Archive
Focus on admin
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003About 230 administrative staff from across Charles Sturt University (CSU) are expected to attend the biennial Admin Focus Conference 2008 which will be held on Bathurst and Wagga Wagga campuses in the coming week. Held for the first time in 2000, the biennial conference provides an opportunity for the University’s administrative support staff to gain new professional skills and updated information. The 2008 conference will be held on the Wagga Wagga Campus on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 July. Admin Focus aims to recognise the significant contribution of administrative staff in office and support positions, and to foster networking and a sense of community among administrative staff across the University. The event will include keynote addresses from senior staff, skills development workshops, and an exhibition of services and projects at the University.
Focus on admin
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003About 230 administrative staff from across Charles Sturt University (CSU) are expected to attend the biennial Admin Focus Conference 2008 which will be held on Bathurst and Wagga Wagga campuses in the coming week. Held for the first time in 2000, the biennial conference provides an opportunity for the University’s administrative support staff to gain new professional skills and updated information. The 2008 conference will be held on the Bathurst Campus on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 July. Admin Focus aims to recognise the significant contribution of administrative staff in office and support positions, and to foster networking and a sense of community among administrative staff across the University. The event will include keynote addresses from senior staff, skills development workshops, and an exhibition of services and projects at the University.
Managing information for today
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003
Through its School of Information Studies, Charles Sturt University (CSU) is a leading educator in Australia and overseas of professionals for the information industry, ranging from the traditional library and information management to the emerging field of private sector information and knowledge management. As part of this work, the University’s Centre for Information Studies (CIS) supports research, publications and continuing professional development in library and information science, teacher librarianship and Australian literature for young people. The Centre has assisted CSU senior lecturer Dr Philip Hider, with Professor Ross Harvey, to revise the successful first edition of the book, Organising knowledge in a global society: principles and practice in libraries and information centres. The book reflects on current practice in information organisation, particularly how libraries and other information services provide intellectual access to digital information resources through socalled ‘metadata’. In the book’s 2008 revision, the information organisation components of the recent Web 2.0 era are discussed.
Director beats different drum
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003It is said that music is universal and has the ability to heal, and Director of the Orange Regional Conservatorium, Mr Graham Sattler, believes this more than ever after his recent overseas study tour. Mr Sattler will present an international example of ensemble music programs, designed to encourage socio-cultural development, at a public lecture to be held at the Orange Campus of Charles Sturt University (CSU), on Wednesday 6 August. Mr Sattler is beating a different drum after returning from a study tour to South America, including Bolivia, where ‘revolutionary’ music programs are encouraging social harmony, community integration and self-esteem. Mr Sattler will compare models and explore the potential and challenges of translating the principles behind these programs to Australia.
Learning and laughing in Montreal
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003A Charles Sturt University (CSU) television production student realised a dream when she spent time backstage at Canada's acclaimed 2008 Montreal Comedy Festival in July. Ms Stephanie Coombes has returned from a two week trip to Canada where she assisted with filming the well known Australian current affairs comedy show, Good News Week. Ms Coombes, from Sydney, gained the international experience while only six months into her three year Bachelor of Arts (Television Production) degree on CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus. “There is little substitute for practical learning, and getting out amongst the people who make television was a fabulous experience,” she said. “The appeal of the CSU course is that it teaches television in a practical way, so when I’m looking for a job I know I’ll have the knowledge to get a position such as a floor manager or vision mixer.” She hopes to pursue a television career like her father who is a television director for Good News Week. Television production course coordinator Mr Pat Sproule said Ms Coombes’ trip demonstrates the importance the University places on practical experience its courses.
Damaged Sutherland Laboratory to be rebuilt
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003Tenders have been called to reconstruct a key Charles Sturt University (CSU) laboratory complex which was partially damaged in an explosion on the Wagga Wagga Campus in 2007. Known as the Sutherland Laboratory, the building is a teaching and research centre for students from the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences and the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences. The University called for tenders for the $1.05 million building project in July. Work is expected to be completed by early 2009. “We want to reconstruct the damaged laboratory on the same footprint of the previous building,” said CSU Architect Mr Chris Nesakumar. “However, the University plans to refurbish the damaged laboratory as a multi-purpose facility to satisfy the immediate and future teaching requirements of the agricultural and veterinary science students.” The new facility will accommodate 72 students with a preparation room, solvents room, wash-up area and incubator room.
