High school students from as far afield as Tasmania will gain an insight into studying animal, equine or veterinary science at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 July. The Years 11 and 12 students from almost 120 high schools in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania will visit CSU as part of the University’s MyDay, an initiative that lets high school students experience a day in the life of a university student. During the two-day My Day event, the students will participate in hands-on workshops within the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga. The University will also host general information sessions on accommodation and financial support. Undergraduate courses under the spotlight during the event include the Bachelor of Animal Science, the Bachelor of Equine Science, and the Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/ Bachelor of Veterinary Science. Read more here.

Carers of people with a mental illness are the focus of a new research project by a psychology student at Charles Sturt University (CSU). Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) Honours student Mr Gerald Haslinger is seeking participants in a confidential survey which aims to find out more about the experience of unpaid carers and mental health service providers in caring for someone with a mental illness. “I am interested in hearing from unpaid carers and service providers, and what they understand about the Recovery approach to caring for someone living with a mental illness, an approach that is widely accepted within the mental health sector.  My study seeks to find out the level of awareness of this approach amongst mental health service providers as well as unpaid carers.” Mr Haslinger, an education and training officer with a non-government agency in Sydney, has extended the survey until Friday 13 July.  He is completing his degree by distance education through the School of Psychology at CSU in Wagga Wagga. For further details about the survey, contact Mr Haslinger on his email  or take the survey here.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) students have claimed four of the 10 positions in the Australian training squad selected from a national meat judging competition held last weekend in Wagga Wagga. The competition was part of the National Intercollegiate Meat Judging (ICMJ) workshop hosted by CSU last week. CSU’s 25-member meat judging team won third place overall, narrowly beaten by teams from Melbourne and Murdoch universities. The CSU team also picked up numerous team and individual awards. The overall runner-up prize was awarded to CSU’s Mr Haydn McKay while the Tom Carr Award for coaching excellence was won by Ms Katelyn Braine. Four CSU students, Ms Gabrielle Knight, Mr Issac Allen, Ms Jordan Hoban and Ms Vanessa Campbell, have been selected to attend an intensive Meat and Livestock Australia training course and may be selected in the Australian team to compete in the USA in 2013. CSU Professor of Animal Production, Peter Wynn said the team trained long hours, often starting at the abattoir at 6am. “The success in this competition certainly shows Charles Sturt University’s target of providing more innovative young graduates to service the needs of our meat industries is well and truly on track,” he said. “The generous support and sponsorship from Teys Australia, Junee Abattoir and Knight’s Meats is appreciated.”

Accomplished Indigenous singer / songwriter Mr Kutcha Edwards will encourage more than 200 Indigenous high school students and family members from southern NSW to think about careers and future choices, in an event to be held at Mirambeena in Lavington on Thursday 19 July. Sponsored by Charles Sturt University (CSU), NSW Department of Education and Communities and Parent and Community Engagement (PaCE), the day will also include workshops for the Years 7 to 12 students and their parents presented by high achieving Indigenous community members and past students from CSU, Riverina and Wodonga Institutes of TAFE, and Mungabareena Health.  “We will be showing these students the range of careers and choices they can make and the support that is being offered to them, while also showing families how they can support their children in their choices,” CSU education lecturer and event coordinator Mr Paul Grover said. Mr Edwards will tell his story and perform for the students between 11am and 12noon.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) students will take part in National Tree Day when they continue the planting of understorey shrubs that commenced in 2011. Students from CSU in Albury-Wodonga will get down and dirty to sow over 1000 plants on the University campus at Thurgoona after 2.30pm on Friday 27 July. Activity coordinator and chair of the campus environment committee, Dr John Rafferty, said the celebration was also an opportunity to highlight the ‘green’ credentials and emphasis on environmental sustainability on the Albury-Wodonga Campus. “The campus is continually developing and enhancing the landscape and these habitats bring many benefits. We are seeing the site being used more and more for recreation, while the permanent habitat provides home for several species of bird and native animals. As well as enhancing the environment for local people and native animals, the site is developing as an important teaching and research resource for Charles Sturt University,” Dr Rafferty said.