Women working at Charles Sturt University (CSU) have secured a NSW Government grant to forge closer ties with CSU’s regional communities on projects involving children with disabilities and Indigenous education. 

Leading CSU female staff have won $100 000 in funding from the NSW Department for Women to develop two CSU-community projects in 2004 as well as enhance the professional development and leadership roles of University women.

Behind the year-long project, University Women, Community Practice and Collaboration: Building Social Capital in Regional NSW, is Head of Albury-Wodonga Campus Professor Gail Whiteford, Director of CSU’s Centre for Rural Social Research Professor Margaret Alston and senior lecturer Kennece Coombs.

The Women’s Partnership Grant in 2004 will see the implementation of: 

• A Health Mentoring Program at some community early intervention centres in Albury. This program would bring CSU staff and students together with parents at the centres in a positive response to the poorer health status of the carers of young children with disabilities due to the stress of around-the-clock care giving.

• An Indigenous Educational Pathways Project at high schools in Dubbo. Amid low numbers of Indigenous students entering tertiary education, this project will “hothouse” a group of Indigenous regional students and expose them to a range of educational opportunities and role models in the tertiary environment.

• An “umbrella” project to enhance the professional development of both the community and the university women involved in the Health Mentoring Program and Indigenous Educational Pathways Project. 

“Many CSU women have strong ties to local community projects both outside their university work commitments and in line with CSU’s regional engagement commitment,” said Professor Whiteford.
“The new grant will ensure their efforts will positively enhance their career profiles as well as contribute to the strengthening of regional communities in NSW,” she added.  

The Women’s Partnership Grant program is a unique opportunity for the community to work in partnership with the NSW Department for Women and other key women’s and community groups on social justice objectives for women.