Charles Sturt University (CSU) students and staff will promote the need for good foot health to Albury-Wodonga residents during an education day at the Community Engagement and Wellness (CEW) Centre on Wednesday 31 October at CSU in Albury-Wodonga.Held as part of the annual October Foot Health Month run by the Australian Podiatry Council, the CSU podiatry team will provide an education session on foot health and a free foot health screening for all participants in the morning and afternoon sessions.“Foot health is important not only because the feet are a key part of mobility, but feet are also the site of many early warning signs for conditions such as diabetes and vascular disease,” said CSU podiatry academic Associate Professor Caroline Robinson, pictured left.“We need podiatrists in regional Australia to educate our aging population about the health of their feet and lower limbs, and encourage members of the community to take a more active role in maintaining their own foot health.”The screenings during each education session will be provided by the final year podiatry students, supervised by the experienced staff in the CSU School of Community Health.“Our podiatry students are especially prepared to work in regional Australia, and recognise and understand the needs of people living in remote and rural area,” Professor Robinson said.Members of the public, particularly those aged over 50 years, can book a place in either the morning session (starting 9.30 am) or afternoon session (starting 1.30 pm) on telephone (02) 6051 9299. Bookings must be made by 5pm on Monday 29 October.The session will be held in the CEW (building 715), in Ellis Street, Thurgoona (behind the Thurgoona Plaza shopping centre). Participants can park in Carpark P8 off Ellis Street.

* CSU researchers to explore how to advance sustainable development goals * UNAA representative to speak at workshop in Albury-Wodonga on Thursday 18 OctoberThe Charles Sturt University (CSU) Institute for Land, Water and Society (ILWS) will host a one-day workshop in Albury-Wodonga on Thursday 18 October to explore ways to engage with and support the sustainable development goals of the United Nations.Professor in Social Work and Human Services, Manohar Pawar (pictured), in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the ILWS, will lead the ‘Engaging with Sustainable Development Goals’ workshop.Professor Pawar said that the special guest presenter at the workshop will be Ms Patricia Garcia, AO, National Program Manager for UN Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA).“Ms Garcia will deliver a presentation about the current state of the sustainable development goals, and opportunities for networking, research and engagement in Australia,” Professor Pawar said.“The ILWS’s work is closely linked to the 17 sustainable development goals.“It is important to build awareness and capacity to significantly engage in the achievement of the sustainable development goals.“At the workshop and thereafter, interdisciplinary scholars at Charles Sturt University will explore the potential ways they can engage with the sustainable development goals.”The ILWS ‘Engaging with Sustainable Development Goals’ workshop will be held at the Gordon Beavan Building (building 673, level 4, room 410) at CSU in Albury-Wodonga from 9am to 4pm on Thursday 18 October.Find out more about the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals here: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs

* CSU research aims to make Albury city more walkable for residents * Volunteers aged 65+ needed to assist research * Walking improves health and wellbeing and increases access to social and economic lifePeople aged over 65 and living in Albury have extra incentive to pound the city’s pavements in coming weeks with new research being run by Charles Sturt University (CSU).Working in collaboration with Albury City Council, CSU researchers Dr Rachel Whitsed and Dr Ana Horta from the CSU Institute for Land, Water and Society are measuring the ‘walkability’ of the city, specifically for older people.“Extensive research tells us that walking improves health and wellbeing and allows increased access to social and economic life,” said Dr Whitsed, the team’s lead researcher.“Now we want your help to make Albury city more walkable for you.”As part of the project, the researchers are seeking participants aged over 65 to wear a small global positioning system (GPS) device for two weeks.“We will be able to use this GPS data to map and measure walkability of Albury through the eyes, and shoes, of older people.”Albury City councillor and Lavington resident Councillor David Thurley is helping promote the project to fellow residents.“Walking is an important part of my life as an older person,” Councillor Thurley said.“Albury City is keen to find out who is using the city’s paths and where, and why they are using them – and why not.“It would be great to get as many people aged over 65 years as possible to take part in this project, as this will help the Council to improve facilities for use by all our citizens, including our older residents.”This project might also be of interest to the carers and relatives of people living in Albury who are aged over 65 years. Find more information on the project website.In addition, any Albury resident can complete a ‘Have a Say’ survey form on walkability in the city, available on the AlburyCity website.To participate in the project, contact Ms Kris Gibbs on 6051 9992, or email kgibbs@csu.edu.au.The Walkability Project will be launched at CSU in Albury-Wodonga at 10am on Thursday 11 October.The project is supported by AlburyCity and the NSW government.

