Resources collated in a national education project, to be launched in Canberra on Wednesday 26 October, will provide a major boost for early childhood education students says Professor Sue Dockett, project team leader from Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Murray School of Education. “Funding for the Early Childhood Education Workforce Project was available for only a limited time, so it has been really important that the outcomes of this project are sustainable. Although funding for the collaboration will finish, the resources will have a life of their own. They will have an influence far beyond the life of the project and will be freely available across the country. Regional and remote communities, in particular, will benefit in lots of ways. The studying teachers are working in communities where there aren’t many educators and they should feel valued and important. This project recognises the value quality educators give to a community. They can upgrade their qualifications and stay within their chosen community It’s a chance to look at career options without necessarily having to change location, so quality education is accessible and the profession is gaining and retaining the best qualified educators.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) students have claimed four of the 10 positions in the Australian training squad selected from a national meat judging competition held last weekend in Wagga Wagga. The competition was part of the National Intercollegiate Meat Judging (ICMJ) workshop hosted by CSU last week. CSU’s 25-member meat judging team won third place overall, narrowly beaten by teams from Melbourne and Murdoch universities. The CSU team also picked up numerous team and individual awards. The overall runner-up prize was awarded to CSU’s Mr Haydn McKay while the Tom Carr Award for coaching excellence was won by Ms Katelyn Braine. Four CSU students, Ms Gabrielle Knight, Mr Issac Allen, Ms Jordan Hoban and Ms Vanessa Campbell, have been selected to attend an intensive Meat and Livestock Australia training course and may be selected in the Australian team to compete in the USA in 2013. CSU Professor of Animal Production, Peter Wynn said the team trained long hours, often starting at the abattoir at 6am. “The success in this competition certainly shows Charles Sturt University’s target of providing more innovative young graduates to service the needs of our meat industries is well and truly on track,” he said. “The generous support and sponsorship from Teys Australia, Junee Abattoir and Knight’s Meats is appreciated.”

Carers of people with a mental illness are the focus of a new research project by a psychology student at Charles Sturt University (CSU). Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) Honours student Mr Gerald Haslinger is seeking participants in a confidential survey which aims to find out more about the experience of unpaid carers and mental health service providers in caring for someone with a mental illness. “I am interested in hearing from unpaid carers and service providers, and what they understand about the Recovery approach to caring for someone living with a mental illness, an approach that is widely accepted within the mental health sector.  My study seeks to find out the level of awareness of this approach amongst mental health service providers as well as unpaid carers.” Mr Haslinger, an education and training officer with a non-government agency in Sydney, has extended the survey until Friday 13 July.  He is completing his degree by distance education through the School of Psychology at CSU in Wagga Wagga. For further details about the survey, contact Mr Haslinger on his email  or take the survey here.

Agricultural science students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) have again excelled at the Australian University Crops Competition held in Temora in September with two students named in the competition’s top five. An initiative of Grain Gowers Limited, the third annual competition was held from Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 September. The event, covering grains, pulses and oilseeds, involved students from six Australian universities. Two members of the CSU team, Ms Ally Dingjan from Wagga Wagga and Ms Candice Robinson from Whitton finished in the top five, ensuring the pair participates in a study tour to New Zealand in 2012. In addition to the individual winners, CSU took out the University Teams Award. Crop agronomy lecturer in the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Dr Sergio Moroni said, “The Charles Sturt University team performed extremely well throughout the competition. The seriousness of the event did not deter them from enjoying themselves. They made me proud.” The students are studying the Bachelor of Agricultural Science at CSU in Wagga Wagga.

A Nobel laureate will speak about the expanding universe headlining activities at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga during National Science Week. Hosted by CSU and the Astronomical Society of Albury-Wodonga, the winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize for Physics, Dr Brian Schmidt, will give a public lecture starting at 7pm on Wednesday 18 August, CSU in Albury-Wodonga. The annual Science Fair, which will continue until Thursday 16 August, also includes a public lecture by CSIRO scientist Mr John Sarkissian, who will show the lost footage of the Apollo missions and Australia’s part in these historic events. Guest speakers, interactive workshops, exhibits, stargazing and other activities will be presented on each day of the three-day event to pupils from local and regional schools at the CSU campus.

Preparing for the most nerve-wracking exams in their lives will be goal for over 400 final year high school students attending the NSW HSC Science Day hosted by Charles Sturt University this Friday 22 June in Albury. Hailing from as far as Barham and Tumbarumba the students will hear study tips from senior HSC markers across NSW. Event organiser Mr Mark Doyle from Murray High School said the event is a great opportunity for students to hear about the strengths and weaknesses of previous student responses and to improve students’ results. The event will be held from 9am to 3pm on 22 June in and around the CD Blake Lecture Theatre, CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.

In recognition of the 2011 'International Year of Chemistry', a public lecture hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Wagga Wagga City Council will explore how a series of seemingly unrelated chemical discoveries changed the course of history. Professor of Chemistry at Macquarie University in Sydney, Peter Karuso, will trace chemical connections from the humble shipworm to the discovery of antibiotics. "I'm hoping to show people how important chemistry is to their lives by showing how chemical discoveries have changed the course of history over and over again," he said. "Chemistry is so interesting and so powerful that it deserves the best and brightest minds. I hope in some small way to inspire young people and their parents to take an interest in things chemical as I am sure that chemistry will be at the heart of solutions to many of our current and future problems."

2005 Australian of the Year, leading medical researcher and renowned plastic surgeon Dr Fiona Wood will headline events being held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga as part of the 2011 National Science Week. A hero of the first Bali bombing, helping 28 burns victims survive their wounds using groundbreaking ‘spray on skin’ technology, Dr Wood will present a public lecture on The quest for scarless healing to highlight the role of science in modern Australia. Two free lectures will be presented on Tuesday 16 August in the CD Blake Lecture Theatre on CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona; the first especially for school children, commencing at 10.30am, and an evening event starting at 6.30pm. Visitors can also view a number of other science activities between Tuesday 16 and Thursday 18 August, being hosted or assisted by CSU student and teachers with the Murray School of Education, as well as activities presented by the Astronomical Society of Albury Wodonga.

Eminent academic and leading promoter of regional Australia, Professor Henry Nowik, will be recognised for his services to regional business when Charles Sturt University (CSU) names a major building on its Albury-Wodonga Campus in his honour. CSU Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Andrew Vann will be on hand to name the Nowik Learning Commons from 12noon on Thursday 13 September. The learning commons includes the library, extensive large and small meeting spaces, computer rooms and a kitchenette, most of which are open 24 hours a day, seven days per week to CSU students and staff. “Professor Nowik has a remarkable set of life experiences drawn from a long and rich life, well-lived. He has had a particular interest in the development of the Albury-Wodonga Campus to meet the needs of this growing regional hub, and Charles Sturt University honours Professor Nowik as a champion of regional development, a founding father of modern Wodonga, and as a visionary, philanthropist and benefactor,” Professor Vann said.