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REGIONAL NEWS
Home > Regional News
Long-serving CSU Head of School retires
24 Jun 2009
 After 35 years at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Bathurst and its predecessor institution Mitchell College of Advanced Education (MCAE), Associate Professor Leonora Ritter, Head of the School of Social Sciences and Liberal Studies, will retire on Wednesday 1 July. Professor Anthony Cahalan, Dean of Faculty of Arts at CSU, said following her appointment to an academic position at MCAE in 1974, Professor Ritter has gone on to make an extraordinary contribution to the School of Social Sciences and Liberal Studies and to CSU. “Leonora has been Head of School for the past six years and has chaired and served on numerous committees at all levels of the institution. In every role, her commitment to her students, staff and colleagues has been generous and exemplary. We wish her all the very best in her retirement, and look forward to maintaining Charles Sturt University's association with her in her role as mentor on a number of significant projects in the future,” Professor Cahalan said. Professor Ritter will be farewelled by colleagues at an afternoon tea on Thursday 25 June.
Media Note: Contact CSU Media to arrange interviews. Print this story Social inclusion for low paid workers
23 Jun 2009
 The idea that employment automatically leads to personal well-being and social inclusion is being questioned by a Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher. In an address to the 2009 Social Inclusion Forum in Melbourne on Thursday 25 June, Dr Helen Masterman-Smith will question what, if anything, the Federal Government’s Social Inclusion Agenda (SIA) has done to address the kinds of barriers that low paid workers encounter. “Labour market participation is a cornerstone of the whole-of-government approach that the Commonwealth is developing to improve social inclusion. However, its SIA recognises that low pay and poor job quality often derail this key objective.” A sociology lecturer and co-author of the book Living Low Paid, Dr Masterman-Smith says the difficulties of ‘making work pay’ at the bottom end of the labour market is a social inclusion challenge that has yet to receive the policy or public attention it warrants. She will also comment on whether the Australian labour market and economy can actually deliver a ‘just transition’ to a low-carbon economy, through the Emissions Trading Scheme, or whether such a transition will simply reproduce current labour market inequalities.
Media Note: Dr Helen Masterman-Smith is a sociology lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at CSU at Wagga Wagga. She will speak at Melbourne University’s 2009 Social Inclusion Forum, to be held on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 June. Dr Masterman-Smith will present a seminar titled Labour force participation: when employment doesn’t lead to inclusion. Is the SIA likely to improve the current situation or simply perpetuate it? Her book, co-authored with Ms Barbara Pocock, Living Low Paid: The dark side of prosperous Australia was published by Allen & Unwin in 2008.
Print this story State pharmacy award for student
23 Jun 2009
 A pharmacy student at Charles Sturt University (CSU) has been named the NSW Pharmacy Student of Year by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA). Mr Lloyd Smith was named the winner in Sydney on Saturday 13 June during a pharmacy expo hosted by the PSA. Sponsored by the company Alphapharm, the competition tests the communication and counselling skills of final year pharmacy students. Mr Smith will now compete for the national title of Pharmacy Student of the Year during the PSA’s annual Pharmacy Australia Congress in Sydney from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 October. Mr Smith, from Broken Hill, is in his fourth year of Bachelor Pharmacy at CSU at Wagga Wagga. He is also the Head Resident of the Halls of Residence at the University’s South Campus in Wagga Wagga and involved in a number of student organisations including the Pharmers’ Society and rural health club, WARRIAHS. “Lloyd represents all that is great about pharmacy students at CSU beyond their academic achievements. Lloyd has good communication and leadership skills, a commitment to the community in which he lives and a burning desire to serve the profession well in regional NSW,” said Associate Professor Lyn Angel, Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences.
Media Note: Pharmacy student Mr Lloyd Smith is available for interview.
