The Education For Practice Institute at Charles Sturt University (CSU) will hold its third practice-based education summit in Sydney on Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 April. The 2013 Practice-Based Education Summit: Practice, Culture and Identity will hear from Australian and international practice-based education experts, led by the Vice-Chancellor and President of CSU, Professor Andrew Vann, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) , Professor Garry Marchant and Director of the Education For Practice Institute, Professor Joy Higgs. The Deputy Director of CSU’s Education for Practice Institute, Associate Professor Franziska Trede, said, “The 2013 Summit will explore the connections between professional practice and concepts of culture and identity. Keynote speeches address knowledge practices in professions, practice in the digital age, and practicing professional identities. Delegates will examine the ways in which practice, culture and identity can inform future research and teaching directions for university-based professional education and workplace learning.” Visiting experts include Professor Monika Nerland (University of Oslo), Professor Rainer Winter (Alpen-Adrai University of Klagenfurt), Professor Nita Cherry (Swinburne University of Technology), Professor Jan Orrell (Flinders University), Professor David Boud (University of Technology, Sydney) and Dr Calvin Smith (Griffith University).

Environmental educators from across the Murray Darling Basin will gather this week at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga to describe their opportunities and problems and discuss collaborations in the coming year. The meeting, on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 April, will be hosted by the Regional Centre for Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development (RCE-MD) based at CSU. Thirty-five educators from primary schools, TAFE, catchment management authorities, state agencies and research institutes from NSW, ACT and Victoria will gather on the University’s most environmentally sustainable campus to explore education for sustainable development in the Murray Darling Basin. Event coordinator Dr John Rafferty said, "This is a significant meeting of environmental educators. These professionals work with schools, communities and families promoting greater understanding of natural systems across Murray Darling Basin communities.” This second annual meeting is funded by the Murray Darling Basin Authority  in conjunction with RCE-MD.

 

Participants are being sought for a new study at Charles Sturt University (CSU) into the experiences of overseas qualified nurses and midwives. Lecturer with the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Ms Sophia Dywili, is seeking the assistance of those health professionals whose first nursing qualification was obtained from a country in sub-Saharan Africa, and who then moved to work in rural and regional NSW and Victoria. Ms Dywili is exploring the migration experiences of nurses and midwives moving from sub-Saharan African to Australia for her PhD. Research participants would be involved in a confidential interview and/or focus group discussion. Ms Dywili moved from Zimbabwe to work as a Registered Nurse at Bankstown Hospital in 2004. She also worked as a Clinical Nurse Educator at Liverpool Hospital before taking up a lecturing position at CSU in 2009. For more information, contact Ms Dywili by email (sdywili@csu.edu.au ) or telephone 02 6933 2452.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) research student is calling for participants from Albury-Wodonga in a study that could help improve the understanding of major diseases. “Diabetes and high blood pressure are very common diseases, and their prevalence is increasing across regional Australia,” said Mr Prajwal Gyawali, a PhD student with the School of Community Health. “These diseases affect the shape and function of red blood cells in blood vessels. The aim of my project is to investigate the extent that blood flow and the shape of red blood cells are affected by diabetes and high blood pressure.” Mr Gyawali is calling for residents from Albury-Wodonga to take part in his project, which will help in assessing the severity and progression of diabetes and high blood pressure, and may also contribute to better understanding of the possible causes of these diseases. During a 30 minute visit to a research room at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Mr Gyawali will ask participants about any medical problems, dietary habits and medications, take body and blood pressure measurements and blood and urine samples for testing. To take part in the project, contact Mr Prajwal Gyawali on mobile 0414 932 057 or send an email pgyawali@csu.edu.au .

Internationally renowned early childhood researcher, Professor Adam Winsler, from George Mason University in the USA, will deliver two public lectures at Charles Sturt University in Dubbo on April 23 and 24. The first lecture, Private speech, Scaffolding, and Self-Regulation in typical children and Children with ADHD and/or Autism, will examine the role of children’s ‘self talk’ in the development of self-regulation. “Children often talk to themselves during play or problem solving situations,” Professor Winsler said. “Such private speech is thought to play an important role in the development of self-regulation and in the transfer of autonomy/responsibility from others (teachers, parents) to the self.” The second lecture will examine Long-term associations between children's school readiness and later outcomes in school, and long-term effects of a culturally sensitive preschool literacy intervention. Professor Winsler’s research has been represented in more than 80 publications and he is the author of several books on early childhood education and development.

