A Charles Sturt University (CSU) student will hone his leadership, speaking and listening skills in preparation to represent young Australians at the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya (20-30 June), as part of the national Global Voices project. Mr Matthew Lincoln, 26, who is studying for an environmental science degree, learned more about Australia's role in global environment and sustainable development when he visited Parliament in Canberra last week.There he met federal ministers and Opposition spokespeople to discuss environmental, social and sustainable development issues. Topics included protecting native forests to help combat climate change, capacity building for developing countries in the Pacific Islands, and how the federal government will address these in the future.  "It was great to engage politicians and discuss domestic and international policy from the perspective of younger Australians," Mr Lincoln said. While in Canberra, he also met with the Kenyan High Commission to explore the importance of education within Kenya to create a more sustainable and fair community.

Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Faculty of Science will celebrate the academic excellence of its students tomorrow, Tuesday 25 March, on the the Albury-Wodonga campus. The Dean of Science at CSU, Professor Tim Wess, will present nearly 100 undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in allied health, environmental sciences and nursing courses, many of whom study via distance education, with Dean's Awards for excellence in their studies for at least one semester in 2013. Professor Wess will also present four prizes to top students in environmental sciences, podiatry and speech pathology during the event, which will commence at 2.30 pm on Tuesday 25 March at The Gums Café, CSU in Albury Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.

A new clinic at Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Community Engagement and Wellness (CEW) centre in Albury-Wodonga will combine expertise in sports medicine and biomechanics to treat people with sports and activity-related injuries. Former NSW champion woodchopper and podiatrist Mr Brent Smith has joined forces with physiotherapist Ms Carly Johnson in a combined sports and biomechanics clinic to be held each Wednesday morning at the CEW that combines their expertise in acute muscular, skeletal and sports medicine. Sports clubs and exercise groups are encouraged to take advantage of access to this expertise in the clinic, whereby students from CSU's podiatry and physiotherapy courses supervised by Ms Johnson and Mr Smith will be available to treat patients. Call (02) 6051 9299 to book an appointment for the Wednesday morning sports clinic.

A new international appointment for Charles Sturt University (CSU) Professor Max Finlayson has highlighted the high standing of CSU in international environmental research and policy development. Through collaboration between the Ramsar Secretariat, UNESCO's Institute for Water Education (IHE) and CSU, Professor Finlayson, the Director of the University's Institute for Land, Water and Society, was recently appointed as Ramsar Chair for Wise Use of Wetlands. In the new role, he will develop initiatives to further understanding how wetlands function and develop the link between wetlands and the communities that depend on them. He will collaborate with national and international organisations and experts to contribute to UNESCO-IHE's work and the Ramsar Convention's mission of promoting the conservation and wise use of wetlands, while also maintaining his ongoing research program at CSU. "The Ramsar Chair will help us conduct robust research into better understanding of the ecology and management of wetlands. This develops further the history of collaboration between the Ramsar Secretariat, the Institute for Water Education and Charles Sturt University," said Mr Ken Irvine, Professor of Aquatic Ecosystems at UNESCO-IHE.

Recognising the importance of healthy students and staff, and wellness for a healthy workplace, Charles Sturt University (CSU), is holding a series of expos to highlight healthy activities and services that are available around Albury-Wodonga. CSU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Vann, said, "Our aim is to have student and staff health and well-being understood, valued and actively supported at all levels of our organisation." CSU's 2014 SGE Credit Union Wellness and Wellbeing Conference and Expos will include many workshops. These include  mental health issues, physical activity, financial stability and security, stress management and prevention, caring for the elderly, alcohol and drug awareness, time management and lifestyle balance, nutrition, and men's and women's health for all CSU staff and students. The CSU Wellness and Wellbeing Expo for the Albury-Wodonga campus will start at 9.30am on Monday 17 March in the Gums Café, CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.

Dairy farmers and education providers have joined forces in North East Victoria to encourage local secondary students to consider a career in dairying and agriculture. As part of the Alpine Valleys Dairy Pathways Project, local farmers, Charles Sturt University (CSU) and GOTAFE have met with school principals investigate how they can facilitate more agricultural education to be incorporated into school curricula. Alpine Valley dairy farmer and project committee member Mr Scott McKillop believes the North-East has many profitable and resilient farm businesses in the region. "Farming has been the backbone of the area for many years and should continue to be into the future because of the quality of the land and water resources we have available," Mr McKillop said. Staff from CSU, GOTAFE and the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia in Wangaratta want to see more dairy farms and milk production in the Alpine Valleys and believe the solution lies in local schools. Course director with CSU's School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Dr Yann Guisard, wants teachers, parents and students in primary and high schools to grow in their understanding of agricultural careers and their importance to the local economy.

The work of women at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury Wodonga will be celebrated at a luncheon on Wednesday 11 March. The event is being held in recognition of International Women's Day and will feature a presentation by Director of the Hume Medicare Local, Dr Helen Haines.  Organiser, Associate Professor Rosemary Black said the women of CSU Albury Wodonga are coming together to celebrate achievements and acknowledge women all around the world. "The theme of the 2015 International Women's Day isMake It Happen encouraging effective action for advancing and recognising women," she said. "This is a chance to do that while hearing from Dr Haines who has a career in rural health spanning three decades with experience in clinical practice, management and research." The event is supported by CSU's Leadership Development for Women Steering Committee, a forum which identifies and supports development opportunities for women leaders at the University.

What is numeracy, how is it different to mathematics, and how is numeracy related to community and education? These questions will be addressed by one of Australia's leading experts in numeracy education, Professor Bob Perry, from CSU's School of Education, in a presentation on Monday 10 March. Professor Perry will explore the latest research on numeracy in teaching, including his own work on the Border. Professor Perry has worked in teacher education in Australia and overseas for over 40 years. His research interests include powerful mathematical ideas in pre-school education and the first year of school, researching with children, and building community capacity. With his partner, Professor Sue Dockett, both lead international research projects on transition to school, including in Border-based indigenous communities. The 'Knowledge Now' lecture will be start at 1pm on Monday 10 March in room 202, building 751, CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.

More than 450 students will continue their introduction to higher education and study with Orientation Week at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga this week. Head of Campus, Professor Julia Coyle, said, "O Week blends serious and social activities to introduce the students from around Australia and overseas to their new lives of study and education. The undergraduate courses in greatest demand in 2014 were early childhood and primary education, occupational therapy, speech pathology, nursing, and physiotherapy." Money raised at this year's O Week social activities will be donated to Cystic Fibrosis (NSW and ACT). Nearly 2 400 new students were welcomed to all CSU campuses during O Week which started on Monday 24 February.