Print this story Oscar-winning animation director in Wagga Wagga
23 Jun 2009
 The Oscar-winning computer animation director Mr Chris Landreth will visit Wagga Wagga next week to present a seminar and film night hosted by Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Visual and Performing Arts. “Mr Landreth has been at the absolute forefront of computer animation development for a decade, with each of his previous films, The End, Bingo and Ryan, representing ground-breaking leaps and demonstrating what animation was capable of depicting,” said CSU lecturer Mr Andrew Hagan. Mr Landreth will present his newest film The Spine and a reel of highlights from his previous films at a special screening on Monday 29 June. “He will talk about these works, giving particular insights into how he melds his uniquely creative visions with his highly technical approach to produce them,” said Mr Hagan. On Tuesday 30 June, Mr Landreth will present a free public seminar at CSU and provide invaluable insights to the world of computer graphics.
Media Note: An Evening with Chris Landreth will be held at the Forum 6 Cinemas in Trail St, Wagga Wagga on Monday 29 June at 7pm. The cost is $10. The public seminar, Chris Landreth Lecture: Psychologically-Driven Animation will be held on Tuesday 30 June at 10am in the Wal Fife Theatre, room 209, building 14, near car park 3, Darnell Smith Drive, CSU at Wagga Wagga. A DVD of the director's work is available for review through Ms Katrina Flaskas from CSU School of Visual and Performing Art on 6933 2473 or send an email. Still images of his work are also available from CSU Media.
Print this story Calling future robotic engineers
23 Jun 2009
Lecturers and PhD students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) will judge the 2009 RoboCup Junior Central West competition at Dubbo Christian School on Thursday 25 June. They will also offer technical advice to school students and their teachers at the event. Associate lecturer and PhD student Mr Allen Benter, from the School of Accounting and Computer Science at CSU at Bathurst, said RoboCup Junior is aimed at primary to secondary school children and introduces students to the international RoboCup World Championship. “RoboCup Junior focuses not only on engineering and computing skills, but also emphasises sportsmanship, teamwork, cooperation and organisational skills. The participants must construct and program a robot to compete in one of three events; Dance, Rescue or Soccer. The winners of the regional competition then advance to the state competition,” said Mr Benter, who is a PhD student with the Newcrest Mining Research Laboratory at the Universty’s Centre for Research in Complex Systems (CRiCS).
Media Note: Contact CSU Media to arrange interviews. Other CSU School of Accounting and Computer Science staff attending will be Dr Michael Antolovich, Dr Richard Xu and PhD student Mr Dwaine Bailey. They will demonstrate current CSU research in computer vision, robotics and gaming technologies and will highlight the research and teaching facilities at CSU at Bathurst. RoboCup is an international competition and conference promoting artificial intelligence and robotic research around the world.
Print this story Taking the joy of science to Albury
23 Jun 2009
Igniting an interest in all areas of science is the goal behind expos being hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Albury-Wodonga this week. Local high and primary school students will attend the Science in the Bush expo in Albury on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 June. The days will include exhibitions, interactive talks, shows and workshops about all things science. Topics to be presented by a range of science organisations such as CSU, The University of Sydney, the Powerhouse Museum and Australian Museum include: ‘Life in a bucket of dirt’; ‘I like to move it, move it’; ‘All from a drop of blood’; and ‘Invertebrates, the backbones of our rivers’. Science in the Bush is hosted by CSU as a part of the Science in the City project run by the Australian Museum and its Executive Partner, The University of Sydney. A comprehensive program of activities can be found here.
