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How to Join Mensa Australia

Home > Brisbane > Clubs | Personal Development
by Laura Parsons (subscribe)
Laura is a freelance writer, tutor & op-shop Queen, living in northern SA.
Published December 15th 2014
Are you smart enough to join Mensa?


Mensa is made up of a diverse group of people who have one definite thing in common; they are all in the top 2% of the population based on IQ. Members come from all walks of life and are certainly not all academics!

Mensa is a not-for-profit society. Its purposes are to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity, encourage research into the nature, characteristics and uses of intelligence and to provide a stimulating intellectual and social environment for its members. Mensa as an organisation holds no opinions but its members definitely do!

An eccentric, flamboyant Australian and a reserved Englishman founded Mensa in Oxford in 1946. They had met by chance on a train. The Australian was Roland Berrill, a barrister educated in England. The Englishman was Lancelot Ware, at the time a mature student at Oxford.

Mensa Australia recently celebrated its 50th birthday at its annual conference and gathering in Melbourne. These are rotated each year between states. Next year the annual gathering will be held in Sydney.

In 2017, Australia is hosting the Asian Mensa Gathering, which is the third biggest event on the international calendar after Europe and America. This will be held on the Gold Coast.
Mensa members IQ Melbourne
Mensa members pose for a group photo on the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne

Above: Mensa members pose for a group photo on the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne

There are members in every state and territory. Members meet regularly either in private homes or at functions. There are State newsletters publicising local events.

If you enjoy brain-teasers, stimulating articles and lively exchanges of views, you'll appreciate TableAus, the monthly magazine, which incorporates the Mensa International Journal. If you like to discuss world problems or the latest in science and technology, you're sure to find like-minded people at a Mensa event. Perhaps you just want to relax and exchange repartee with others who'll get your jokes and add their own quips. Many find Mensa a welcome relief.
Mensa offers opportunities to meet people, exchange ideas and make new friends at your intellectual level. Quick minds are welcomed; instant communication and comprehension are the rule rather than the exception.

How do you join?

You can sit one of Mensa's supervised testing sessions or supply prior evidence of an independent verified IQ test taken elsewhere.

Supervised testing sessions are held regularly around Australia.
As part of the aim to foster human intelligence, Mensa can provide grants for research and to assist gifted children reach their potential.

There are Special Interest Groups known as SIGs and assistance for travellers through the SIGHT program.

Lively, discussion also takes place on the Mensa Facebook pages.

Further information can be found at:
www.mensa.org.au
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Where: There are members in every state and territory.
Your Comment
It is great to see Mensa being advertised as not many people including intelligent ones know about the organisation!
by linda (score: 1|19) 3100 days ago
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