A new book by a Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic explores the need for and path towards successful community development in both developed and developing countries in the Asia Pacific region. Community Development in Asia and the Pacific by Associate Professor Manohar Pawar, from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Wagga Wagga, delves into the challenges and impediments for successful community development programs. "Both developed and developing countries have been re-emphasising the importance of community development but really need to address issues such as entrenched community power structures, unstable political systems and authoritarian leadership styles which play a big part in obstructing community development," Associate Professor Pawar said. ”The four key principles needed to put development into practice include respect for human rights, self reliance, self determination and participation,” he said. "This book examines the latest community trends in the Asia Pacific region. It makes a case for adopting values- and principles-based practice; for altering current leadership styles and developing new leaders; for retaining diversity and learning from it; for practicing what is preached; and for having a local level comprehensive social development perspective.”

Associate Professor Manohar Pawar lectures in the Social Work and Human Services program in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Wagga Wagga. He has more than 20 years of experience in social work education, research and practice in Australia and India.  Community Development in Asia and the Pacific is published by Routledge.Contact CSU Media to arrange an interview.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has been honoured in a national award for its successful traineeship programs. CSU was named as a runner up in the 2009 Minister’s Awards for Excellence for Employers of Australian Apprentices.  The University was among the top four employers of apprentices in the Western NSW category. Two CSU traineeship programs, known as Front Line Management for existing employees and Indigenous Traineeships, were submitted to the national awards. “The success of these two programs has led to the retention of trainees, a good completion rate for accredited training, expanded career opportunities for existing staff and improved employment opportunities at the University for Indigenous trainees,” said Ms Sarah McCormick , Manager of Diversity and Equity at CSU. Ms McCormick and CSU Training Manager Ms Jenny King attended the award ceremony hosted by the Federal Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations the Hon. Julia Gillard, MP, at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday 18 August.

The Minister’s Awards for Excellence recognise and reward organisations and individuals who make an outstanding contribution towards the training of Australian apprentices. More information about Awards can be found here. Through its Division of Human Resources, CSU offers a staff development calendar offering over 100 workshops and forums annually. The University also runs an in-house Registered Training Organisation (RTO), CSU Training to deliver vocational qualifications.

As part of National Science Week being celebrated at Charles Sturt University (CSU), NASA astronaut Ms Megan McArthur from USA will give a series of lectures on her unusual workplace: space. Ms McArthur’s latest activity was on the shuttle mission to the repair the Hubble space telescope in May this year. “The telescope is a large, space-based observatory which has revolutionised astronomy by providing unprecedented deep and clear views of the Universe, ranging from our own solar system to extremely remote fledgling galaxies,” said Border Stargaze co-ordinator Mr David Chandler. “The May mission completed by Ms McArthur and the team extends the telescope’s operational life an extra four years, allowing even more spectacular images to be recorded. Ms McArthur was responsible for the fragile operation of the robotic arm to capture the Hubble Space Telescope and then release it again once the repairs were complete.” The lectures will be co-hosted by the Astronomical Society of Albury Wodonga and CSU on Wednesday 19 August in the University’s Nowik Auditorium, Guinea St, Albury.

For interview with NASA astronaut Ms Megan McArthur, contact Border Stargaze president, Mr David Thurley on mobile 0418 690 142.

The popular image of the soldiers of the first Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) during World War I is of high-spirited larrikins. This will be challenged by historian Dr Peter Stanley when he delivers the third Theo Barker Memorial Lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Bathurst on Friday 14 August. Dr Stanley, who is Director of the Centre for Historical Research at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, says memoirs, battalion histories and biographies are full of stories that reinforce the idea that Australian citizen soldiers in World War I behaved like naughty boys, and that their antics were harmless or benign. “But there was a dark side to the AIF's wrong-doers,” he says. “Though little acknowledged, the AIF included many men who contravened military law. They stole, answered back, refused to obey orders, got drunk, wounded themselves to get out of the war, and went absent or deserted, and in huge numbers,” said Dr Stanley.

Contact CSU Media to arrange interviews with Dr Peter Stanley from the National Museum of Australia. Dr Stanley is the author of over 20 books, mainly on Australian and British military social history. The third Theo Barker Memorial Lecture is free and is jointly presented by CSU and the Bathurst District Historical Society. It will be held from 6pm on Friday 14 August in the main Lecture Theatre, building S15 at CSU at Bathurst. The lecture is held in honour of Mr Barker, a history lecturer at one of CSU’s predecessor institutions, the Mitchell College of Advanced Education. He wrote a history of the Bathurst campus and a two volume history of Bathurst.

