Professor David Battersby, Charles Sturt University's Dean of the Faculty of Health Studies, has been appointed as the new Head of the Albury-Wodonga Campus and CSU Pro-Vice-Chancellor, to take the campus into the next century.

His appointment will take effect from January 2000, when the inaugural Head of Campus, Professor Bryan Rothwell will retire after almost ten years in the position.

Professor Battersby was appointed as Professor in Health Studies with CSU in 1991, prior to this he has held senior academic and research positions at Waikato and Massey University in New Zealand.

Vice-Chancellor of CSU, Professor Cliff Blake said Professor Battersby comes to the position with a strong and innovative career portfolio in higher education.

"Professor Battersby has built the Faculty of Health Studies into one of our fastest growing Faculties. The largest School within this Faculty is now based at our Albury-Wodonga Campus offering new high quality and high demand courses in physiotherapy, speech pathology, occupational therapy, gerontology and rehabilitation," Professor Blake said.

"These new course developments, which have been echoed across the University, have positioned CSU as a leader and innovator in regional health development and allied health education.

"Since our inception as a University, Professor Rothwell has steered the Albury-Wodonga Campus to its leading edge position, overseeing the construction of the new environmentally sensitive Thurgoona campus into what is now one of the most exciting higher education sites in Australia.

"Professor Battersby takes over at a time when the University in Albury is undergoing substantial development. Soon the first graduates in physiotherapy and speech pathology will emerge, new lecturer, tutorial rooms and accommodation at the Thurgoona site are due to be completed and the first 48 self-contained residential units will be ready for occupation. In addition the administrative capacity of the campus will be expanded to service some 3500 students now enrolled in the policing courses of the University," Professor Blake said.