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Youth flourish at regional forum

The views of over 400 primary school students on sustainability and social justice will come together at Charles Sturt University (CSU) on Friday 13 November.

The students and their teachers will gather from seven primary schools in Albury Wodonga to put the finishing touches to their Youth Action Statement for a Sustainable Future, whichthey will present to local community and CSU dignitaries on Saturday 14 November at the Flourish festival to be held at CSU in Albury-Wodonga.

The statement showcases the students' concerns and answers for current environmental and sustainability problems. Community members can also show their support by signing the Statement during the festival.

"The Statement contains the ideas of local primary school students about 16 leading sustainability problems and solutions which the students discussed and voted on during their visits to Charles Sturt University," said team leader of the Learning Communities project, Dr John Rafferty.

Learning Communities team members have also worked with the students and their teachers to produce artworks and displays regarding various sustainability issues, from community gardens to the 'tiny house' movement. These will also be on show to their families, friends and the wider community during the Flourish festival.

Flourish culminates the year-long Learning Communities project run by CSU's Institute for Land, Water and Society, and is also the final event of the 2015 Albury Wodonga Sustainable Living Week.

"During the free fun of Flourish, we will present music for all tastes and have guest appearances from the Sea Shepherd, the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, Animals Australia, Earthworker from Melbourne and Edgar's Mission from Lancefield, as well as local sustainability champions," Learning Communities team member, Dr Helen Masterman-Smith said.

 "There will be lots of opportunities to celebrate how some of the region's best students are contributing to a sustainable community in Albury-Wodonga."

More information on Flourish is available here including the full program and list of partners and guests. Go to Facebook for the latest news on Flourish.

Science students wins photo comp

A PhD student at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga has taken out a national higher education photography award.

Mr Syed Haris Omar, won the student category of an annual photography competition run by the Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS). It is a non-profit member based organisation representing higher and further education institutions within Australia and New Zealand. 

Mr Haris, from the School of Biomedical Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga, took the photo at Manchester in the United Kingdom.

Mr Haris said, "I love capturing the beautiful shots in my lenses. Natural landscapes, wild-life and beautiful fauna and flora of Australia further accelerated my passion."

With the theme of Elemental Sustainability, the photography competition was held in conjunction with the 15^th International ACTS Conference in Geelong last month.

Mr Haris is an international student doing his PhD into the potential benefits of olive fruit and leaf compounds into the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Read more in CSU News here.

Touring Rotarian bikers visit CSU Bathurst

The International Fellowship of Motorcycling Rotarians (IFMR) 2015 Big Ride fundraising tour group will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Friday 6 November.

Manager of Student Initiatives in CSU Residence Life, Ms Joanne McRae, a Rotarian and fair-weather motorcyclist, said, "Charles Sturt University will host a luncheon visit because our final-year dentistry students complete a clinical placement with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) in Dubbo.

"We are well aware of the amazing remote area health services offered by the RFDS across Australia and the valuable learning experience it provides to our students.

"This is the mid-point of a 2 800 kilometre fundraising ride through NSW from Cobar to Griffith the long way around via Bathurst for the group of more than 30 motorcyclists. They will spend a full day in Bathurst and have lunch at Rafters Bar on campus before riding around Mount Panorama. Staff from the CSU Dental and Oral Health Clinics, from Residence Life and the Cheers team will attend the lunch, as well as local Rotarians from across the district."

All CSU staff and students are welcome to attend the lunch. Local motorcyclists are welcome to join the group for lunch and the ride around Mount Panorama. Donations to the 2015 Big Ride fundraiser are welcome, and can be made on the day or online. For more information about the ride, go to: http://ifmraustralia.org/

CSU a partner in Bathurst’s history

As Bathurst concludes its 2015 bicentennial celebrations a local historian has reflected on the contribution made by Charles Sturt University (CSU) and previous higher education institutions.

