• Charles Sturt to open new Indigenous Student Centre in Orange
• Centre will provide on-campus and online Indigenous students with a range of support, including study, accommodation, employment, and social support

Charles Sturt University (Charles Sturt) is set to open a new Indigenous Student Centre at the University's campus in Orange in late October.

The new centre will provide the University’s Indigenous students studying at the Orange campus and online with a range of support, including study, tutoring, accommodation, employment, and social support.

Student Liaison Officer at the Indigenous Student Centre in Orange Mr Victor Wood said the centre’s main role is to provide a range of different support to the University's on-campus and online Indigenous students.

“The centre will be a safe place for our Indigenous students to study, socialise and seek support on a range of matters from the University’s staff.

“The centre will also play a role in the broader community; we plan to host school groups and various events, programs and activities for the local community, particularly for the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”

Mr Wood is one of two staff members appointed to work at the new centre.

The centre’s new Learning Adviser Mr Trevor Leaman said, “My role will involve providing academic support to students and running the centre’s weekly study sessions for on-campus and online students during the semesters.”

There are six Indigenous Student Centres already open at Charles Sturt campuses are: Ngungilanna in Wagga Wagga (building 20A), Winan Gidyal in Albury-Wodonga (building 673), Wammarra in Bathurst (building 1292), Barraamielinga in Dubbo (building 901), Ngarralbaa in Port Macquarie (building 2072), and Maliyan in Goulburn (building C). The official name for the Indigenous Student Centre in Orange is yet to be decided.

Charles Sturt offers a range of specialised programs and support for current and prospective Indigenous students.

Charles Sturt is hosting a free five-day program in Wagga Wagga, Bathurst and Port Macquarie which is designed to prepare prospective Indigenous students to study at university.

The University’s Indigenous Academic Success Program provides Indigenous students with support throughout their studies and provides students with access to tutors and learning advisers.