* New 1.7 kilometre cross-country mountain bike track to open at CSU in Albury-Wodonga on Thursday 11 October * Track will increase links with and demonstrate the value of the campus to the Albury-Wodonga community * An example of CSU amenities to improve physical activity options for students and wider communitiesA new mountain bike track to be opened at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga on Thursday 11 October recognises the growing popularity of the sport and its health benefits for the local community.The University has built a 1.7 kilometre cross-country mountain bike track on the campus, and includes a 500 metre-long skills loop.The track will be officially opened on Thursday 11 October by the Head of Campus at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Dr Jennifer Munday; Executive Director of CSU Division of Student Services, Ms Jacqueline Clements; and Executive Director of the CSU Division of Facilities Management, Mr Stephen Butt.The new facilities will be used by CSU students, particularly those attracted to the outdoor education, environmental science and health science courses offered at CSU in Albury-Wodonga.Ms Hannah Gubb and Ms Chloe Grey will attend the opening on behalf of the students.The facility is also open to the public, including local primary and public schools.Mr Butt believes the trail is an excellent initiative that will increase links with and demonstrate the value of the campus to the Albury-Wodonga community.“We have been given very positive feedback from local school-aged children and their parents who already ride the track, as well as by the University’s students and staff,” Mr Butt said.“This project is a great example of how Charles Sturt University spends funds specifically targeted for amenities to improve physical activities for our students and the wider communities across all our campuses.”The track, classified as ‘Easy’ by the International Mountain Bicycling Association, also incorporates optional ‘lines’ to the more technical trail features such as jumps, balance beams, and see-saws that are also available.The track will be managed and maintained by the local CSU students, who will also measure the success of the facility.

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CSU researchers investigate shortage of women in trades in Border regionBusiness and industry consultation in Albury-Wodonga on Friday 12 October A range of trades to be examined, and all welcome to contribute

Are you concerned with the time it takes for your child to get speech pathology services in the Goulburn Valley?

A place for welcome and strengthening community relations will further grow on Friday 7 September when students from Trinity Anglican College at Thurgoona work at Charles Sturt University (CSU) to plant native shrubs and bush tucker plants around the Wongamaa Gathering Area.Located on the Thurgooona site of CSU in Albury-Wodonga, the Wongamaa Gathering Area is a collaborative project between the local Wiradjuri elders and community, CSU staff and students, the Woolshed Thurgoona Landcare Group and the broader Thurgoona community.When fully developed, the area will be an important site where the Wiradjuri community can welcome visitors and new residents, and CSU students and lecturers can experience Wiradjuri Culture. In addition, CSU will also strengthen its relationships with the Wiradjuri and broader Aboriginal community.Starting at 1pm, Trinity students will plant native plants around the site supervised by Wiradjuri woman, Leonie McIntosh, CSU ground staff and members of the Woolshed Thurgoona Landcare Group.Aunty Denise McGrath, Wiradjuri elder and daughter of Wongamaa (the late Pastor Ces Grant), will also be on hand during the planting.In the previous month, the school students, CSU staff and students and Landcare volunteers prepared the site and removed encroaching weeds.Appropriate plant species and planting techniques are guided by representatives of the Wiradjuri community and Woolshed Thurgoona Landcare Group.While planting will commence in September this year, it is expected that plantings will continue until the official opening ceremony due in December 2019.