"It is sometimes overlooked that Charles Sturt University and its predecessor institutions have been a beneficial presence in Bathurst for more than half of the city's 200 years," Dr Robin McLachlan (pictured), adjunct senior lecturer in history at the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences, said. "These institutions' contribution to education, research, employment and cultural life in regional Australia has been significant and is ongoing."

Dr McLachlan noted that CSU has been very involved in various ways throughout 2015 to support the Bathurst Bicentenary, an event of both local and national significance. "This support has been as an official sponsor for some initiatives, as with From Flag Staff to Town Square – A Guide to the Government Settlement Heritage Trail, and the current Town Square Exhibition," Dr McLachlan said. "In other cases the involvement has been through the significant contributions by people such as adjunct Associate Professor David Goldney with the Cox's Road Dreaming project."

Concluding the bicentenary, the University will host a regional biodiversity conference on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 November, and the Town Square Exhibition at the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum in Howick Street, Bathurst, seeks community members' input to help guide future development of the historic precinct. The Town Square Exhibition closes on Friday 30 November.

CSU supports chess moves in Albury-Wodonga

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will host a chess challenge for school students in Albury-Wodonga on Wednesday 4 November.

Up to 100 primary and secondary school students from around the region are expected to attend the inaugural CSU Albury-Wodonga Schools Chess Challenge from 9am to 2pm. 

Two perpetual trophies will be presented to the winning students by Director of the CSU Division of Student Administration Mr Matthew Evans. CSU is also sponsoring the cost of the entry fee for students as part of the Head of Campus small grants program.

"Charles Sturt University recognises that chess teaches students to apply knowledge and solve problems in a dynamic way and we believe that these students will be the ones that engage with universities and solve our regional challenges in the future," Mr Evans said.

The Challenge is being facilitated by Tim Broome, Events Manager, Chess Kids.

Time to Flourish in Albury-Wodonga

Community, art, sport, music, video, education and the environment will all be celebrated at Flourish, the festival for sustainable communities, on Saturday 14 November.

Flourish is the culmination of the year-long Learning Communities project run by Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Institute for Land, Water and Society. It is also the final event of Albury Wodonga Sustainability Week 2015.

Learning Communities team members have worked throughout 2015 with nearly 1 000 high and primary school students from around Albury-Wodonga and North East Victoria to produce videos, art, displays and community activities that showcase the students' concerns and answers for current environmental and sustainability problems.

Project leader Dr John Rafferty said the festival showcases fabulous ideas that highlight the value of higher education in helping create sustainable communities.

"A feature event at Flourish will be the public presentation of a Youth Action Statement for a Sustainable Future to local community dignitaries by representative students from local primary schools. Community members can also show their support by signing the Statement during the festival.

"The Statement contains the ideas of local primary school students about 16 leading sustainability problems and solutions which the students discussed and voted on during their visits to CSU," Dr Rafferty said.

The statement was developed using democratic and consensus principles learnt during earlier visits to CSU in Albury-Wodonga by Years 5 and 6 students from eight primary schools located in Albury- Wodonga and surrounding districts.

The students are also preparing displays and activities on aspects of sustainable communities that reflect their future career options, which will be presented to their families and the wider community during Flourish. More information on Flourish here. 

Go to Facebook https://www.facebook.com/flourishfestival/ for the latest news on Flourish.

Hugh Mackay public lecture in Port Macquarie

Prominent Australian author and social commentator Dr Hugh Mackay (pictured) will deliver an Exploration Series public lecture hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie on Monday 9 November.

Dr Mackay will consider the nature of communities, social cohesion, and the concept of connectedness, as explored in his latest book The Art of Belonging, in which he proposes it's not where you live, but how you live.

Head of Campus at CSU in Port Macquarie Professor Heather Cavanagh said, "Dr Mackay's presentation is the fourth lecture in the Explorations Series in Port Macquarie for 2015. These public lectures aim to share the latest thinking with the community and encourage people to think about issues facing society today. As a social researcher and author Dr Mackay has published 16 books, has been elected a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society and awarded honorary doctorates by Charles Sturt University and three other universities. I encourage all to attend for a thought-provoking presentation."