Media Note: Science in the Bush is supported by the Australian Government through the Science Connections Programme of the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. The activities start at 10am at various sites from 9.30am at CSU’s Thurgoona site on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 June. Read more here. Print this story Student acts for environment
23 Jun 2009
 A veterinary science student at Charles Sturt University (CSU) is driving the renewal of environmental activism within the student body at CSU at Wagga Wagga. While a first year student in 2008, Ms Gemma Hawkins from Wagga Wagga established the Eco Active Club with 10 inaugural student members. Support has risen to 50 members in 2009. The group is involved with environmental advocacy in areas such as recycling, promoting transport such as bus and cycling and annual events like Clean Up Australia Day, Earth Hour and World Environment Day. The club also organises student outdoor activities such as rock climbing. With the support of the CSU Division of Facilities Management, Ms Hawkins pushed ahead with a student vegetable garden on campus with the first planting taking place in early June. “I’m hoping the concept of the garden will eventually expand to a common art space for students and the wider community,” said Ms Hawkins. “I feel there is a culture of change sweeping through the University and the student body is embracing action and more practical outcomes for the environment.”
Media Note: CSU student Ms Gemma Hawkins will attend the inaugural national youth climate summit, PowerShift Youth Conference in Sydney from Saturday 11 July to Monday 13 July. She will be accompanied by eight students and staff from CSU at Wagga Wagga. A further 10 students from CSU at Albury-Wodonga will also attend the PowerShift Youth Conference including members of the group, Green Adventure People (GAP). CSU student and GAP president Ms Erin Raggatt is available for interview.
Print this story Funding on the ball
23 Jun 2009
Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Orange boasts a newly refurbished football field thanks to funding from the Federal Government. The request for funding for the construction of a ‘soccer field, associated change rooms and weight training facilities’ at CSU at Orange was made to the Commonwealth under the Voluntary Student Unionism scheme in November 2006. The $374 000 funding was approved in early 2007. During 2008 investigation of the site revealed that substantial earth works would be required to establish a soccer field. The decision was made to run soccer games on the football oval, with soccer and rugby being played on alternate weeks. This required an upgrade of the playing surface together with enhanced irrigation. Additionally, new goal posts, soccer nets and corner flags had to be purchased for soccer games.
Media Note: The residual funds from the original grant will be used to upgrade the lighting of the oval. This will involve replacing the current lighting and constructing two new light poles, ensuring the lighting is of sufficient strength for night games. It is intended to transfer the current lighting to the netball courts. Head of Campus, Orange and soccer fan Professor Kevin Parton, will join CSU staff and rugby union player, Chris Plunkett on the football field on Wednesday 24 June at 9am for a photo opportunity. For interviews contact CSU Media.
Print this story Roadshow for prospective tertiary students
23 Jun 2009
Three expos are being held in north east Victoria this week to showcase Australian tertiary institutions and courses on offer in 2010. Over 40 institutions including Charles Sturt University (CSU) will be represented at the information days being held in Wangaratta today, Tuesday 23 June and in Albury-Wodonga on Wednesday 24 June. An earlier event was held in Shepparton on 22 June. Representatives from local and interstate universities, institutes of NSW TAFE and private providers are available to discuss career options with Years 11 and 12 students from Victoria and NSW. “The days present a great opportunity to find out about the courses of interest in one place at one time,” said CSU Prospective Student Adviser, Ms Rebecca Gale Collins.
Media Note: For interviews at the tertiary studies advisory events, contact CSU Prospective Student Adviser, Ms Rebecca Gale Collins on mobile 0409 975 085. The events will be held at:
Print this story Nursing careers night at CSU Dubbo
19 Jun 2009
.jpg) Anyone living in the Dubbo area who is interested in a career in nursing is invited to an information evening at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Dubbo on Wednesday 24 June. Ms Cathy Maginnis, Academic Adviser at Dubbo for the Bachelor of Nursing degree at the CSU School of Nursing and Midwifery, said “The evening is for Years 9-12 students, parents, teachers, mature-aged students, and anyone who already has some qualifications in nursing. It is open to those interested in becoming a registered nurse, and will explain what we have to offer them at the CSU Dubbo campus. There will be speakers from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, as well as the Director of Nursing at Dubbo Base Hospital, the Manager of Primary and Community Health Services, and current CSU nursing students and graduates,” Ms Maginnis said. The evening will conclude with a light supper.