More than 100 first-year paramedic students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst have volunteered to assist when thousands of cyclists visit the region to participate in the annual NAB B2B race and ride from Bathurst to Blayney on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 April. Ms Amanda Hlushak, associate lecturer in the paramedic program at the CSU School of Biomedical Sciences in Bathurst, said, “The National Australia Bank B2B offers our first-year paramedic students the opportunity to gain experience and involvement in the local community. They are required to undertake 80 to100 hours of practical experience in the community as part of their university studies, so volunteering for the B2B enables the students to accrue these hours and gain valuable experience to add to their learning. Although they are in the early stages of their paramedic education, all of the students have a solid understanding of basic triage principles and are Senior First Aid qualified. They will be provided with a basic first aid kit, supplied by the B2B organising committee, to enable them to deliver first-on-the scene assistance to any cyclists who experience difficulties or have mishaps.” The paramedic students will supplement the increased number of St John’s First Aid officers and the 100 volunteers to be located throughout the three courses of the NAB B2B.

The State Emergency Service (SES) unit in Bathurst will assist Charles Sturt University (CSU) paramedic students in an extrication exercise on Wednesday 17 April. Mr Brian Haskins, lecturer in the paramedic program at the CSU School of Biomedical Sciences in Bathurst, said, “The SES will join 15 postgraduate paramedic diploma students to participate in a joint extrication practice using the ‘jaws of life’ on a car donated by Bathurst Auto Parts. We really value the assistance of the SES and Bathurst Auto Parts in the running of these joint training exercises which allow our students to practise their extrication skills in realistic simulations. These simulators are used to practise extricating patients from car seats using devices such as the Kendrick extrication device (KED). Ms Susanne Dixon, the Rescue Team Leader of the Bathurst SES Unit and a training officer with the CSU Division of Information Technology in Bathurst, suggested the idea for the simulators to me at a joint extrication exercise last year.” The simulators were built by the University’s facilities management staff, with materials donated by Bathurst Auto Parts and funded by the CSU Student Paramedics Association. Eight simulation seats were made, each worth approximately $250, with seven for the CSU paramedic program clinical teaching spaces and one for the SES Bathurst Unit. After the exercise, a car seat simulator will be presented to the Bathurst SES Unit.

A major public lecture for Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Faculty of Education will be presented by social commentator, writer and lecturer Ms Jane Caro, who will look at public education through a marketing lens and suggest ways the system can fight back. Amongst Ms Caro’s accomplishments are her appearances on such television shows as Q and A, Weekend Sunrise and The Gruen Transfer. Ms Caro will take listeners on a personal journey through her experiences as a student, a parent and now as an advocate for public education, discussing how these experiences have formed her views about education, particularly public education. Named after the eminent educator and the inaugural Dean of CSU’s Faculty of Education, Professor Bob Meyenn, the annual education lecture is designed to bring to the border region highly esteemed educational thinkers to share their provocative, practical and relevant ideas with regional Australia. Light refreshments will be served in the Gums Café at 6pm, with the lecture commencing at 7pm on Tuesday 23 April in the CD Blake Lecture Theatre at CSU in Albury-Wodonga. Please send your RSVP to Ms Jen West by Wednesday 17 April  on telephone (02) 6051 9400 or send an email jenwest@csu.edu.au

More than 100 dental health professionals from across the state will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange as the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences hosts its first professional development day. Associate Head of School, Dr Sabrina Manickam, said the event was an important step in the maturation of CSU’s dentistry program. “This is an important year for the school as our first graduates will complete their studies and go out into the community as working dentists,” she said. “And as our undergraduate program nears completion, it allows us to increase our involvement in research, postgraduate education and continuing professional development.” The event will be co-hosted by the Australian Dental Association NSW Western Division (ADA NSW) and the Australian Dental Prosthestists Association (ADPA), and is sponsored by Henry Schein Halas. Head of the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences, Professor David Wilson, and senior lecturer, Dr Ram Prabhu, will deliver a session on oral pathology and signs of oral cancer, and other sessions will be delivered by ADPA, ADA NSW and Henry Shein Halas delegates.