This free CSU Explorations Series public lecture will be at The Glasshouse (level 2, meeting rooms) on the corner of Clarence and Hay Streets, Port Macquarie, from 5pm to 7pm Monday 9 November. Tickets are free and available now from the Glasshouse box office.

Educating the next generation of allied health professionals

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will showcase the education of the next generation of health science and allied health professionals on Monday 2 November.

Federal Assistant Minister for Science, The Hon Karen Andrews MP, will join local

MP and Minister for Health, Aged Care and Sport, The Hon Sussan Ley, on a tour of the University's Centre for Community Engagement and Wellness, a purpose built primary health care facility for key allied health professions.

Head of the School of Community Health at CSU in Thurgoona, Associate Professor Megan Smith, said "We are particularly looking forward to the Ministers' visit, as their portfolios of science, health and aged care align well with the work we are undertaking at the facility".

Open to the public for consultation and treatment for a range of health conditions, the Centre is part of CSU's School of Community Health which provides training opportunities in a team-based clinical environment for podiatry and physiotherapy students.

New focus for Cellar Door at Orange

A specialist wine testing laboratory is moving into the Cellar Door at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange to service the Central West wine industry.

With the Cellar Door closing to the public at the end of week, the space at CSU in Orange is being leased to Vintessential Laboratories. Once a laboratory fit-out is complete, the ISO17025 accredited operations are planned to commence in January 2016.

Vintessential also operates laboratories in wine districts in Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. The company offers a range of testing services for wine, cider, beer, water and plant material. They will also sell laboratory consumables, and winemaking products such as yeasts and enzymes.

Vintessential was founded in 1995 by Mr Greg Howell - a graduate of the wine science degree at CSU. Mr Howell said "We are thrilled to partner with Charles Sturt University to help support the flourishing wine industry in the Central West."

CSU Chief Financial Officer Mr Paul Dowler said, "As an institution focused on research, teaching and learning, Charles Sturt University is keen to foster strong industry engagement in a manner that supports the Central West region."

However, CSU continues to offer its stock of boutique wines online and through its Experimental Winery at CSU in Wagga Wagga. The Wagga Wagga Cellar Door remains open for business.

Mr Dowler said, "Plans are in place to develop a Shiraz and Chardonnay through the experimental winery with the 2016 vintage to be available later next year.

CSU farewells Winery Marketing Manager Mr Justin Byrne at the end of the week. He will continue his involvement with the University's new business model by developing online material.

Mr Jeff Clements, from Western Regional Wines, will service customers in the Central West as well as the Blue Mountains.

The Cellar Door at CSU in Wagga is in building 404, near car park 11, McKeown Drive, CSU in Wagga Wagga. It is open seven days a week from 11am to 5pm and 11am to 4pm on week-ends. Please call (02) 6933 2435 or go online here.

OT students under the umbrella

The broad scope of occupational therapy (OT) as a key health profession will be on display during the annual conference at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga.

The final year Bachelor of Occupational Therapy students from the University's School of Community Health are hosting the conference, Under the Umbrella: The Scope of OT from 8.30am to 5pm on Thursday 29 October.

As part of their four-year degree, 29 students are involved in the event and will speak on topics about which they're passionate. The conference is open to local health practitioners as well as the wider community. 

The conference will cover topics such as upper limb assessment and interventions, paediatrics, issues facing new graduate OTs, mental health and rural practice. Keynote speaker is Ms Leah Wiseman, Senior Occupational Therapy Manager with Albury Wodonga Health.

The 20 minute student presentations will be delivered from 10am in the Community Engagement and Wellness Centre, building 715, Ellis Street, near car park 8 and the Clinical Skills Centre, building 667, Bromfield Circuit, near car park 8.

The conference is being held during OT Week 2015 from Sunday 25 to Saturday 31 October. The occupational therapy students at due to graduate from CSU in December.