* Researchers are looking for at least 40 participants to test if mindfulness practice can alleviate symptoms of PTSD* Each year 1.5 million Australians are diagnosed with symptoms of PTSD* Participants will undertake a one week home-based mindfulness program to determine the effect on PTSD symptomsA research team led by a Charles Sturt University medical researcher will assess the effectiveness of mindfulness practices such as breathing practices and self-compassion to alleviate the symptoms of a debilitating mental health issue.“Each year 1.5 million Australians are diagnosed with symptoms of PTSD, or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder,” Said research team leader Associate Professor Herbert Jelinek.“Current approaches for treating symptoms of PTSD include cognitive-behavioural therapies and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, and stress-inoculation training which uses controlled breathing, muscle relaxation and positive self-talk.“Recently, mindful emotion labelling has demonstrated benefit for PTSD. Even brief mindfulness interventions over one week seem likely to foster improved wellbeing and reduced PTSD symptoms.“We want to put these claims to the test in a scientific trial.”Professor Jelinek is collaborating with Monash University researchers Mr Darius Rountree-Harrison and Dr Dominic Hosemans for the study, which is aiming for at least 40 participants aged over 18 years old, at least 20 of whom were diagnosed with PTSD in the past year and 20 without PTSD.Each participant will receive free mindfulness training in two one-hour sessions over the course of two consecutive weeks.Participants will learn simple skills that can be easily applied in daily life to help manage the symptoms of PTSD. They will also be in a draw to win a $150 Westmead shopping voucher.For more information on or to participate in the PTSD study, contact Herbert Jelinek on 0427 681 754 or email hjelinek@csu.edu.au, or Darius Rountree-Harrison on 0421 821 978 or email drou0001@student.monash.edu.

* CSU CUP small grants available for Albury-Wodonga region arts and culture projects * Applications close Friday 24 August * Previous recipients include the Henry Lawson Festival of Arts in Grenfell, Uranquinty Preschool, the Wagga City Rugby Male Choir, Canowindra Arts Inc, Cudal Public School P and C Association, the Rotary Club of Orange Inc, and the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre; Albury LibraryMuseum. * The grants help the community to encourage participation in arts and cultureThe next round of 2018 Charles Sturt University (CSU) Community-University Partnership (CUP) grants for arts and cultural activities are available for applications.Individuals and community groups across the University’s regions covered by its campuses in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, Wagga Wagga, and Port Macquarie are invited to apply.Head of Camus at CSU in Albury-Wodonga Dr Jenni Munday said, “The University provides up to $20,000 worth of small CUP grants across its regional footprint, and I encourage individuals and groups with projects or initiatives that meet the criteria to apply.”Applications close on Friday 24 August, and the CUP grants application form is here:https://about.csu.edu.au/community/grants/arts-and-culturePrevious 2017 CSU CUP arts and culture grant recipients from across the CSU regional footprint include:Albury LibraryMuseum for a Story Booth, and to host ‘Mad Writing’ panel during the Write Around the Murray Writers’ Festival.The Rotary Club of Orange Inc received a $1,000 CSU CUP arts and culture grant to stage 17 poetry workshops in 10 primary schools across the Orange region from17 to 27 October 2017.The Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC) used its $1,000 grant to bring professional writers to speak at the Bathurst Writers’ and Readers’ Festival, and keep the festival free and therefore accessible for the community.The Henry Lawson Festival of Arts in Grenfell organises national competitions and exhibitions in the literary, visual and performing arts, and celebrates and promotes the winners. As in 2016, the CSU Cup grant was used to help stage and judge the 2017 Verse and Short Story Competition.Mount Austin High School in Wagga Wagga used its grant to help fund students to go to Sydney for rehearsals for State Dance and the Schools Spectacular. The grant assisted the students with accommodation and food while in Sydney for rehearsals and performances.Uranquinty Preschool’s project explored the music of other cultures with three- to five- year-old children. The grant was used to invite musical artists to the preschool to engage the children in music and dance with instruments that included a didgeridoo, and African drums. Instruments, CDs and cultural costumes were also purchased to support this project.The Wagga City Rugby Male Choir, in conjunction with the South Wagga Public School used the CSU CUP grant to contribute to the availability of sound and amplification equipment to assist student band members to engage with learning and future musical education.The Canowindra Arts Inc CSU CUP grant funded an art course for young artists in Canowindra to develop students’ personal skills in specific art mediums and styles, and facilitated their practical knowledge and application of art.Cudal Public School Parents and Citizens Association received a $1,000 grant to create stronger ties within the small community by staging a school and community theatrical production. The funds were used to cover costs associated with the project, including sound and microphones for students to use during the play and the creation of props and costumes.