Media Note: Contact CSU Media to arrange interviews Ms Cathy Maginnis. The nursing information presentation will be in room 442 at Charles Sturt University at Dubbo from 5.30pm to 7.30pm on Wednesday 24 June, and is separate to the MyDay at CSU Dubbo that day. Staff and signs will direct attendees to the presentation. Print this story MyDay at CSU Dubbo for regional schools
18 Jun 2009
High school students from Dubbo and surrounding towns will experience university life when they attend the two-day MyDay event at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Dubbo on 23 and 24 June. CSU Prospective Student Adviser, Ms Katy O’Brien, said, “MyDay is designed to give students a taste of university life so they know they can gain first-rate qualifications and start a career without having to leave the region. This is an important consideration in the present economic climate. MyDay will involve approximately 81 Years 10, 11 and 12 students over the two days, with students from outlying schools attending on Tuesday 23 June, and Dubbo students attending on Wednesday 24 June.” The participating schools include Dubbo Christian School, Dubbo College Senior Campus, Wellington High School, Gulgong High School, Molong Central School, Coolah Central School, Trundle Central School, Forbes High School, Mudgee High School, Coonamble High School, and Parkes High School.
Media Note: Contact CSU Media to arrange interviews with Ms Katy O’Brien. The funding for MyDay Dubbo came from the CSU Outreach from University to Rural High Schools (OURSchools) equity program to allow students to travel from outlying areas. OURSchools aims to increase the access into higher education of students from disadvantaged rural areas by improving their access to resources from CSU that will enhance the curriculum in rural high schools, promote a partnership between rural schools and CSU, and/or promote university study as a viable option for rural high school students. Print this story Land and water researchers consider Murray Darling Basin
16 Jun 2009
 Researchers from Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Institute of Land, Water and Society (ILWS) will meet at Wagga Wagga for two days this week to focus on setting a research agenda to tackle the big issues facing the Murray Darling Basin. Institute Director Professor Max Finlayson said, “the inaugural forum is aimed at addressing the issues which are really challenging Australians in this region, such as learning to live with climate change and ensuring we maintain healthy people, communities and landscapes.” Around 70 CSU researchers based across the University will attend the forum and talk about environmental issues including restoring and sustaining our wetlands and valuing ecosystem services. Social researchers will focus on areas such as the future for regional natural resource management, human wellbeing and healthy communities, and developing regional business enterprise. “It is important to get our researchers into one room to sit together and focus on the big issues at hand. We are all doing individual research projects but the old adage that ‘the whole is greater than the sum of the parts’ rings true,” Professor Finlayson said.
Media Note: The ILWS Research Forum will be held on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 June at the Wine and Food Industry Training Centre, building 412 near car park 11, McKeown Drive at CSU at Wagga Wagga. Professor Max Finlayson is available for interview on Wednesday 17 June from 10.40am. Contact CSU Media.
Print this story A taste for IT jobs
16 Jun 2009
An innovative Charles Sturt University (CSU) program is giving students from 10 Riverina high schools the chance to sample work in the information technology (IT) industry. The School of Computing and Mathematics at CSU at Wagga Wagga and the Division of Information Technology will host IT Work Experience for about 80 students throughout the year. The high school students will assist in a range of tasks including networking a small office, taking and attending to technical support calls as well as gaining an appreciation for the host of IT-related jobs and tasks at CSU. The Head of the School of Computing and Mathematics, Associate Professor Irfan Altas said, “being a regional city, there’s not many opportunities for school students who are interested in IT to get exposure to the industry, so we came up with the idea to offer them real life, hands-on experience.” One of the features of the work experience is a ‘spend a minute with an IT professional session’, where the students meet one of CSU’s IT managers to discuss their work and role. The students will also participate in mock job interviews.
