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ALBURY-WODONGA
Home > Regional News > Albury-Wodonga
Improving Aboriginal mental health
10 Jul 2007
 Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Djirruwang Program Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) aims to create a critical mass of highly skilled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners to deal with mental health problems in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This innovative program has been acknowledged by the NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health) the Hon. Paul Lynch, who described is as a “significant commitment” by CSU. Mr Lynch’s comments came during the official launch of the NSW Aboriginal Mental Health and Well Being Policy 2006-2010 last week on CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus. “The Djirruwang Program meets the national practice standards of the mental health workforce, making Charles Sturt University the first university course to use nationally agreed practice standards in mental health,” he said.
Media Note: Contact CSU Media for interviews. Print this story CSU's Churchill Fellow
10 Jul 2007
 A Charles Sturt University PhD student, Debra Dunstan, has received a prestigious Churchill Fellowship which will allow her to travel to Canada and the United Kingdom. Her PhD examined intervention for pain related to work disability. Using WorkCover NSW guidelines, she developed a rural program to successfully move worker’s compensation recipients back to work. “Typically people are only treated in major metropolitan areas. This model turned out to be very effective. We had significant outcomes.” The Churchill Fellowship will allow her to travel to Canada to examine similar models, as well as the United Kingdom where the idea has been expanded to successfully move social security beneficiaries into work. “I hope to be able to work with governments to develop a community based treatment for people who are on disability support pensions, and that fits in with the Australian government’s Welfare to Work program.” Debra says of the Fellowship, “I was overwhelmed really, it is an honour and a privilege and a very exciting opportunity.”
Media Note: A Churchill Fellowship gives the recipient the opportunity, through financial support, to travel overseas to undertake an analysis, study or investigation of a project or an issue that cannot be readily undertaken in Australia. Currently the average Fellowship is worth $25 000. Debra Dunstan is available for interviews, contact CSU Media. Print this story Are communities ready for development challenges?
10 Jul 2007
 A senior Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic has used an international forum to argue for the expansion of community development in the Asia Pacific region to tackle major socio-economic problems such as extreme poverty, lack of education, and environmental unsustainability. Professor Manohar Pawar of the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences was a main speaker at the International Association for Community Development conference. “Many countries policies suggest that those people and institutions with most influence, referred to as ‘top down’, are poised to develop communities at all levels. The capacity of ordinary communities need to be developed to match the ‘top downs’ readiness,” said Professor Pawar. “It is a challenging but not impossible task. If we sincerely search, I believe we will find answers to these challenges within the diversity of the region.”
Media Note: The International Association for Community Development biennial conference was held at Hong Kong’s City University in China. Contact CSU Media for interviews. Print this story The "jewel in the crown"
10 Jul 2007
 “The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Art Collection will benefit enormously by the inclusion of this definitive painting by John Peart. It an exceptional example of the artist’s work, that will serve as an integral part of their collection for generations to come,” says art valuer Randi Linnegar from King Street Galleries in Sydney. She was commenting on an artwork gift to CSU of an abstract painting, Muffled Rhythms 1984. CSU Art Curator Thomas Middlemost describes the “very large and important painting from a significant Sydney artist” as an “an intensely challenging artwork, which reflects the artist’s difficult path in the Australian art world. Muffled Rhythms, 1984 will exist as a ‘jewel in the crown’ of the University’s collection, which includes monotypes by Peart and paintings by James Gleeson, Emily Kngwarreye, to name a couple. The donation of this work will increase the standing of our important, nationally renowned art collection.”
Media Note: The John Peart abstract polymer emulsion on canvas painting Muffled Rhythms 1984 was gift to the CSU Art Collection under the Federal Cultural Gifts Scheme. For more information, contact CSU Media. Print this story NWGIC international quality accreditation
03 Jul 2007
 Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) has been awarded much sought after international quality accreditation. The NWGIC, located at the CSU Wagga Wagga Campus, implemented a quality management system for its research activities in 2006. Following an external review and audit in June 2007, the Centre was awarded accreditation for its implementation of the ISO 9000 Quality Management System. This achievement, driven by Mrs Helen Pan (NWGIC), Mr Chris O'Connell (NSW DPI), Professor Geoff Scollary (CSU), and Mrs Cathy Campbell (NSW DPI), reinforces the NWGIC’s place at the forefront of Australian research facilities. Director of the NWGIC Professor Thomas Henick-Kling says the quality accreditation is a wonderful achievement and shows a commitment to quality. The NWGIC is the home of leading wine industry research activities including the Winegrowing Futures Program.
