A project to provide equipment to teach robotics in a Corowa school has been awarded $1 000 through the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Community-University Partnerships (CUP) program.Principal at St Mary's Primary School in Corowa, Mr Glenn McMahon, said the grant will be used to purchase robots to enhance the coding education already practiced at the school."This is part of our push to encourage education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in our schools," Mr McMahon said."For example, in our school we want to develop a rural hub for digital technology and STEM education accessible to 40 schools within one hour drive of Corowa."We are so excited to have been the recipients of this grant. We can't wait to put it into action," Mr McMahon said.In the latest round of grants, the University provided around $25,000 for community projects across all its campuses, from Albury-Wodonga to Port Macquarie.Head of Campus at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Dr Jenni Munday, said "the CUP program supports the development of our regions through contributions to cultural, economic, sporting and related activities."It also builds aspirations and awareness of higher education particularly among young people living in rural and regional communities."This year saw a number of CUP grants awarded to projects involving STEM education in regional schools.

Older men from around southern NSW and north-east Victoria will be checked for any 'spanners in their health works' on Wednesday 24 May at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga.During the afternoon event known as 'Spanner in the Works', members of 12 Men's Sheds – from Henty in the north and south to Beechworth – and two Albury-based service clubs will receive free health checks from students enrolled in podiatry, physiotherapy and occupational therapy degrees at CSU. They will be supervised by CSU staff as part of a national program funded by the federal Department of Health.Event coordinator and clinical supervisor with CSU's School of Community Health, Mr Brent Smith, said during the afternoon up to 100 members of Men's Sheds will be tested for health related issues and blood pressure, as well as podiatry and physiotherapy screening.A healthy lunch will be prepared by Albury High School students, and Lavington Lions Club will provide afternoon tea."Participants will also receive advice on physiotherapy relevant to their age group, first aid and general medical advice from guest speakers," said Mr Smith, who is also supervisor for CSU's Centre for Community Engagement and Wellness, or CEW.The program's founder and a director with the Australian Men's Shed Association, Mr Gary Green, will travel to Albury to explain the program to the participants and sponsors.The program is also sponsored locally by the Hume Bank.The event will be start at 12noon at the CEW, Ellis St, Thurgoona (behind Thurgoona Plaza), and runs until 4.30pm.

Local community organisations, future needs for professionals in a sustainable world and a vulnerable frog all feature in a Sustainability Day being hosted at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga on Thursday 11 May.Organiser Ms Kerry Read said the theme 'You, Us, Here, Now!' focuses on how to address sustainability at three levels: as individuals, as an organisation and in the community."We want to show how we as individuals can be more sustainable in our everyday lives, highlight to Charles Sturt University students and staff what we do about sustainability as an organisation, and create awareness of opportunities and organisations available in the local community that are focused on sustainability," Ms Read said.Running from 10am to 2pm at 'The Gums', the day will include information stalls with advice on how to lead a more sustainable lifestyle, how we can use sustainable practices in our careers, volunteering opportunities with local organisations, and details about the Sloane's Froglet, a vulnerable species that calls CSU in Albury-Wodonga home."Even our food has been selected with sustainability in mind, based on minimal packaging and lower associated carbon emissions," Ms Read said. The day also has local entertainment and a trivia event.President of the local student representative council, Ms Claire Garner, said Sustainability Day aimed to show CSU students the roles they could play in a sustainable world."We all struggle to be sustainable in our lives. This festival showcases ways we can improve the sustainability in our daily activities, in ways we may not have previously known, and to become more aware of unsustainable practices," Ms Garner said.