Media Note: The School of Computing and Mathematics at CSU at Wagga Wagga and Division of Information Technology are hosting work experience placements for Years 10, 11 and 12 students in Wagga Wagga from Tuesday 16 to Thursday 18 June. Work placements will also be held from Tuesday 11 to Thursday 13 August and Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 November. Contact CSU Media to arrange an interview with IT Work Experience coordinator and lecturer in Information Systems, Mr Anthony Chan.
Print this story Australian agriculture for primary school students
16 Jun 2009
 The Head of the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences at Charles Sturt University (CSU) Associate Professor John Kent has been named as one of the founding board members of the Primary Industries Education Foundation. The focus of the new Foundation will be on school children and encouraging them to learn more about primary industries. It will deliver educational services to schools such as a web portal of educational resources on primary industries, advice on professional development for teachers and information on career paths in primary industries. The principal of NSW Department of Primary Industries’ (DPI) Tocal College, Mr Cameron Archer is the inaugural chairman. Associate Professor Kent is a member of the interim board as a representative of the Australian Council of Deans of Agriculture. He has over 30 years experience in agricultural education both in Australia and overseas and is a member of the E H Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, a collaborative alliance between CSU and DPI.
Print this story Semester break spent in UK
16 Jun 2009
 A Charles Sturt University (CSU) primary teacher student is looking forward to the end of semester break in July for more than one reason. Ms Emma Wagner is one of 19 students from across Australia and New Zealand selected for a fortnight long trip to the United Kingdom (UK). The company, My Overseas Experience or myOE has awarded a scholarship to the CSU student after she expressed her desire for international experience in her winning video. The inaugural myOE university tour will take in locations including London, Brighton, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Bath and Stonehenge. Ms Wagner, from Sydney, hopes to complete her Bachelor of Education (Primary) degree in 2009 through the School of Teacher Education at CSU at Bathurst. “I am looking forward to the trip and the chance it will give me to get a taste of life overseas as I would like to eventually teach in the UK,” said Ms Wagner.
Media Note: MyOE is a company which offers services to travelling professionals. CSU student Ms Emma Wagner’s awarding winning video can be found here. She will leave Sydney on the myOE university tour on Saturday 4 July and return to CSU at the start of the new semester Monday 27 July. In 2009, CSU launched CSU Global to support its students obtain international experience during their university study. Print this story Hell, horror and hope in the Congo
16 Jun 2009
 A confronting portrayal of daily life for women and girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will be brought home during a public lecture in Albury on Wednesday 17 June by Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Dr Elaine Dietsch. For the past five years, Dr Dietsch, a senior lecturer in CSU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, has worked with traditional midwives and women in the DRC. Her public lecture, Hell, Horror and Hope in the Democratic Republic of Congo, relates to her last visit to the country in May and June 2008. Despite the official end of civil war in the equatorial African country, women and girls in the country's south-east continue to experience sexual assault and torture. The address, part of the CSU 2009 Public Lecture series, will be held in Nowik Auditorium, CSU Albury City site, Guinea St, Albury.
Media Note: Dr Elaine Dietsch is a senior lecturer with the School of Nursing and Midwifery at CSU at Wagga Wagga. Read more about Dr Dietsch’s work in the DRC here. Photos of Dr Dietsch are available from CSU Media.
Print this story For the love of English
16 Jun 2009
 A comparison of Mary Shelley’s horror novel Frankenstein with the futuristic film Bladerunner and finding connections and contrasts between female writers Jane Austen and Fay Weldon are all on the agenda at Charles Sturt University (CSU) this week. The annual HSC English Study Day will be held at CSU at Wagga Wagga on Friday 19 June. Staff from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences have joined forces with the Wagga Wagga branch of the English Teachers Association to organise lectures and workshops for up to 1 000 students from regional high schools as well as TAFE NSW Riverina Institute. The wide range of HSC English texts, including novels, plays and poetry, will be analysed and debated throughout the day. “We are looking forward to robust and insightful discussions about the many texts available in the HSC English syllabus in 2009,” said Mr David Gilbey, Senior Lecturer in English at the School of Humanities at Social Sciences at CSU at Wagga Wagga. Presentations will be given by CSU academics, high school teachers as well as CSU students training to be English teachers. “The rich mix of English texts up for consideration will hopefully benefit and delight HSC students as well as their teachers and CSU students about to embark on their careers as teachers.”
