• A Charles Sturt University international summer school in Port Macquarie from Sunday 10 to Friday 15 December will focus on youth crime

Charles Sturt University is hosting a Criminal Justice and Policing International Summer School in Port Macquarie this week for local and overseas students and their academics.

Course Director in the Charles Sturt Centre for Law and Justice in Port Macquarie Dr Rosemary Woolston said the week-long program includes guest lectures, field trips, group work, input from police, non-government organisations (NGOs) culminating in presentations to key stakeholders and international academics.

“Charles Sturt University has global reciprocal arrangements with partner universities and this week allows us to host an Australian perspective/experience on key areas,” Dr Woolston said.

“The Summer School provides a wonderful opportunity for students studying internationally in similar disciplines to network and broaden their understanding of youth crime while integrating our different cultures.

“It enables students to work in groups with input from NSW Police based in Port Macquarie and Kempsey to bring an international focus on best practice to a range of crime problems.”

The Summer School hosts 25 students and five visiting academics from the University of South Wales (UK), Liverpool John Moores University, the Justice Institute of British Columbia (Canada), the Singapore University of Social Science, as well as Charles Sturt criminal justice and policing students.

Lecturer in Policing Studies in the Charles Sturt Centre for Law and Justice Mr Adrian Davis said the program will provide an international focus on best practice to several crime problems.

“These common issues include break and enter, drug and alcohol-related crime, property damage and graffiti, weapons and knives, and cybercrime (sexting/bullying etc),” he said.

“The participants will also be greeted with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony and have the opportunity to try surfing during their visit.”