In recognition of the urgent need for more nurses to service health care in regional Australia, the next group of newly enrolled nursing students will commence their three-year course this week at Charles Sturt University (CSU). “We start this course in the middle of the year to attract people with a range of backgrounds and life experiences, school leavers as well as older students,” said nursing course coordinator Linda Goddard. Around 40 students aged between 18 to 55 years and from as far as India, Bundoora in Melbourne and Euroa in regional Victoria will commence their studies with an official welcome and orientation day this Friday 21 July. The all day event at the University’s Albury City site includes meetings with academic staff, enrolment and course advice and skills sessions in academic writing, library services and computing. CSU’s spring academic semester commences next Monday 24 July.