Albury-Wodonga residents of all ages can help address the health problems facing regional Australia while getting fitter for life.Over the next 10 weeks, physiotherapy students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga will offer classes in spinal health for participants of all ages, and strength and balance for seniors, at CSU's Community Engagement and Wellness (CEW) Centre.Program coordinator Ms Rebecca Piazza said that the classes provided important practical experience for the final year students as they prepare to embark on their physiotherapy careers."Many of our students are from rural backgrounds, and are likely to continue to care for those living in regional Australia," Ms Piazza said."These community exercise groups are one way we educate and nurture these students in their role as 'health ambassadors' for their communities."In the Smiling Spine program, students supervised by qualified staff, will help participants strengthen their backs for good spinal health, or to recover from previous injuries.The group class will run from 1 to 2pm each Monday, starting Monday 21 March, and will incorporate pilates, yoga stretches and swiss ball exercises.Students will also help seniors who have previously fallen or suffer from muscle weakness, walking problems, or poor balance, in the Falls Prevention Class.The class will run from 11am to 12 noon each Monday, starting Monday 21 March, and will include exercises to improve strength, balance, fitness, endurance and awareness.

A collection of poems by a Charles Sturt University (CSU) education graduate to be launched this week provides a glimpse of life, journey and death in regional Australia. Ghostology, an anthology of works from 1990 to 2009 by Mr Craig Dent, showcases poetry and photography from Mr Dent's residencies, publications, exhibitions and music projects, with several funded by the Australia Council.The book will be officially launched at CSU in Albury-Wodonga on Thursday 10 March by the Head of Campus, Ms Julie Cleary. It will be available in print and in electronic-book format at the launch.During the opening, CSU education student Laura Vogel will perform a poem, 'Joy of a Million Suns', from Ghostology, which highlights a journey within family. The poem is dedicated to Mr Dent's sister and is based on their upbringing in Thurgoona which was a rural area before Albury grew to include the modern suburb of Thurgoona.Raised in Thurgoona, Mr Dent has worked in regional creative industries since 1990 in Albury, Dubbo, Southern Riverina and North East Victoria, as well as Canberra. He majored in English in his CSU teaching degree from which he graduated last year, and compiled Ghostology while completing his course.Mr Dent is now assisting high schools in the Southern Riverina and North East Victoria to provide advanced education in creative writing to their students. He uses Ghostology to inspire students to reach their greatest potentials in writing for their senior studies.

The future of speech pathology services in regional Australia is the discussion topic for a public forum to be hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) on Tuesday 8 March. Titled a ‘Conversation about the future of speech pathology’, panel members have been drawn from various domains of speech pathology practice in Albury-Wodonga including CSU, Albury Wodonga Health, disability services, and private practice. The forum is an opportunity for public discussion that will become part of the national Speech Pathology Australia project, ‘Speech Pathology 2030 – making futures happen’, which aims to guide the profession for the next 15 years. Event organiser Dr Chris Plant said the discussion aims to address the aspirations, dreams, concerns, and goals for the future of the speech pathology profession, and will include local clinicians and CSU students enrolled in the University’s speech pathology degree. To attend the event from 5.30 to 8pm at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, please register here.

More than 480 new students are set to join Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury Wodonga next week for the start of the 2016 academic year, for courses in allied health professions, business, environmental sciences, nursing and teaching. CSU Dean of Students Professor Julia Coyle said, “Orientation Week is a fun, happy and hectic time for all involved – new students, their parents and carers, and our staff – as there is much to learn as students consider their new lives in higher education”. Students from around Australia will take part in important learning as well as fun activities from Monday 22 February to help them settle into their new home. “For our new students, it is vital that they meet the people and find the resources that will make their studies at CSU a success, while also enjoying a rewarding and eventful life, often in a new town,” Professor Coyle said. “Students can use a wide range of services to improve their chances of success. For example, we have free after hours and weekend tutors ready to help students in a various areas.” Students will learn about their courses and resources to assist their learning, including the 24-hour / seven-day-a-week Learning Commons, learning and teaching rooms, residential facilities, student counselling and recreational opportunities, all on the award-winning environmentally friend campus site. Activities of note during Orientation Week include: ·        Monday 22 February: Dam Day commences at 11am at Lake Hume Boat Club, Bellbridge, for new students in the School of Environmental Sciences to meet fellow students and School staff in a relaxed environment. Team water action starts at 11.45am. ·        Tuesday 23 February: Official Welcome to new student at 10am and Market Day on Albury-Wodonga Campus runs from 10.30am to 2pm, including bull riding competition. ·        Wednesday 24 February: Enrolment day for most students, commencing at 9.30am and includes the lunchtime Big BBQ. The first academic semester starts Monday 29 February.

