Local news from CSU

CSU Local News is online now. Visit news.csu.edu.au for local news from CSU in:

Albury-Wodonga

Bathurst

Canberra

Dubbo

Goulburn

Orange

Port Macquarie

Wagga Wagga

Or read previous updates in our local news archive.

Reception: The Musical

Dubbo native Ms Bethany Simons is coming home to perform her award-winning show, Reception: The Musical¸ at the Dubbo Regional Theatre Convention Centre on Friday night, 24 October. The performance is part of the 2014 Macquarie Credit Union DREAM Festival. Ms Simons, a Charles Sturt University Bachelor of Arts (Acting for the Screen and Stage) graduate, is based in Melbourne but was born and raised in Dubbo. She studied at CSU in Wagga, and her latest show – a cabaret-style comedy collaboration with pianist Peter de Jager – was awarded Best Cabaret at the 2014 Melbourne Fringe Festival Awards.  Reception is a celebration of all things administration, telling the story of a receptionist who finds joy in the manic world of customer service. After the show, the audience is invited to join the cast for an 'office party' in the foyer to celebrate International Year of the Secretary and Administrative Assistant. Reception: The Musical is supported by Essential Energy.

Public seminar to help reduce reliance on insecticides

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will host a public seminar on Monday 2 February which will discuss predators and their role in controlling crop pests.

University of Kentucky Associate Professor of Arthropod Ecology James Harwood will present the seminar as part of a three day visit to CSU during which he will be collaborating on research with CSU academics.

Professor Harwood has been studying predators, especially spiders, and their role in controlling crop pests for over a decade. In this seminar Professor Harwood will explain the use of behavioural and molecular approaches to understand the interactions between predators and their prey, revealing aspects of their hunting strategies

"Ultimately, this knowledge helps to reduce reliance on insecticides for pest control and enhance the sustainability of agriculture," Professor Geoff Gurr from the CSU School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences said.

"This seminar will be informative for members of the public who would like to hear about developments in this area and are interested in pest management and sustainable agriculture."

The Seminar will be held in the conference room of the Orange campus, Leeds Parade, Orange at 1pm on Monday 2 January. No RSVP is necessary.

Participants needed to help improve treatments for diabetic neuropathy

Two research projects at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange aim to assess the effectiveness of treatment options for people suffering diabetic neuropathy.

Bachelor of Physiotherapy students Liam Abbey and Jack Archer are seeking participants for projects which will assess the effectiveness of therapeutic taping in the management of balance, pain and loss of sensation in lower limbs caused by diabetes.

"Diabetic Neuropathy is caused by damage to the nervous system which arises due to altered blood glucose levels," Mr Abbey said.

"My research aims to determine if kinesio tape (K-tape) can improve measures of functional balance and mobility confidence in diabetics. Diabetics have an increased risk of falls and reduced quality of life often due to impaired balance; K-tape may provide a means to improve a person's functional balance."

Similarly, Mr Archer's research hopes to assess the effectiveness of therapeutic taping.

"Over 1.2 million Australians have diabetes, and of those, more than 30% have neuropathy," Mr Archer said."I hope to be able to show that the application of K-tape reduces pain, and improves patients' ability to sense touch through the skin of their legs. This will be an important step towards improved treatment options."

Participants can be male or female, must be over 18 years of age, experience diabetic neuropathy and be able to attend the Orange campus for sessions during February.

Participants can only select one study to join and are encouraged to contact the researchers for more information.

Both projects have Ethics Committee approval and will be conducted under the supervision of CSU School of Community Health academics.

Conference for CSU admin staff

The biennial 'Admin Focus' conference for Charles Sturt University (CSU) administration staff is being held at CSU in Bathurst on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 February. The conference is open to CSU administration staff and approximately 130 staff from all campuses will attend. Ms Karen Lenihan, Director, Organisational and People Capability in the CSU Division of Human Resources, said, "The conference is a fantastic professional development and networking event which primarily aims to recognise the contributions of the University's administration staff, foster networking, and increase awareness of professional development for these staff. "There are a variety of session topics to enhance performance and assist staff to navigate the evolving administrative landscape of this dynamic organisation. Relevant topics include high impact business writing; developing career goals; using the internet to manage workload; and learning the fundamentals of the FAST reporting system. There will be an opportunity for delegates to engage in 'Q&A'-style discussions with the University's Senior Executive Committee. There will also be an interactive group session designed to build an understanding of the important role administrative staff play in contributing to the outcomes of the organisation and 'unleashing your inner marketer'." More information can be found here.

CSU nursing staff donate to Bathurst charities

Instead of exchanging gifts last Christmas, staff at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health in Bathurst chose to make a donation to charities. Nursing lecturer Ms Denise McGarry said her colleagues elected to donate to local causes rather than participate in the traditional workplace 'Kris Kringle' exchange of presents. "Staff donated more than $400, and we decided to make donations to the Bathurst Refugee Support Group, under the patronage of the Sisters of Mercy, and to Daffodil Cottage Palliative Care Service in Bathurst," Ms McGarry said. "This week Daffodil Cottage received the portable intravenous pole which was purchased with the School's staff donation. This will allow off-site patients to stay out of hospital for more of their treatments than previously, as this mobile device can be loaned to allow treatment in the home. The donation to the Bathurst Refugee Support Group will assist with the provision of respite services and accommodation in Bathurst with the purchase of household goods."

CSU volunteers research project starts with SES

New research from Charles Sturt University (CSU) aims to understand what motivates volunteers and how organisations can help to keep them actively engaged. Ms Emily Webster, a business honours student in the CSU School of Management and Marketing in Bathurst, said, "Volunteering makes a significant contribution to the social and economic development of society through the provision of a number of services that assist the wellbeing of individuals and groups. My project aims to examine the relationship between volunteer motivations and their job design, to create a deeper understanding of what encourages volunteers to stay with local community groups, and to help provide practical recommendations for organisations. The Bathurst Unit of the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has been extremely helpful with the pilot study for the project and assisting to prepare for mass survey distribution." Ms Webster's motivation for this research project was triggered by her activities as a volunteer while studying her undergraduate degree. The volunteer retention project started on Thursday 5 February at Bathurst SES headquarters. Seven SES volunteers and employees discussed the influence of job design on their willingness to volunteer and stay with organisations.

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