A project coordinated by Charles Sturt University (CSU) researchers is helping local householders in the Lavington and North Albury areas reduce their power costs.Working with Albury City Council and the NSW Environment Trust, the 'Powering Down' program will deliver $15 000 in assistance and advice to lower income families to curb the incidence of power disconnections in these areas.Project leader Dr Helen Masterman-Smith, in CSU's School of Humanities and Social Sciences, said, "Power disconnections in these suburbs are above the national average. An older resident told me that it's too expensive to stay at home these days. She said many people go to shopping centres and public places because of the high cost of heating and cooling."Low-income households have to be the most frugal electricity users, yet they spend a higher proportion of their income on energy costs."According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, lowest income households consume 31 per cent less electricity than the national average. Yet in the same households, energy costs absorb seven per cent of their income compared to the national average of two per cent."The up-front costs of energy efficient appliances or fittings are one part of the problem. They are considered luxuries in many low-income households," Dr Masterman-Smith said.To address these costs, the program will provide the first 50 low-income households who register with Powering Down with energy efficient items worth $300, as well as advice on how to further reduce their bills.Any North Albury and Lavington resident can also compete for the 'Powering Down Cup', which includes large gift vouchers for the 'Biggest Losers and the Lowest Users of Electricity'."We believe that by addressing people's electricity use, we can reduce stress on people's budgets and the environment," Dr Masterman-Smith said.In addition, the project team will commence a household survey in the suburbs to draw a clearer picture of energy security and stress in this community.To participate in the Powering Down project, phone 6040 7813 or visit the Global Village Community Co-operative at 1076 Mate St, North Albury.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) researchers are working with local health services to improve the rehabilitation of adults who have had strokes in southern NSW.CSU's Dr Melissa Nott and Dr Leah Wiseman from Albury Wodonga Health are seeking to improve the uptake and use of evidence-based guidelines from the National Stroke Foundation to help people who have had a stroke in a single comprehensive website.The website was developed in collaboration between CSU, Murrumbidgee Local Health District and Albury-Wodonga Health as part of the Best Evidence for Stroke Therapies (BEST) project."We developed the BEST website to encourage people with stroke to drive their own recovery with assistance from their carers and local clinicians," said Dr Nott, a researcher and occupational therapy lecturer with the School of Community Health at CSU in Albury-Wodonga.['Cheryl' from Wagga Wagga tells her story here on the importance of a team approach to her rehabilitation after a stroke.]Resources available for patients and carers on the website include 'step-by-step' guides, information and instructions sheets and videos, home activity records and goal setting worksheets. On the same site, clinicians can access 'how-to' videos, implementation checklists and evidence summaries to help them implement and evaluate their stroke-related care."We wanted to provide all the information that would be needed by both patients and clinicians so that clinicians feel more confident to implement the National Stroke Guidelines and that patients receive the best quality care," Dr Nott said."Geographical distance from health services can make it difficult for patients in regional NSW to access outpatient services once they have been discharged from hospital. This website offers an alternative way to ensure all patients can access the highest quality rehabilitation."Stroke is associated with cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death and disease burden in Australia. The rate of cardiovascular disease in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District is significantly higher than the NSW average and is a priority area for the region.The BEST project uses the website as part of an investigation into how to improve outcomes for people who have had a stroke in regional and remote areas of Australia.The project and website will be officially launched in Wagga Wagga at the Acute Stroke Unit, Wagga Wagga Rural Referral Hospital, at 12.30pm on Thursday 4 May.Results from the project are due in June 2018. The project is funded by NSW Health and its Translational Research Grant Scheme.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher is part of a team investigating hamstring and groin injuries in basketball, to improve injury prevention and rehabilitation strategies.Mr Luke Donnan from CSU's School of Community Health in Albury-Wodonga, is part of the team led by the University of Newcastle, in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Sport, Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence, and La Trobe University.The researchers will study top male Australian basketball players over three years to determine the different mechanical factors involved in hamstring and adductor, or groin, muscle injuries."Even with the significant advances in sports medicine over the past 20 years, hamstring and groin injury rates haven't changed a great deal in that time," Mr Donnan said."This study aims to increase our understanding of why these injuries are occurring, both the immediate causes but also the factors that may contribute to future injuries of those muscle groups."My research has focused on hamstring injuries in Australian Rules football players and in this study we will be performing very similar research on the same body part, just with a different sporting group."The results from this study will allow for a number of direct comparisons across the two different sporting codes."The study received over $390 000 in funding from a strategic partnership between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and General Electric (GE) Healthcare that aims to address injuries affecting NBA players and everyday athletes.

