In 2006 allied health students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in 2006 will be eligible for $10,000 scholarships under a new Commonwealth scheme aimed at addressing the shortage of allied health professionals in rural and regional Australia. The Head of the University’s Albury-Wodonga Campus, Professor Gail Whiteford has applauded the $4 million initiative as a timely incentive for new and continuing students studying allied health courses including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, podiatry, and psychology. “Sixty five scholarships will be available in 2006, building to 195 in 2008, which will be of enormous assistance to rural students and a terrific boost to the future of allied health in rural and regional areas,” said Professor Whiteford. The scheme is funded by the Federal Government and administered by Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health Inc (SARRAH). Applications for the scholarships are expected to open in January 2006. Further information is available here.

Diseases in one of Australia’s important rotational crops, canola, are the subject of a 12 month long research visit to the E H Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation by Professor Minquan Li from China. As Head of the Department of Plant Protection at Gansu Agricultural University in China, Professor Li will work alongside two E H Graham Centre researchers in Wagga Wagga, Associate Professor Gavin Ash from Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Doctor Gordon Murray, from the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI). The E H Graham Centre is a joint research venture between CSU and DPI. The management of bacteria and pathogens in the soil will be examined as they prevent the crop from reaching its full potential. “Professor Li’s trip demonstrates the scope for international co-operation in agricultural research and aims to increase the ties between Australia and China in the long term,” said E H Graham Centre Director Professor Deirdre Lemerle.

Academic cooperation between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and a university in southern Taiwan has been formalised by the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The document was signed by CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter and President of the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Professor Chang-Hung Chou. While links have already been established in the areas of plant protection and equine studies, the academic cooperation between the institutions could include joint research programs, exchange of academic staff and students or the organisation of joint activities such as courses, conferences, seminars or lectures. The MOU was signed during a visit in late August to CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus by Professor Chou.

A number of Pacific Island countries met for three days from Tuesday 17 January to establish partnerships to help preserve their rich history. Charles Sturt University (CSU) historian and cultural heritage manager Associate Professor Dirk Spennemann chaired the meeting, which was opened by the President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, The Hon Kesai Note, in the nation's capital Majuro. The meeting gathered local and expatriate historical researchers and heritage managers to share ideas and encourage collaboration across the Pacific Islands region. Majuro, like much of the central and northern Pacific region, was the scene of a bloody battle between Japanese and US forces during World War II and has many historic relics from that period.

Prospective students, their parents and friends will receive a taste of university life when they attend Welcome Day 2006 at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Albury-Wodonga Campus this Wednesday 25 January. Students who have received enrolment offers in CSU business, education, environmental and information sciences and health courses can attend the day-long event. The day will include a welcome from the Head of Campus, course information sessions, campus tours and accommodation information. Head of the Albury-Wodonga Campus Professor Gail Whiteford said the day offers an important opportunity for new students to meet with staff, complete administrative tasks and settle accommodation arrangements before the start of the new academic year in February. “Welcome Day activities will help remove some of the anxiety of starting university life, especially for students moving to Albury for their studies,” Professor Whiteford said. Events will be held on the University’s Thurgoona Campus, Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona, and on Albury City campus, Olive St, Albury between 10am and 3pm.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will launch a new comprehensive leadership development program for women staff this Monday 6 February. Australian universities record low numbers of women in senior management positions, with national figures showing just 11 per cent of women hold professorial positions. The CSU Leadership Development for Women Program will run throughout 2006 and commences with a week of activities being held from Monday 6 February to Friday 10 February. Guest speakers who will give presentations on their experience of moving into leadership positions include:  Dr Jeane McConachie, Director Division of Teaching and Learning Services, Central Queensland University; Ms Sarah Davies, Vice-President Student Affairs, Swinburne University; and Professor Margaret Sheil, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) at University of Wollongong. Associate Professor Marian Tulloch, Director CSU's Centre for Enhancing, Learning and Teaching or CELT will officially launch the program at 2 pm Monday 6 February in the Foundation Rooms, Centre for Professional Development on CSU’s Bathurst Campus.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is welcoming new students for the start of the 2006 academic year. For many, it will be their first move away from home. Students from around Australia and overseas are arriving at CSU campuses in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga in central and southern NSW. Orientation week (O Week) starts on Monday 13 or Tuesday 14 February for most of the new arrivals, and will include intensive sessions on enrolments, study skills and using the CSU Library and computer facilities, as well as getting to know the University, its people and the towns in which they will live. Click here to see O Week programs for each campus.

Health and education courses are a popular choice for commencing Charles Sturt University (CSU) students in 2006, according to the latest figures from the NSW Universities Admissions Centre.  “CSU continues to take large numbers of students into education courses. Intakes into health courses are up about a hundred up on last year – graduates in both areas provide direct benefit to rural and regional NSW and Victoria,” said Director of CSU’s Office of Planning and Audit, Col Sharp. High profile courses at Albury-Wodonga Campus in which entry was particularly competitive included physiotherapy, which also had success with early childhood and middle schooling teaching courses and occupational therapy and podiatry.

An outreach program run by Charles Sturt University (CSU) for Indigenous recruits will be proposed by NSW Police. This follows a recommendation from the NSW Ombudsman’s report into Aboriginal policing throughout rural NSW. The proposal has enthusiastic support from the Goulburn Police College as well as significant support from within the Aboriginal community. Regional Commander for the Western Region based at Dubbo, Steve Bradshaw, says Indigenous recruits often find it difficult training at Goulburn because they are so far away from their homes in western NSW. “The recommendation by the Ombudsman suggests that we do some of the police training in an institute close to where the Aboriginal communities are. CSU currently has the contract to conduct police training, and has a campus at Dubbo in the NSW central west, so it seems obvious to approach CSU to develop an outreach program. It has my total support,” he said. CSU Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor Ross Chambers says the University welcomes the proposal. “We look forward to working with NSW Police to strengthen Indigenous recruitment,” he said.