Federal government awards for teaching excellence to four Charles Sturt University (CSU) academics highlight benefits for CSU students and future generations.

The University was notified by the Minister for Education and Training Senator the Hon. Simon Birmingham that the CSU academics have been awarded 2016 Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning.

The 2016 Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning are part of the Australian Awards for University Teaching, administered by the Department of Education and Training. The public announcement of recipients was made by the Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham on Tuesday 13 September.

CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann congratulated the CSU recipients.

"The citations are testament to the talent of the staff at Charles Sturt University teaching and researching in our regions," Professor Vann said. "This work is having a valuable impact for current students and is making a contribution to industries and communities across Australia for future generations."

The citation recipients are:

- Ms Cassily Charles (Wagga Wagga) for innovative online programs for research students, which support their research writing, enable genuine community, peer learning and professional development, across disciplines and wide distances. Ms Charles is ALLaN Coordinator (Postgraduate) in Academic Success in the CSU Office for Students.

- Dr Angela Fenton (Albury-Wodonga) (pictured above) for inspiring pre-service teachers to engage with complex issues of child protection and development using an innovative Strengths Approach to teaching and learning. Dr Fenton is a lecturer in the School of Education at CSU in Albury-Wodonga.

- Dr Laura McFarland (Albury-Wodonga) for sustained excellence in scholarship in early childhood education that enhances student learning by connecting research, families and communities. Dr McFarland is a lecturer in the School of Education at CSU in Albury-Wodonga.

- Dr Tamara Browne (Canberra) for using innovative teaching methods that inspire students to engage deeply, and reflect on their own values, as they grapple with complex dilemmas in bioethics. Dr Tamara Browne is an ethics research assistant at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (CAPPE) in Canberra.

The presentation ceremony for award recipients at universities in NSW and the ACT will be held in Sydney at the Museum of Contemporary Art at The Rocks on Friday 16 September at 3pm.