Archive

First Things First author at the National Library of Australia

Two Charles Sturt University (CSU) academics will lead a public discussion with Australian author Kate Llewellyn (pictured) about her book First Things First at the National Library of Australia in Canberra on Tuesday 22 September. The editors of First Things First, Dr Ruth Bacchus in the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Dr Barbara Hill in the CSU Division of Student Learning, will discuss Ms Llewellyn's new anthology of selected letters from her private correspondence with artists and writers (1977 to 20014). "The correspondence in First Things First brims with energy, humour and insights into Kate's life," Dr Hill said. "Kate has also been a visiting writer at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga and Bathurst in the past. We welcome all who are interested in Australian literature to come along and learn more about the life of this fascinating and much-loved Australian author." The public discussion with Kate Llewellyn will be in the conference room of the National Library of Australia in Parkes Place, Canberra, at 6pm Tuesday 22 September. Admission is $10 and includes refreshments and book signing. Book here or on 6262 1271 (9am to 12pm Monday to Friday).

2015 SPRUNG is here!

The 2015 SPRUNG Festival of Creativity bounces onto stages at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst for a season of innovative live performances from Wednesday 23 September to Saturday 3 October. One of the coordinators of the festival Ms Emily Pierce said, "This year's annual SPRUNG Festival of Creativity will present seven innovative productions that showcase the talents of final-year Bachelor of Communication (Theatre/Media) students in the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst. The whole production team is really excited that the 2015 SPRUNG Festival program boasts more creativity than ever." This year's festival program is based at the Ponton Theatre (building 1434), with productions also happening at the Creative Hub (in building 1399) and multiple other nearby outdoor locations at the University. The shows will be performed in an exciting array of styles including cabaret (with a feminist twist), physical theatre, political satire, live TV studio performance, and two-part scripted drama. Information about SPRUNG 2015 session dates and times, tickets, and a synopsis of each show can be found here or visit the SPRUNG Festival Facebook page. Contact Ms Heather Morton on 0434 869 909 or heather.morton14@hotmail.com for more information.

School students look to the stars at CSU

School students from Cootamundra, Junee and Wagga Wagga will experience the stellar opportunities of higher education in a visit to Charles Sturt University (CSU) tomorrow 15 September as part of the CSU Future Moves aspiration outreach program.  The students from Years 6 and 7 will reach for the skies in the COSMODOME mobile planetarium as part of a Check it Out Day and the Sky Stories project. The students will attend one of three sessions from 9.30am to 2.30pm at the basketball courts, opposite Beres Ellwood Oval, Valder Way, CSU in Wagga Wagga.  The Sky Stories project aims to use astronomy to engage students in Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Future Moves program coordinator, Ms Ravnita Sharma said, "The day is intended to build aspiration and engagement in the school students by offering them engaging experiences at Charles Sturt University. At the same time it reinforces STEM skills at school." Read more about the Future Moves program here and the Sky Stories project initiatives on Facebook.

New CSU diploma at Port Macquarie in 2016

A further opportunity for students to access courses at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie has been confirmed this week. CSU and North Coast TAFE have finalised an agreement to offer the CSU Pathway Program (Diploma of General Studies) in Port Macquarie starting in 2016. The diploma is a unique 12-month course that provides students who might not otherwise be eligible for entry to CSU, or who need additional preparation, the opportunity to receive guaranteed entry into most CSU degrees. The diploma is run in partnership with TAFE and has had more than 330 enrolments since its inception in 2010. Director of Academic Success at CSU Ms Liz Smith said, "We're really excited that the Diploma of General Studies will be available in Port Macquarie from 2016. This diploma is currently offered in Wagga Wagga, Albury, Bathurst and Blacktown, and has been seeing great results from students keen to take advantage of a pathway to their chosen degree. There are many reasons students don't meet the entry criteria to university and this program provides an excellent opportunity for school leavers especially. Not getting the ATAR you hoped for doesn't mean that university isn't an option." Students can apply for the Diploma of General Studies now at http://www.csu.edu.au/courses/diploma-of-general-studies or enquire on 1800 334 733.

CSU student in national meat judge team

International competition and an exclusive tour of the American meat industry awaits Charles Sturt University (CSU) student Ms Jessica McGrath. The Bachelor of Animal Science student from CSU's School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences in Wagga Wagga has been selected in the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Team. Originally from Bathurst, Ms McGrath was one of ten finalists selected from 130 students who took part in the meat judging competition in July. She earned her spot in the five-member national team after an intensive training workshop and industry tour in Queensland last week. "After visiting feedlots, abattoirs, butchers and retailers I have a new appreciation of the meat supply chain in Australia," said Ms McGrath. "I'm looking forward to comparing our production systems with those in the United States. The Americans treat meat judging like a competitive sport and I'm keen to learn more about their grading system and put my skills to the test." The Australian team will spend four weeks touring the United States in January 2016 where they will take part in three meat judging competitions.

