Cadet journalists working at National Radio News (NRN) at Charles Sturt University (CSU) have gained a number of paid internships with leading media organisations. NRN manager Mr Peter Hetherington said that the success of NRN staff in gaining outside internships and other placements is quite significant. “This is the pilot for an ongoing program, and those who show aptitude during the internship will be fast tracked into fulltime work at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC),” he said. “It demonstrates that the training our students receive in their CSU journalism course and the practical experience they gain through their NRN cadetships equips them to step straight into on-air roles with major broadcasters.” Three NRN cadets - Rebecca Bruce, Frank Ienco and Cameron Green - commenced paid internships with ABC Radio in Sydney from 5 November. Former NRN journalist Matthew Reardon has been accepted for an internship with Deutsche Vella, Germany’s major public broadcaster NRN cadet Patrick Cronan has commenced with 2TM Tamworth as on-air news journalist, while CSU graduate Rochelle Nolan has commenced as fulltime journalist with NRN.

A $407 000 project to upgrade campus lighting on Charles Sturt University's (CSU)Thurgoona site was switched on this week. The new lighting, which meets Australian Standards, will provide a secure environment for staff and students on campus at night. The lighting follows the campus focus on environmental sensitivity by minimising light pollution, providing low rates of light spill into the night sky while illuminating pedestrian, car park and roads. Head of CSU's Albury-Wodonga Campus, Professor Gail Whiteford officially ‘turned on the lights on Wednesday 14 November.

A study conducted by a Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher has revealed disturbing links between diabetes and depression. Medical science honours student, Ms Marina Jeeawody, reports that the level of depression in people with diabetes is much higher than those without diabetes. Based on the analysis of 750 participants from Albury and surrounding areas, the research showed depression is more prevalent in older women, and despite the stigma of mental illness, there is a shift towards recognition and the acceptance of depression and a willingness to discuss mood changes with health professionals. “For the people with diabetes, depression may be an additional barrier to achieving effective self-care. As a risk that can be modified, depression treatments could decrease the risk of diabetes-related complications,” said Ms Jeeawody.

“Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Centre for Inland Health (CIH) is a valuable resource for the communities of south-eastern NSW that not only provides insight into the health and wellbeing of communities within the Riverina, but also supports allied and primary health care professionals in rural and remote areas,” said Riverina Division of General Practice & Primary Health CEO, Mrs Nancye Piercy. The Centre for Inland Health was established at CSU in response to the lack of information and realistic solutions to meet the health needs of inland Australian communities. The Centre co-ordinates cooperative research and development programs designed to examine and address the priority health issues and concerns of inland Australian communities, which also aid the Division in identifying models of care consistent with the needs of Riverina communities. “During the past 12 months the Division has formed a very close relationship with the CIH by providing support and direction to program managers through training and education, providing support for local doctors and partnering the Division in numerous funding proposals to better support primary health care needs in the Riverina,” said Mrs Piercy.

Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s shortest and bloodiest tragedies, depicting a naked lust for power at any cost. Written four hundred years ago, its central theme of power and ambition has contemporary parallels, making the play as relevant now as when it was first written. The University Theatre Ensemble’s production is directed by John Bolton, an award winning director from Melbourne, and features third year acting students from Charles Sturt University (CSU). The play is also designed and stage managed by final year students in CSU’s degree in design for theatre and television production. The play’s director John Bolton has taken an innovative approach to the play by producing a shorter, clearer, playful and vibrant piece of theatre working with the students to dissect the text and incorporate the motifs and symbols at the heart of the play.

Competing against some of the top young environmental scientists in Australia, Charles Sturt University (CSU) honours student John Rawsthorne has won a scholarship from the eminent Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists in recognition of his project on the importance of birds in spreading mistletoes in the Australian landscape. His supervisor Dr David Watson from the CSU School of Environmental Sciences asserts that the mistletoe is an important indicator of the health of Australian bush, and John’s research project will help discover how this occurs. In addition to receiving financial support from the Purves Environmental Trust to attend the 2007 Ecological Society of Australia conference in Perth in November, Mr Rawsthorne will also receive advice from leading Australian ecologists Professor Hugh Possingham and Dr Denis Saunders during the project, as well as attend a master class with senior scientists and fellow students in Sydney in October. John’s award is one of 19 presented to research students in universities around Australia. He is based in Forbes in central NSW.

Graduate business managers in northern Victoria and southern NSW seeking to upgrade their qualifications with face-to-face postgraduate studies closer to home are one step closer with an agreement to be signed by the Australian Graduate Management Consortium (AGMC) and Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE (BRIT) on Friday 11 May. As part of the Australian Graduate Management Consortium, BRIT staff will deliver Charles Sturt University (CSU) courses that will lead to a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Management, which are part of the University’s Master of Management program. An agreement allowing NSW Riverina Institute of TAFE to offer similar courses at its Albury, Wagga and Griffiths sites is due to be signed later this year. National Coordinator of the CSU program, Jan Knox said,,”The AGMC Programs are a innovative way of delivering graduate study opportunities to students throughout inland Australia”. The CSU-BRIT agreement will be signed at 11.30am on Friday 11 May in Bendigo.

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) has been awarded much sought after international quality accreditation. The NWGIC, located at the CSU Wagga Wagga Campus, implemented a quality management system for its research activities in 2006.  Following an external review and audit in June 2007, the Centre was awarded accreditation for its implementation of the ISO 9000 Quality Management System. This achievement, driven by Mrs Helen Pan (NWGIC), Mr Chris O'Connell (NSW DPI), Professor Geoff Scollary (CSU), and Mrs Cathy Campbell (NSW DPI), reinforces the NWGIC’s place at the forefront of Australian research facilities. Director of the NWGIC Professor Thomas Henick-Kling says the quality accreditation is a wonderful achievement and shows a commitment to quality. The NWGIC is the home of leading wine industry research activities including the Winegrowing Futures Program.

A $10 000 scholarship to encourage the next generation of rural allied health professionals has gone to a Charles Sturt University (CSU) podiatry student. Gemma Hammond from Culcairn has won the award which will help her complete her four year degree course, which includes clinical experience and assistance from her mentor, physiotherapist Corinne O'Connor also from Culcairn. The scholarship is offered annually through the National Rural Health Network and aims to encourage allied health students to work in rural areas after they graduate. “As a mature aged student the scholarship will be a great help financially and allow me to focus on the studies and expose me to a wider range of experiences on placement while studying,” Ms Hammond said. She is also looking forward to learning about the rewards and problems of working in rural areas with her mentor Corinne.