Media Note: International Organization for Standardisation’s (ISO) purpose is to facilitate international trade by providing a single set of standards that people everywhere would recognize and respect. Contact CSU Media for interviews. Print this story Bless me, Father, for I have tilled
03 Jul 2007
 What does religion have to do with farming – and vice versa? Quite a lot, according to Dr Judith Crockett, lecturer in social sustainability at the Orange Campus of Charles Sturt University. She identified three distinct groups of farming families: the non-religious, the religious – who make occasional trips to church, often for social reasons, and Christian, whose “whole lives are permeated by their Christian beliefs and values”. These families tend to exhibit quite distinct gender and family relationships, have fewer problems with “succession planning” - the transfer of the farm between generations – and, “many are very progressive sustainable managers of land, very involved in Landcare as well as broader community activities,” said Dr Crockett. “That is because they see themselves as caretakers of the land rather than the owners of it.”
Media Note: Dr Judith Crockett interviewed farming families in three rural communities in the Central West of New South Wales as part of her PhD research. She will speak on Religion in rural NSW at the All Saints’ Cathedral Forum on Wednesday 11 July at 12.30 pm and is available for interviews, contact CSU Media. Print this story Echinacea recommended for winter colds
03 Jul 2007
 An analysis of 14 existing studies on Echinacea, published last week in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, shows that the herbal remedy can cut the risk of catching a cold, and reduce the severity of a cold by up to a day-and-a-half. This comes as no surprise to Dr Philip Kerr, lecturer in Medicinal Chemistry at Charles Sturt University’s Wagga Wagga Campus. “I’m a tincture rather than tablet man myself,” says Dr Kerr. Echinacea supplements are available as tablets, extracts, tincture, tea and even in fresh juice. He adds it should be taken, “At the very first sign of feeling a bit off.” Dr Kerr says to watch for the “tingle on the tongue” as a sign of an effective Echinacea remedy. Echinacea effectiveness can be reduced by “the process by which the plant extract has been prepared, and which variety of the plant has been used,” Dr Kerr said.
Media Note: Some medical agencies do not recommend Echinacea in cases of autoimmune disease, or for extended periods. Dr Philip Kerr is available for interviews, contact CSU Media. Print this story IT, accounting graduates in the red
26 Jun 2007
Media Note: For interviews contact CSU Media. See further comments on Access Economics report here. Print this story Getting ready for the big sting
26 Jun 2007
 Charles Sturt University (CSU) Bluebottles water polo team promise to put some ‘sting’ into the Eastern Conference Challenge competition to be held in Sydney next week. The team comprises seven CSU students from Albury-Wodonga and two from Bathurst. Six of the Bluebottles are top grade players who have represented the Ovens & Murray Association, NSW and Australian Country Teams. The CSU Bluebottles will be competing against teams from Sydney, NSW, Canberra and Newcastle universities. Captain Matt Hogan has spent the last three years playing in England after stints with the Cronulla Sharks and Canberra Dolphins in the Australian National League. "We are going to Sydney to be competitive. We are aiming for a top three finish in Sydney so we can go to the Australian University Games on the Gold Coast in September,” Matt said.
Media Note: Members of the CSU Bluebottles will be available for interviews at 10.30am on Wednesday 27 June in the CSU Student Association building, Thurgoona site, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona. The Eastern Conference Challenge will be held in Sydney from Sunday 1 to Wednesday 4 July. The Bluebottles are looking to the Border community for support to get to the University Games. Interested businesses and groups can contact them via email. Print this story Albury students get AVID in US
19 Jun 2007
Five Charles Sturt University (CSU) middle school teaching students will travel to the United States this July to learn more about the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) education program. Maree Arnold, Erin McCabe, Melissa Loats, Lauren O'Shea and Sean Walker will participate in the latest professional development work with middle and high school teachers throughout the United States when they attend the AVID Summer Institute in San Diego, California. In addition to the conference, the students will tour local middle schools, work with local high school students and meet other education students from San Diego. CSU middle school education course coordinator Dr Sally Knipe said this was an opportunity for pre-service teachers to acquire professional insights into a highly successful program designed to increase academic performance and entry into university
Media Note: For interviews contact CSU Media. Print this story |
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Two senior academics at Charles Sturt University (CSU) have pointed at the serious shortfall in accounting and information technology graduates and its potential impacts. “There have been fewer students enrolling in university courses in recent years. Local, national and global businesses both small and large are all competing for a declining pool of qualified graduates,” says CSU's senior lecturer in information technology, Dr John Atkinson. He says that includes Border companies who have trouble attracting and keeping computing professionals. “Even the Australian Computer Society is unable to find enough applicants for over 100 scholarships for Australian computing students to undertake work experience in India.” CSU accounting team leader Dianne McGrath says accounting firms, including international firm KPMG and many government and business organisations, were concerned at the lack of new accounting graduates available to fill positions in Albury and Wodonga. “A recent report by Access Economics also states graduates in these professions are in the top five most sought by Australian businesses. CSU is keen to train local people for positions in local firms as it has been shown that they are more likely to stay in Albury-Wodonga.” To address this shortfall, all courses offered by CSU’s School of Business and Information Technology will be offered for mid-year enrolment until 31 July. Contact Sue Petzke at the School on telephone (02) 6051 9874.