Charles Sturt University students will be on hand to help competitors through the City2City Run/Walk on Sunday 21 February. The University’s Community Engagement and Wellness Centre, or CEW, will demonstrate the podiatry and physiotherapy services it offers the Albury-Wodonga community, with students providing assistance to runners and walkers as participants finish the course. The CEW provides a practical clinic that trains allied health students at the Albury-Wodonga campus, particularly those enrolled in the podiatry and physiotherapy degree courses. The University is also entering a large team for the event, with the ‘CSU Living it’ team already counting more than 40 staff and students and more entries expected to wear the team’s bright red livery. CSU is a bronze sponsor of the 2016 City2City Run/Walk.

An international research team investigating how children and their parents handle starting or changing school is meeting for the eighth and final time in Albury next week. Hosted by Charles Sturt University’s education professors Bob Perry and Sue Docket, the Pedagogies of Educational Transitions (POET) group, with researchers from Australia, Iceland, New Zealand Scotland and Sweden, will share research, policy and practice about the transition to school for all involved. The group will be officially welcomed to Albury on Tuesday evening 16 February by Albury City at the MAMA regional art gallery in Dean St, Albury. On Wednesday 17 February, winners will be announced in the POETry competition which reflects on the entrants’ own experiences in starting school. POETry has attracted entries from as far afield as Scotland and Iran and all entries will be published in the next edition of Studio, an Australian poetry and fiction literary journal, which will also be launched at the announcement.The 30 researchers will have the chance to participate in the City2City Walk Run before moving to Canberra next week for a large international conference on transition in early education.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is encouraging community organisations to apply for grants of up to $2 500 as part of the Rural and Regional Community Initiated Research Program to address their needs for expert assistance. The small grants program is part of the University’s Community-University Partnerships (CUP) program and is open for applications until Monday 29 February 2016. The Rural and Regional Community Initiated Research Program provides registered community organisations in CSU’s regions with the opportunity to initiate a research project of relevance to their community or region. Applications involving Indigenous community organisations or Indigenous issues will be given particular consideration. The project must involve a CSU researcher, academic, or postgraduate or honours student and lead to a publication, report or submission. Estimated funding for the Rural and Regional Community Initiated Research Program is up to $25,000 across all CSU campus communities. Guidelines and the online application are available from the CSU website.Media note: CSU Heads of Campus are available for interview regarding the CSU CUP Rural and Regional Community Initiated Research Program. Please contact CSU Media to arrange an interview with your local Head of Campus.

The importance of early detection to ensure men live longer and healthier lives will be highlighted by staff and students in the podiatric medicine program at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga on Monday 30 November.The message of early detection for men is being endorsed by the University's Associate Professor Paul Tinley, clinical educator Mr Brent Smith and 4th year Bachelor of Podiatry student Mr Matthew Bence.At CSU's Community Engagement and Wellness Centre from 11am, the trio will push the men's health message during a 'shave off' of their moustaches grown over the last month as part of the Movember campaign.The annual global campaign highlights prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and physical inactivity. Associate Professor Tinley said, "It's important men talk about their health and their concerns with their health practitioners. '"Men's futures will be much brighter if there is early detection of cancers like prostate cancer with a blood test. Men get tested.  "As health professionals, podiatrists see a lot of older men with foot health problems. We often see patients for 30 minute appointments and therefore can share valuable information and support their needs."We are educating podiatrists to have the skills in a whole range of health concerns including diabetes, cancer, and men's and women's health issues."The Community Engagement and Wellness Centre is a valuable addition to the Albury Wodonga community with podiatry, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy students learning through working in real life clinics. The clinics are open to the public. For appointments, telephone (02) 6051 9299.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga is hosting the 7th Asia Pacific Conference on Educational Integrity (7APCEI) from Monday 16 to Wednesday 18 November, in collaboration with La Trobe University, Wodonga.Conference co-convenor and senior lecturer in the CSU School of Psychology Dr Judith Gullifer (pictured) said the conference theme and focus is 'Crossing the borders: new frontiers for academic integrity'."Universities are alert to the potential for cheating by contemporary students following recent publicity about students paying online services to provide university assignments," Dr Gullifer said."Academic integrity is vitally important, and policies and practices are under increasing pressure to keep up with new technologies. There has been an explosion of opportunists working in the online cheating industry, while at the same time there are shifts in understanding in today's society about plagiarism, copying, and appropriation."The broader educational integrity of universities is itself being scrutinized. This has been particularly highlighted in recent reports regarding the recruitment of international students and the exploitation of sessional teaching staff."For more information please go to www.7apcei.com or enquire to contact@7apcei.com