CSU Amazing Race in Bathurst for charity

Staff and students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will join the inaugural 'CSU Amazing Race' in September to raise money for a local charity. Head of Campus at CSU in Bathurst, Professor Jo-Anne Reid said the CSU Amazing Race will take place from 1pm to 4pm on Wednesday 16 and Wednesday 23 September. It aims to generate awareness of and funding for the building extension project of the Daffodil Cottage cancer support unit in Bathurst. "The events in this fun 'CSU Amazing Race' will involve challenges for teams of four people (and one reserve), and are all related in some way to the University and Bathurst life," Professor Reid said. "We have adapted the idea of the famous TV Show 'The Amazing Race' to help enrich the campus life for staff, students and alumni of Charles Sturt University in Bathurst. The aim for participants is to win the race and/or raise the most in donated support, with the overall purpose to raise over $5 000 dollars each year for a project that will benefit the Bathurst campus community. As well as linking and engaging the spirit of the University community, our first goal in 2015 is to maintain and enhance the University's links with Daffodil Cottage by raising funds to support the expansion of this facility." The CSU Amazing Race is being planned with the help of CSU student interns from the Faculty of Business who are designing and managing the marketing, the website and the event. You can find out about the Race, register a team and donate on the CSU Amazing Race website at www.csuamazingrace.com.au. Daffodil Cottage is an oncology palliative care and treatment facility in the grounds of Bathurst Base Hospital. It provides support for people living in Bathurst, Blayney, Oberon, and surrounding areas. The Mayor of Bathurst Regional Council, Councillor Gary Rush, will attend the 2015 CSU Amazing Race awards ceremony and presentation to the winners.

Dabaa-malang: Wiradjuri gathering at CSU

Students studying the Wiradjuri language and culture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will host about 200 primary school children on Wednesday 2 September.

The Wiradjuri Cultural Day will be held from 9.45am to 2.30pm at The Hub (building 20) as part of a five-day residential school for CSU's Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage students.

Children from Years 2, 3 and 4 will progress through a series of activities and workshops including: Wiradjuri songs and story-telling; Wiradjuri language in classrooms; Johnny cakes and story; Wiradjuri tools and weapons; weaving; and bush dyeing.

The Wiradjuri Cultural Day will begin with a Welcome to Country from 9.45am by Wiradjuri Elder Uncle Dr Stan Grant, AM.

The Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage was developed by CSU and the Wiradjuri Council of Elders to re-energize the Indigenous language and Wiradjuri Nation. It is a one-year distance education program with a five-day compulsory residential school at CSU in Wagga Wagga.

Christian-Muslim interfaith dialogue in Port Macquarie

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will host a Christian-Muslim inter-faith dialogue between two theology scholars in Port Macquarie on Saturday 5 September. The forum is part of a national series sponsored by the CSU Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (ACCC) in Canberra. It will feature CSU Professor of Theology the Reverend Professor James Haire, AC, KSJ, and leading Indonesian Muslim scholar and public intellectual Professor Azyumardi Azra, CBE. Emeritus Professor Ross Chambers, Chair of the Board of the ACCC and former CSU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), will chair the forum titled 'Can Christianity and Islam Co-exist? A National Dialogue'. The Executive Director of the ACCC, the Right Reverend Professor Stephen Pickard said, "This important and timely dialogue will address Christian-Muslim relations in the Australian-Indonesian context and seek to build fresh understanding of how people of different faiths and cultures can grow together in understanding and appreciation of one another." Registration on 6581 8888 is essential for this free forum which will be from 6pm to 8pm Saturday 5 September in the Ross Family Studio at The Glasshouse 32/40 Clarence Street Port Macquarie.

Japanese students’ cultural visit to CSU Wagga Wagga

Ten engineering students from Iwate prefecture in northern Japan arrive at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga today for a week of cultural exchange and English language enrichment. Mr David Gilbey, adjunct senior lecturer in English in the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences, has organised the visit from Monday 31 August to Friday 4 September with Professor Yoshihiko Hatakeyama of the National Institute of Technology Ichinoseki (NITI). "The aim of the program is to give Japanese students an experience of Australian university life by staying on campus, and provide them with a range of experiences of life and culture in and around Wagga Wagga," Mr Gilbey said. "Highlights will include some of the specific facilities at Charles Sturt University as well as visits to museums, art galleries, the botanic gardens, saleyards, shopping, farm and factory visits at Junee and Wantabadgery. Lecturer in photography Mr Jamie Holcombe will be at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery to talk to the students about his current exhibition 'Civic Malaise', an apt and acerbic interrogation of Australian culture. It is intended that this exchange program will motivate and focus the students' study of and skills in English by designing short language tasks that arise out of their experiences here."

Close to home: the impact of US cyber security

A seminar at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will discuss Washington DC's Cyber Security Policy and how it will impact everyday lives around the world, including in Australia.

Hosted by the School of Computing and Mathematics and the Cyber Security Research Group, 'A Matter of Style: How America's Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Tricks, Tactics and Agenda Impact World Cyber Security' will be presented by President and CEO of LabMD Mr Michael Daugherty. The seminar will be held in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 26 August between 12pm and 1pm.

Mr Daugherty will discuss the FTC's investigation into his business' data security practices, the international impact of decisions made in Washington DC and why Australians should care about the effects on their personal data.Media and members of the public are invited to attend the seminar.

To register email mislam@csu.edu.au