Archive
Nursing careers on show
Tuesday, 24 Jun 2008
Dubbo residents interested in a career in nursing are invited to attend an information session on Wednesday 25 June at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Dubbo Campus. Ms Cathy Maginnis, Bachelor of Nursing academic advisor at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, said the evening for students, parents, teachers, career advisors, TAFE students and interested members of the community will include presentations from representatives from CSU, TAFE, and Greater Western Area Health Service. “The presentations will cover topics such as why choose nursing as a career, career paths in nursing, articulation and pathways to nursing and studying nursing at university,” she said. The speakers and current CSU nursing students will be available after the presentation to answer questions and discuss study and career options.
Education students get AVID
Tuesday, 24 Jun 2008Four Charles Sturt University (CSU) Middle School education degree students will travel with three Wodonga Middle School teachers to the United States next week to attend the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Summer Institute. Jane Hill, Caralea Glen, Courtney Mitchell, and Mandy Walker will participate in the latest professional development with middle and high school teachers from the United States when they attend the program in Sacramento, California. The students will also meet local middle school teachers, students and families involved in the AVID program. CSU middle school lecturer Dr William DeJean said this was an opportunity for pre-service teachers to acquire professional insights into how to increase academic performance, engagement, and eventually university enrolment for middle school students.
Nomination for graduating student
Tuesday, 24 Jun 2008Dubbo families will soon benefit from the skills and support of a very talented woman who was recently nominated for the 2008 Western Institute TAFE Outstanding Graduating Student Awards. Ms Jill Morris, who is co-enrolled in a Bachelor of Social Work between Dubbo TAFE and Charles Sturt University (CSU), is hoping to work with families in the Dubbo area after she graduates and is especially interested in early intervention and prevention strategies. At the TAFE Institutes’ Awards luncheon, held last week, CSU was given special mention in relation to Ms Morris who fitted her studies around part-time work and the responsibilities of caring for her family.
Buck up for safety
Tuesday, 24 Jun 2008
Students enrolled in Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) equine science degree have received a Wagga Mutual Credit Union Safety Awareness Award for improving safety for students engaged in the high risk activity of ‘breaking in’ young horses at the University’s Equine Centre on the Wagga Wagga Campus. Injuries to ‘horse breakers’, which include the students, can be significantly reduced by having a mature and steady horse - a ‘lead pony’ - to accompany and settle the younger horses. The Centre had a suitable horse on loan, but could not afford the $4 000 needed to purchase the pony, named Buck. Undaunted, 50 students worked together to raise the funds by producing a promotional CD about Buck and the ‘breakers’, obtaining donations, running a chocolate drive and hosting a trivia night. The students raised over half of Buck’s purchase price in short time, while the University provided the balance. Equine Centre manager Mr John Smart said the University’s safety culture was enhanced by the student team as they resolved what could have been a long-term safety issue. Buck now lives at the Centre. A second safety award was presented to a team of Educational Designers from the University’s Centre for Education, Learning and Teaching.
Youngest ever CSU student to receive award
Tuesday, 24 Jun 2008
The youngest student to ever study at Charles Sturt University (CSU) will receive a special award to mark her participation in the first year university level Information Technology (IT) subject in Wagga Wagga this week. Fourteen year old Ms Kaitlin Salzke, from Wagga Wagga High School, is on the verge of completing the subject. She studied through the Gifted and Talented program run by CSU’s Faculty of Business. “This program targets talented high school students and gives them an opportunity to study a university subject,” said the Dean of the Faculty of Business, Professor John Hicks. Also from Wagga Wagga High School, Year 12 student Ms Isabelle Walsh, is due to complete a first year mathematics subject through the same program. Professor Hicks, along with Associate Professor Irfan Altas, the Head of the CSU School of Computing and Mathematics in Wagga Wagga and Ms Lorran Hall, the Manager of the Division of Student Administration, will visit Wagga Wagga High School on Wednesday 25 June for a special presentation to the two teenagers. The Department of Education and Training’s Regional Director, Mr Colin Parker will also attend.