Does cramming really help students prepare for the HSC? With many starting their HSC trial exams today, students are discovering what study methods work best for them. Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer Dr Deb Clarke believes a well prepared study plan is a great start to study and suggests a visit to NSW HSC online for inspiration. “NSW HSC online explicitly follows the syllabus content and has a range of activities for students to complete that can be used to refine and rehearse their knowledge of HSC content,” said Dr Clarke. With so many resources now available online, Dr Clarke advises students to find government-supported sites that provide accurate material. For more information on NSW HSC online visit here.

 

Dr Deb Clarke is a senior lecturer with the School of Human Movement Studies at CSU at Bathurst. For interviews contact CSU Media. NSW HSC online was hosted by CSU in 2007 in collaboration with the NSW Department of Education and Training.

 

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is giving young people the opportunity to have an input into the challenging issues such as homelessness, teen suicide, drugs, poverty and crime. The Making a Difference (MaD) competition is now open and submissions close on Monday 5 October. “By writing a story, poem or script that addresses any issue of social justice, entrants are in the running to receive one of four $250 cash prizes,” explains CSU coordinator Mr Bill Anscombe. “In addition, Charles Sturt University will donate $250 to the charity of the winners’ choice.”  The School of Humanities and Social Sciences’ Social Justice Innovation Award is eligible to anyone aged between 15 and 21 and are in Years 10, 11 and 12 at high school or studying at TAFE. Judging will take place in October, with the winners announced early November.

Mr Bill Anscombe is a senior lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at CSU at Wagga Wagga. More information, including a full list of competition conditions, is available here. For interviews contact CSU Media

 

The forum is free and will be held from 9am to 4pm on Thursday 13 August in the Parkes Services Club, Parkes in NSW. Read more about Asia Today Forum 2009 here. The forum is jointly organised by the Asian Agribusiness Research Centre at CSU and Regional Development Australia Central West. The event is supported by NSW Farmers Association, Central West Farming Systems and Conservation Agriculture and No-Till Farmers Association Australia. The Asian Agribusiness Research Centre at CSU provides research and consultancy services related to trends and developments in the Asian agribusiness sector.

Reflecting Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) continued support for students who wish to study and gain their professional qualifications in regional Australia, a new application process for entry into the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree will commence in 2010. In addition to lodging an application with the University Admissions Centre (UAC) by Wednesday 30 September 2009, a ‘Supplementary Application Form’ and interview process has been introduced. These changes will allow applicants to demonstrate an interest in, and commitment to, rural Australia, a career in pharmacy and the overall health of the rural population. “By showing an understanding of the unique issues that confront pharmacists and other health workers in rural and remote Australia, Charles Sturt University is ensuring students are prepared for an education and possibly a career in regional Australia,” said Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences, Associate Professor Lyndall Angel.

Further information is available here or telephone 1800 334 733. For media interviews contact CSU Media. The Bachelor of Pharmacy course was the first pharmacy degree in Australia to be offered outside a metropolitan area. It is run through the School of Biomedical Sciences at CSU at Orange and Wagga Wagga.

Vital financial support of almost $30 000 has been awarded to veterinary science students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga. The 2009 Professional Experience Scholarships and Prizes were presented on Tuesday 4 August to help the students while they attend their practical work placements across Australia. The awards included fifth year students who are about to embark on the third phase of the veterinary science program, which involves ten clinical rotations over the next 12 months. “The scholarships to assist the students with their field experience come at an exciting time for the first intake of students into the veterinary science program,” said Head of the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences Professor Kym Abbott. “The students have been very well prepared for the final phase of their training but now need to apply their full focus to this final development of their clinical skills before they graduate next year. The financial support from donors will help them at this critical stage of their studies.”

Further information about the inaugural Professional Experience Scholarships in 2008 can be found here. The scholarships were generously funded by the Moruya Veterinary Hospital, the Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga, Pfizer Animal Health, the Piper Street Veterinary Clinic at Tamworth and WP and AG Holmesby, Coopers Animal Health and many donors to the CSU Foundation.

Three academics from Dongguk University in South Korea will be in Albury today, Tuesday 11 August, to check on the progress of seven students who started their business degrees at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in July. The visitors will tour the environmentally sustainable campus and residences at the University before meeting with CSU staff and students to discuss how the students are integrating into their studies and their new lives on the Border. The Associate Dean of Administration with the CSU Faculty of Business, Associate Professor John Atkinson, said the visit was important for developing further educational opportunities with South Korean partners at CSU, as well as looking after the welfare of the new students. Professor Atkinson is due to fly to South Korea next week for a return visit.