what if I still wish to donate to COTA Victoria?

Those who wish to donate to COTA Victoria can still do so. As a not-for-profit and registered charity, any support provided is reinvested into services for the older Victorians we support.

Find out more about donating to COTA Victoria here.

Can I still renew my membership online?

We ask that COTA Victoria members up for paid renewal refrain from processing a renewal at this time.

We are reviewing our membership model and framework, with a view of significantly refining what value and services we can offer and will soon be in touch with next steps.

What if I’ve recently renewed my membership, or started a new membership?

Those who have recently paid to renew their membership for another year, or who have recently taken up a new membership will continue to receive associated benefits through COTA Membership, including future editions of the OneCOTA magazine and the Ambassador Card.

Paid memberships are currently managed nationally by COTA Membership and not by COTA Victoria. As such, we are unable to process any requests for refunds at this time. We thank you for your continued support of COTA Victoria. As a not-for-profit and registered charity, any support provided is reinvested into services for the older Victorians we support.

Will an individual COTA Victoria membership be free?

Yes, COTA Victoria membership will be free as part of the new Membership Services Framework. We’ll share information about the Membership Services Framework and associated benefits as soon as possible.

As memberships will be offered without costs, COTA Victoria will ensure that both parties in a current, paid couples membership are each offered a free, individual membership.

I’m not yet a member of COTA Victoria. Can I join today?

In the transition to this new model, new membership sign-ups will be placed on hold. We will communicate when new memberships can be registered.

We anticipate our new membership model will be in place by the end of December 2023.

Will you offer organisational memberships as part of this new model?

Yes, we will offer organisational memberships. More information on organisational memberships will follow.

What if I have further questions about the new COTA Victoria membership model and framework?

Members are welcome to ask questions via membership@cotavic.org.au or by calling our COTA Wise Helpline on 1300 135 090, but please note that we may not be able to answer all queries at this time.

We’ll share information about our new Membership Services Framework and associated benefits as soon as possible.

What if I have further questions about my current, financial COTA Membership?

For information about your current financial membership, please contact COTA Membership on 1300 140 050.