Like a lot of Australia’s fauna, the Squirrel Glider’s habitat is being eroded by human population pressures. Now the small tree-loving marsupials are being offered new homes in a collaborative project between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Riverina TAFE. A "work-for-the-dole" team, using the TAFE workshops at Thurgoona, is currently constructing over 200 nest boxes for Squirrel Gliders, which will soon be placed in the conservation area between CSU and TAFE and other areas at Thurgoona. Three kilometres of barb wire fencing which can be hazardous to the gliders has been replaced, and five hectares of cleared land adjoining the area will be revegetated during 2007 to provide valuable food. The project will provide an important opportunity to study the habits of the sugar glider and it is also intended that local school students and Landcare groups will monitor the site.

“Young people need no magic shields, swords and arrows to cope with the world of work,” according to Associate Professor Erica Smith, a specialist in vocation education and training from Charles Sturt University (CSU). Professor Smith says it is dangerous and futile to constantly make changes to the school curriculum in attempts to prepare young people better for the workplace. Her paper, The Land of Narnia or just the back of the wardrobe? What research tells us about the real world of work for young people will challenge many assumptions made about the nature of entry into work life for young people. Drawing from her national research, Professor Smith says the majority of young people have a realistic view of the labour market, hold sufficient skills to succeed and are able to move to full-time work seamlessly over a period of several years with no major difficulties. “The world of work, rather than being a strange land, difficult to enter, where battles are fought and special guides are needed, is a familiar and navigable place to young people,” she said. 

Writing for publication is a new addition to the workshops on offer at the Riverina’s premier creative arts school to be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) early in 2007. Enrolments are now being taken for the Murrumbidgee School of Creative Arts summer school at CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus from 14 to 19 January 2007. The writing workshop has been introduced in response to demand and the tutor will be Kerri Lane, an internationally published author of more than 30 books and “ghostwriter” for some of Australia’s top business personalities. She has tutored in writing for 14 years, 12 of those with CSU’s enrichment program. Described as a “week of indulgence”, the summer school will also include workshops in beading, clay, calligraphy, fine art, jewellery, mosaics, photography, sculpture and textiles. The Murrumbidgee School of Creative Arts has doubled in the number of participants and workshops since its inception three years ago and tutors will travel from as far as New Zealand, Queensland and Victoria for the next program. Program Coordinator Linda Tillman said all workshops are aimed at specific skill levels with something for everyone. The Murrumbidgee School of Creative Arts is held on the Wagga Wagga Campus in summer and winter each year. For enquiries or enrolments, contact Linda Tillman on 02 6933 2064 or email commed@csu.edu.au

Colourful elements of Indigenous Australian culture will be presented to school students from the Border region when they visit an education day hosted by Charels Sturt Universty’s (CSU) early childhood education students on Thursday 9 November. The University students, directed by CSU academic and Wirradjuri elder Yalmambirra, will lead small groups that explore various aspects of Indigenous culture including boomerang throwing, bush tucker, face painting, dance and storytelling, and be assessed as part of their teaching degree course. “The day long event is an important educational experience for CSU students and around 400 primary primary school pupils that will visit during the day,” said Yalmambira. The event will be held at the Mirrambeena community centre at Lavington, between 9am and 2.30pm.

Staging a matinee session of the new Australian film Opal Dreaming is part of one Charles Sturt University academic’s effort to raise funds for the international aid charity Oxfam on Sunday 12 November. Ecotourism senior lecturer Dr Rosemary Black is raising funds for a bicycle tour of Cambodia, an Oxfam Challenge, to highlight severe development problems in this country. Starring Vince Colosimo, Jacqueline McKenzie, Christian Byers and Sapphire Boyce, Opal Dream is an enchanting, funny and profoundly moving story about some apparently imaginary friends in the opal capital of Australia. Proceeds from tickets to the screening go direct to Oxfam as part of Dr Black’s challenge. The film will be screened at the Regent Theatre in Dean St, Albury, starting at 4.15pm on 12 November with tickets costing $15 on sale at the door from 3.30pm.

Childhood obesity, promoting good health to rural men, chronic back pain for women and work options for people living with HIV/AIDS are some of the topics being addressed by Charles Sturt University (CSU) students at an occupational therapy conference to be held next week in Albury. Thirty six graduating students from the University’s occupational therapy course are presenting papers on these and other topics in this rapidly developing field to health professionals from the NSW-Victorian Border region. The two day conference will be start at 9am on Tuesday 21 November in the Nowik Auditorium, CSU’s Albury city site, Guinea St, Albury, finishing at 1pm on Wednesday 22 November.

A public forum discussing how people in north east Victoria and southern NSW can respond to climate change and the positions of Victoria’s major political parties on this critical issue will be presented by Monday 20 November. Hosted by Charles Sturt University’s Institute for Land, Water and Society (ILWS) and La Trobe University, speakers include four candidates for the Victorian seat of Benambra for the up-coming Victorian State election: Bill Baxter (Nationals), Lisa Mahood (Labor), Helen Robinson (Greens) and Bill Tilley (Liberal), as well as a scientist who will discuss the predicted impacts of climate change on this region. Starting at 6pm, light refreshments will be available at the close of the forum at 7.30pm. The forum will be held in the Main Lecture Theatre, La Trobe University, University Drive, Wodonga.

A senior Charles Sturt University (CSU) social researcher is leading research and discussion into the influence of globalisation on economic development and human security in the Asia-Pacific region. Dr Manohar Pawar, a principal researcher in CSU’s Institute for Land, Water and Society, believes globalisation “is good if it helps erradicate poverty and reduce global inequalities”. In October, Dr Pawar organised a major international conference on the topic in Thailand, in collaboration with Thailand’s Thammasat University and Taisho and Kyushu universities, Japan. “Confronted by extreme poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, disorder and violence and many other social problems, the conference delegates presented positive examples from the region showing that alternative social development approaches must include and allow participation in the planning and implementation of projects by the people affected by them,” Dr Pawar said.

“The big question is, do some adults improve their lives after a parent’s cancer experience? It sounds quite odd, because how could anything good possibly come from this?” Janelle Levesque from Charles Sturt University’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences will research how having a parent with cancer impacts on their adult children. “For some, cancer can act as a wake-up call. Some realise life is too short to stay in work they don’t like while others switch to more family-friendly or part time work. Another change may be the realisation that the little things are not so important. The wet towel on the bathroom floor really doesn’t matter, what matters is making time to speak to the kids for 10 minutes before bed.” Ms Levesque says the biggest area of change is that “most people find that their family grows closer through the experience”.