• Charles Sturt University in Orange held its 2022 graduation ceremony on Thursday 15 December
• 104 graduates celebrated the completion of their courses with approximately 330 family and friends
• Graduates received degrees across a range of disciplines including in social work and arts; education; business; nursing, paramedicine, and healthcare sciences; dentistry and medical sciences; dentistry and oral health; agriculture, environment, and veterinary sciences; and allied health and exercise and sports sciences

Thursday 15 December was a highly anticipated day with more than 330 people celebrating more than 100 graduates at the Charles Sturt University graduation
ceremony Orange.

Graduates attended in full academic regalia with family and friends, basking in their educational achievements after persevering through the unprecedented period of a global pandemic and a slew of catastrophic weather events that swept the nation.

Of the 104 graduates in attendance, degrees were awarded in courses offered by the Charles Sturt School of Social Work and Arts; the School of Education; the School of Business; the School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences; the School of Dentistry and Medical Sciences; the School of Agricultural, Environmental, and Veterinary Sciences; and the School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences.

Charles Sturt Vice-Chancellor Professor Renée Leon congratulated the graduates for their dedication and determination in achieving their goals.  

“These graduates can now embark on the world offering their communities vital skills built from a world-class education at a time when local towns need each other more than ever.

“Charles Sturt’s outstanding record in graduate employment – ranked first among all Australian universities for the last six years –– means most of these graduates are already making positive impacts in their careers and communities.”

Professor Leon commended the graduates for persevering with their studies during a challenging era.

“These graduates have endured an exceptional educational journey during one of the most difficult periods of our generation,” Professor Leon said.

“Having to navigate the many hurdles presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, along with extreme weather events that have plagued communities is a testament to their strength of character, resilience, and ambition.

Professor Leon noted the critical role the graduates will play in tackling the skills shortages Australia is facing. 

“Our education graduates will play an essential role at this time when our schools are in desperate need of more teachers. And our nursing, dentistry and allied health

graduates will assist with closing the gap in healthcare accessibility between country and metropolitan communities,” Professor Leon said.

Charles Sturt Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) graduate Ms Phoebe Hensby from Baradine NSW said she was relieved and delighted to have graduated after the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“I put a lot down to my organisation and perfectionism when it comes to getting through my studies,” Ms Hensby said. “I used numerous study strategies that ensured I kept focused, accountable, disciplined and productive.”

Ms Hensby said she was lucky to have supervisors and lecturers who were very collaborative to assist with her study load.

“If you are struggling, talk to your lecturers and/or subject coordinators. They are there to aid and support you and don’t want to see you fail nor lose your drive to succeed, and the support and opportunities at the University are endless,” Ms Hensby said.

Ms Ella Falzarano from Bathurst NSW, also a graduate of the Charles Sturt Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours), said it was her passion for helping others and the time she spent as a physiotherapy patient as a child that inspired her to go into the profession.  

“When I was young, I spent a large amount of time in the physiotherapy clinic receiving treatment for injuries,” Ms Falzarano said.

“I was in awe at how people could help make such a difference to other people’s lives - and make a career out of it.” 

Another graduate of the Charles Sturt Bachelor of Physiotherapy Ms Penny Rohleder, from Lightning Ridge NSW said it was her own experiences of suffering from chronic health conditions that led to her wanting to pursue a career that offered longer-term health solutions for patients.

“I’m often frustrated by the Band-Aid fixes that healthcare often provides. They work for the present, to make your blood work appear normal, but you’re often left just trying to manage the everyday. But in the long run, it’s no way to live,” Ms Rohleder said.

“Physiotherapy really addresses both, and I feel that it’s a way for us to teach and enable people to get back to feeling their best or enable them to be able to do the things that they love doing.”  

The Charles Sturt Orange graduation ceremony was held at Kinross Wolaroi School at 2pm on Thursday 15 December.

Senior executives of Charles Sturt University attended the graduation.  

Professor Leon said the celebration marked the end of a triumphant year for Charles Sturt University in Orange.

“The School of Rural Medicine received more than 1,000 enrolment applications for the 2022 academic year and the School’s first cohort will move into their third year of studies next year where they will go out into rural communities as they embark on their placements,” Professor Leon said.

“The Orange campus also provided a refuge for those affected by the floods in Eugowra which helped more than forty Eugowra residents get back on their feet through emergency accommodation after their homes and businesses were impacted by floods.

“These are just a couple of stand-out achievements our Charles Sturt staff in Orange can be proud of and we look forward to more successful partnerships in 2023,” Professor Leon said.

Charles Sturt is hosting a total of 21 graduation ceremonies at 10 locations throughout December, including at Charles Sturt in Melbourne on Monday 5 December, Bathurst on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 December, Rosehill in Sydney also on Thursday 8 December, Parramatta on Friday 9 December, Olympic Park in Sydney on Saturday 10 December, Wagga Wagga on Monday 12 to Friday 16 December, Albury-Wodonga on Tuesday 13 December, Orange on Thursday 15 December, and in Port Macquarie on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 December.  

Approximately 2,200 graduates will be celebrated among more than 6,700 family and friends.

ENDS