Beating identity theft with biometrics
Tuesday, 24 Jun 2008
Research into the use of biometric authentication to curb the growing problem of identity theft is the subject of a seminar at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Bathurst Campus on Monday 30 June. Mr Jason Howarth, a lecturer at the School of Computing & Mathematics, said the research will affect individuals and organisations alike. Mr Howarth explained that identity theft (IDT) refers to any impersonation or misappropriation of an individual's identity. “It can take many forms, such as misusing personal information to open new credit card accounts, take out loans or obtain passports. Aided by the increase in digitization and online information, identity theft is rapidly becoming a major worldwide problem for businesses, governments and citizens. Biometrics has emerged in recent years as a way to combat identity theft because it can unequivocally identify individuals, but little is known about consumers’ readiness to accept biometric identification (such as palm prints).”
How good is your steak?
Tuesday, 24 Jun 2008
Five visiting Japanese students will join 15 Charles Sturt University (CSU) animal science and production students in a training day at local abattoirs to hone their meat judging skills, ahead of their participation in the 2008 Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Competition. The students will train in local facilities including Cargill Beef and Knights Meats in Wagga and Junee Abattoir. “The competition and the training beforehand is a unique opportunity to develop a career in the meat industry while mixing with industry representatives and other students,” said lecturer in Animal Production, Dr Bindi King. “This year the team will be coached by Mr Richard Sanders, a fourth year veterinary science student and previous national team member who has considerable experience in carcase judging.” The Japanese and Australian students will compete in the meat carcase and cut grading competition being held in Armidale, NSW, at the beginning of July. Winners of the Australian competition will head to the United States later in the year to compete for international honours.
Grains body welcomes academic
Tuesday, 17 Jun 2008
The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has enlisted the talents of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Dr Chris Blanchard by appointing the academic to its Southern Panel for three years. It is the first time Dr Blanchard has sat on the GRDC Southern Panel which is chaired by South Australian (SA) grower Mr David Shannon. In welcoming Dr Blanchard to the body, Mr Shannon said the academic brought considerable research credentials to the Panel. Dr Blanchard is one of only two NSW representatives on the Panel which plays a key role in determining the Corporation’s research priorities for southern Australia. Dr Blanchard is a senior lecturer with the University’s School of Biomedical Sciences, based in Wagga Wagga. He is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program and has worked on projects in areas such as genetic engineering for virus resistance, food science, phylogenetic analysis and human genetic disease.
Acclaimed animation specialist to share secrets
Tuesday, 17 Jun 2008Oscar-winning animation producer, Ms Marcy Page will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) next week to share the secrets of her success with visual effects and animation students and lecturers in the University’s School of Visual & Performing Arts. Ms Page works for the National Film Board of Canada and has been responsible for bringing a range of animated films to the big screen. The acclaimed producer will show a collection of her finest films including Oscar winners ‘The Danish Poet’ and ‘Ryan’ and this year’s Oscar nominee ‘Madam Tutli-Putli’, and will share the secrets of how to make award-winning films and what makes them so good.
Raising awareness of youth suicide
Tuesday, 17 Jun 2008
A presentation made to a Canberra conference recently about youth suicide awareness training has resulted in professional accolades for Mr Peter Bell, Manager of Residential Operations at Charles Sturt University (CSU). He was recognised for presenting the best member paper at the national conference of the Australasian Association of College and University Housing Officers, the national body for tertiary education student accommodation. Mr Bell will receive a contribution towards the cost of attending the Association’s international conference in the USA in 2009. He will present and lead discussion on suicide awareness in university and colleges at the international event. “Peter Bell is recognised as a national leader in suicide training and the provision of youth residential community support,” said Mr Andrew Callander, Executive Director of the CSU Division of Student Services. “The current large scale development of additional student accommodation across CSU is underpinned by a highly professional supportive care program.”