A leading academic and practitioner in psychology has begun familiarising herself with Charles Sturt University (CSU) following her arrival in Wagga Wagga in recent days. Professor of Psychology, Carmen Moran, is the new Head of CSU’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences, which has staff at both the Albury-Wodonga and Wagga Wagga campuses. She joins CSU from the University of NSW in Sydney. “I am looking forward to settling into my position ahead of the start of the academic year in 2008,” said Professor Moran. In addition to psychology, Professor Moran will oversee teaching and research in disciplines such as art history, English, history and politics, social work and human services, law, philosophy, sociology and anthropology. Further information si available here.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff from Ontario, Canada, had a brief taste of the Australian summer during a visit to CSU campuses in December. As students in the successful Bachelor of Primary Education Studies in Ontario undertook their teaching practical work, lecturers Ms Janet Adler, Ms Gail Grant, a lecturer in language and literacy, and Mr Don Jones travelled to CSU campuses at Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst and Wagga Wagga. Their trip included a visit to meet primary school students at the Wagga Wagga Public School by Ms Grant and Mr Jones.

Strong demand for a one-day seminar at the National Library of Australia (NLA) on Web 2.0 and its potential for the library community has seen the event’s audio recording placed online. The conference on the potential of the new generation of online technologies attracted interest from across Australia. This led organisers from Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Information Studies to ‘podcast’ the event held recently in Canberra. “The event filled within hours of the registration process going online. With an impressive selection of speakers and demand for the event from across the country, we decided to record the presentations and make the audio available over the web to encourage its use in professional development,” said CSU lecturer Mr Jake Wallis. The audio is available here.

The reported link between the suicide rate amongst farmers and the drought is often based on hearsay, according to Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic, Dr Judith Crockett. The lecturer in social sustainability, from the School of Rural Management on CSU’s Orange Campus says that while the tragedy of suicide must not be downplayed and undoubtedly continues to be of major concern, many of these comments are based on hearsay. However, there is a lack of evidence concerning the actual rate of suicide in rural areas linked to the drought. “What is clear is that an early intervention approach linked to improved referral pathways to care is the most effective way of assisting rural people. The Drought Mental Health Assistance Package, funded by the NSW Government, has resulted in the implementation of a multifaceted approach across rural areas to increase the capacity of individuals, communities and service providers in drought affected areas to deal with mental health issues and to encourage practices that promote mental well-being,” said Dr Crockett. “Extensive evaluation of the program shows very positive results, including helping to reduce the stigma of mental illness in rural communities.”

Three Charles Sturt University (CSU) academics from Ontario in Canada will get a taste of the Australian summer when they visit the Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst and Wagga Wagga campuses this month. The trio will visit CSU in Australia on a familiarisation tour of campus facilities and staff as well as the larger regional cities of Albury, Bathurst and Wagga Wagga. Ms Janet Adler, a lecturer in creative arts and mathematics, Ms Gail Grant, a lecturer in language and literacy and social studies and Mr Don Jones a lecturer in mathematics and science are a key part of the CSU Ontario team delivering the University’s Bachelor of Primary Education Studies, an elementary program for primary-junior teachers in Ontario. The 2007-2008 student intake are currently on their teaching practical work before they head off for their winter holiday break. The group represents CSU’s third annual student intake in the successful Ontario program.

Community support is growing for Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Centre for Inland Health initiative, which was established in response to the existing lack of information and realistic solutions to meet the health needs of inland Australian communities. Riverina identity and past president of the Country Women’s Association (CWA) Ms Elaine Armstrong congratulated CSU for the initiative to present the health symposium, Planning Together for the Future and the launch of the Centre on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 December. “The workshops offered are of special interest to women and their families in this region as they cover areas such as lung health, muscle, bone and joint health, life with cancer, health workforce and services, heart health, ageing and health and mental health,” said Ms Armstrong. “Of special interest is the symposium on mental health, because of the extended drought conditions which are causing stress and anxiety for families. Anxiety in younger farmers is another major issue, with statistics showing that men aged 30 to 45 years and living in rural and remote areas, are at risk of mental breakdowns and suicides.”  

Working with people with brain injuries or working in mental health as well as with older and young people and in rural areas will all be discussed at the annual occupational therapy conference for final year students from Charles Sturt University (CSU). The two day conference in Albury, which includes keynote addresses by the Head of Albury-Wodonga Campus, Professor Gail Whiteford and a local expert in childcare in remote Aboriginal communities, Ms Helen Fitzgerald, will include work by 44 students who will graduate next year from the University’s four year course. “We will discuss issues affecting our profession, including working with people with brain injuries, in mental health, with older and young people and in rural areas. The conference helps prepare us for our future professional lives and is a great way to complete our studies at CSU,” said conference coordinator Ms Vanessa Mahon. The conference starts at 9am on Wednesday 28 November in the CSU Nowik lecture theatres, Guinea St, Albury, and continues on Thursday 29 November.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) student in the third year of her teaching degree, Ms Millie Whitehead should really get to know herself in the coming week as she endeavours to ride her bicycle the 500 kilometres from Albury to Warragul in western Victoria in seven days. Departing on Sunday 2 December, Ms Whitehead is raising money for the Leukaemia Foundation in memory of her good friend “Ben”. Teaching staff from the University’s Murray School of Education will support her, accompanying her on the first 10 kilometres of her journey.  Albury City Council will stage a lunchtime barbeque to help raise funds with Ms Whitehead. The bbq will be held on Friday 30 November at the Library Museum, Kiewa St, Albury. The CSU student is hoping to raise at least $10 000 for leukemia research. Ms Whitehead will set out from QEII Square, central Albury at 9am on 2 December.

The potential of a new generation of web technologies, collectively known as Web 2.0, has attracted keen interest in a seminar being organised by Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Information Studies and the National Library of Australia (NLA) in Canberra on Tuesday 27 November. About 150 people, representing libraries, cultural institutions as well as commercial organisations, are expected at the seminar entitled, Web 2.0 and its potential for the library community. “This seminar will explore very significant issues in terms of how organisations such as libraries can make interaction online much easier and user-friendly,” said Mr Jake Wallis, a lecturer in CSU’s School of Information Studies. Due to the high level of interest in the event from across Australia, staff from the CSU School of Information Studies plan to broadcast the series of talks via the Internet. The seminar will be held in the NLA theatre in Canberra at 8.45am on Tuesday 27 November.