Working for the future of pharmacy
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003
A strong advocate of the pharmacy program at Charles Sturt University (CSU) has been elected President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (NSW Branch). Mr Peter Gissing, from Wagga Wagga, accepted the position in July. The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (NSW Branch) is the professional organisation for all pharmacists in the state, providing education and advocacy to support pharmacists in their vital work. From 2004 until 2007, Mr Gissing was foundation Chairman of the Charles Sturt Pharmacy Foundation which was established to support the University pharmacy program on its Wagga Wagga and Orange campuses and its ongoing work to provide skilled pharmacists, particularly for inland Australia. Mr Gissing has owned two large community pharmacies in Wagga Wagga and works as a locum pharmacist and industry consultant. “Peter’s new position as President of the Society’s NSW branch is further demonstration of his unflinching commitment to the development of the profession,” said Head of the CSU School of Biomedical Sciences, Associate Professor Lyn Angel. “CSU has been a direct beneficiary of his long-term commitment.” Read more about the Charles Sturt Pharmacy Foundation here.Satellite maps to uncover the truth about stubble burning
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003
Agriculture has long been accused of contributing to air pollution through the practice of stubble burning, but a new Charles Sturt University (CSU) research project underway in the Riverina is aiming to quantify the extent of the practice. Using 30 years of satellite data, the project is investigating where stubble burning has occurred in the past, where it is carried out now and whether management practices have changed over time. The project is an initiative of the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, an alliance between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the Department of Primary Industries based at Wagga Wagga. Researcher and spatial science expert Dr Remy DeHaan said, “With spatial science technology we can map 30 years of land management and show whether the practice has increased or decreased. Using satellite maps and historical knowledge means we can quantify the changes in management practices and provide an accurate picture of the extent of the burning.” Initially, Dr DeHaan is mapping an area covering the Wagga Wagga, Albury and Lake Cargelligo regions but there is potential for the project to expand Australia-wide.
Bible Garden opens in Canberra
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003
Former Australian Governor-General, Sir William Deane, will participate in officially opening a garden with 148 plants represented in The Bible in the grounds of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (ACCC) in Canberra at 2pm on Sunday 3 August. ACCC Director and Chairman of the Global Network for Public Theology (GNPT), the Reverend Professor James Haire, said that the ‘Bible Garden’ was established with a benevolent grant from The Bible Garden Trust, a perpetual trust established by the late Mr Gerald Hercules Robinson. “The aims to create and maintain gardens that featured the botany that is described in the Holy Bible, and through this activity to educate Christians, particularly young Christians, in the Scriptures. The shape of the garden resembles The Menorah, which is said to represent the burning bush where Moses saw the angel who told him to lead the Israelites to the land of milk and honey.” Construction of the garden commenced in 2007 and final planting is due to be completed before Spring 2008.
Vet science students at animal shelter
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2003
The task of rehousing dogs from an animal shelter in Wagga Wagga is being made a little easier with the help of veterinary science students at Charles Sturt University (CSU). The students were on hand at the re-opening of Wagga Wagga City Council’s renovated Glenfield Road Animal Shelter in July. There they conducted pre-health checks on the dogs ahead of their transfer by Animal Ambulance to the Veterinary Clinical Centre at CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus. Under supervision, the fourth year students will spey the dogs and de-worm and vaccinate them against major infectious diseases on Tuesday 29 July and Wednesday 30 July. “Through this valuable work, the students are being taught the principles of anaesthetics and surgery,” said head of Small Animal Surgery at the CSU Veterinary Clinical Centre, Professor Bruce Christie. “These principles can then be generically understood and applied to other animals during surgery.” The dogs have been or will be rehoused through the Council’s animal shelter.