Students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) are aiming to change their behaviours to significantly reduce their carbon use in 2017.During the recent Orientation Week, nearly 300 students at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst and Port Macquarie signed a pledge to reduce their personal carbon footprint.CSU Green Manager, Mr Ed Maher, said that the students' behaviour changes would also contribute towards the University's carbon neutrality status."Charles Sturt University is currently the only University in Australia that has been certified as carbon neutral by the federal government. This means that we have done a lot of work to reduce our emissions and the remaining amount of greenhouse gases we emit into the atmosphere are equal to the amount that we offset through certified offset projects associated with reforestation in central NSW and a range of internationally-based renewable energy systems," Mr Maher said."The student pledges, which are a new Orientation activity, also make students aware of what it takes to be carbon neutral. The students embraced the initiative with absolute enthusiasm. This reminds us that our strong leadership in this area is important to these future leaders and professionals in the making."Student pledges included actions aimed at reducing waste and improving energy efficiency as well as in conserving water.Mr Maher said popular pledges included 'I'm committed to turning off my computer at the power point when not in use, using reusable bags and saying no to plastic and packaging, and get my coffee in a Keep Cup because I know disposable cups are rubbish and are not recyclable'."Charles Sturt University is supporting the students' pledges by employing four student Sustainability Advisers who live on campus and will lead sustainability initiatives with students and help them fulfil their pledges," he said.The advisers will live on CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Orange and Wagga Wagga.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is calling for applications for its Community-University Partnership (CUP) grants for 2017 in two categories which are available from Monday 27 February.CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann highlighted the CUP grants in a video address.Head of Campus at CSU in Bathurst, Associate Professor Chika Anyanwu, said, "The CUP grants are a practical expression of the University's support for and contribution to a range of organisations that enrich our regional communities."The goal of the program is to support the development of our regions through contributions to cultural, economic, sporting and related activities and build higher education aspiration and awareness particularly among young people in rural and regional communities."I encourage all relevant and interested groups to consider applying and submit an application."The 2017 CUP grant categories available from Monday 27 February are CUP Head of Campus Small Grants Program, and CUP Rural and Regional Arts and Culture Program. Subsequently, the CUP Rural and Regional Education Development Program opens on Monday 3 April; the CUP Rural and Regional Indigenous Community Engagement Program opens on Monday 1 May; and the CUP Rural and Regional Sports Development Program has two opening dates – 'Summer' on Monday 1 May, and 'Winter' on 4 September.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga will welcome more than new 400 students next week with a range of academic and social activities to help them settle into life at CSU.Orientation Week will kick off from Monday 20 February with some courses providing a 'laid back' start for new students. These include Olympic-style activities between 11am and 1pm for new students in the School of Environmental Sciences at the Albury Wodonga Yacht Club, off Old Weir Road, near Kangaroo Point on Lake Hume.Tuesday, 21 February is a big day in Albury-Wodonga, starting with pomp and circumstance, complete with a procession of staff in academic gowns, during two official Commencement Ceremonies in the University's CD Blake Theatre, starting at 10am and 11am.During and after the Commencement Ceremonies, a colourful Market Day runs from 10.30am to 2pm on Tuesday 21 February, under the gum trees near the Teaching and Learning Hub.Other O Week highlights include academic sessions, library and laboratory tours, along with social events such as BBQs, quizzes and live music. This year, O Week student leaders will stand out as they are dressed in pink to help raise awareness of and money for the McGrath Foundation.Students will move into their accommodation at CSU in Albury-Wodonga from 12.30pm on Saturday 18 February.Classes for all new and continuing students start on campus from Monday 27 February.Across the University more than 8 700 students will begin studying at CSU in 2017, 2 800 of those on-campus and nearly 6 000 through CSU online.