Media Note: The HSC English Study Day will be held from 9.30am to 3pm Friday 19 June in the Swan Theatre (building 12), as well as the Wal Fife lecture block (building 14) and lecture rooms in building 11, near car park 4, Tooma Way, CSU, Wagga Wagga. HSC students studying Standard English will break for lunch from 11.30am to12.30pm and Advanced English students will have lunch from 12.30pm until 1pm. CSU lecturer Mr David Gilbey is available for interview. A program is also available. Contact CSU Media.
Print this story Taking the joy of science to the bush
16 Jun 2009
Igniting an interest in all areas of science is the goal behind expos being hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Albury-Wodonga and Wagga Wagga in June. Local high and primary school students will attend the Science in the Bush Expos at Wagga Wagga on Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 June and in Albury on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 June. The days will include exhibitions, interactive talks, shows and workshops about all things science. Topics to be presented by a range of science organisations including CSU, The University of Sydney, the Powerhouse Museum and Australian Museum include Fibre Optics; Hot Rocks; Electric Soils; Forensics; and A Look Inside the Cranium. Science in the Bush is hosted by CSU as a part of the Science in the City project run by the Australian Museum and Executive Partner the University of Sydney. A comprehensive program of activities can be found here.
Media Note: Science in the Bush is supported by the Australian Government through the Science Connections Programme of the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. The activities start at 10am at various sites at CSU at Wagga Wagga from 10am on Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 June and from 9.30am at the University’s Thurgoona site on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 June. Read more here.
Print this story Roadshow for prospective tertiary students
16 Jun 2009
Three expos to be held in northeast Victoria next week over three days will showcase Australian tertiary institutions and courses on offer in 2010. Over 40 institutions including Charles Sturt University (CSU) will be represented at the information days to be held in Shepparton on Monday 22 June, Wangaratta on Tuesday 23 June and Albury-Wodonga on Wednesday 24 June. Representatives from local and interstate universities, institutes of NSW TAFE and private providers will be available to discuss career options with Years 11 and 12 students from Victoria and NSW over the three days. “The days present a great opportunity to find out about the courses students are interested in one place at one time,” said CSU Prospective Student Adviser, Ms Rebecca Gale Collins.
Media Note: For interviews at the tertiary studies advisory events, contact CSU Prospective Student Adviser, Ms Rebecca Gale Collins on mobile 0409 975 085. The events will be held at:
Print this story Mensheds Australia conference at CSU
16 Jun 2009
Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Bathurst will host the first national Mensheds Australia conference on 16, 17 and 18 June. CSU is the major sponsor of the conference which has the theme ‘Sustaining your Menshed’. Dr Pat Bradbery, Director of the Professional Development Unit in the CSU Faculty of Business, said this is the first-ever national conference for Mensheds Australia participants, with about 70 indigenous and non-indigenous men attending from all over Australia. “The Mensheds movement is relatively new, has grown rapidly to about 300 individual Menshed groups/locations, and has a strong focus on educational development. The conference will include a half-day workshop to consider the CSU-TAFE education initiative developed for Mensheds, and CSU looks forward to building a relationship with Mensheds Australia into the future,” Dr Bradbery said. Conference participants will be welcomed to Bathurst by Mr Greg Westman, a Bathurst Regional Councillor, and to CSU by the Head of Campus, Mr Col Sharp.
Media Note: Contact CSU Media to arrange interviews. The first day of the conference (Tuesday 16 June) will be held in the Mansfield Building (C2), and the next two days (Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 June) will be at the Centre for Professional Development (S17). Print this story |
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