Researcher to talk on Chinese history in Bathurst

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) PhD student will deliver a public presentation on the history of the Chinese population in Bathurst between the 1850s and the 1950s, on Saturday 18 April. Ms Juanita Kwok, a PhD candidate with the CSU School of Communications and Creative Industries in Bathurst, will talk about her research, with a particular focus on the Chinese market gardeners of Bathurst. "The Chinese population of the Bathurst region was larger and more enduring than many people realise," Ms Kwok said. "The Chinese made significant contributions to the establishment of the Bathurst community and its evolving economy." The talk will follow the Family History Group meeting in the Bathurst Library Meeting Room in Keppel Street, Bathurst, at 2pm Saturday 18 April. Join in to find out more about this little known aspect of Bathurst's history.

CSU Faculty of Science awards in Bathurst

The Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Tim Wess, presented annual awards to leading Charles Sturt University (CSU) science students in Bathurst on Tuesday 7 April. Professor Wess presented awards to students who have an outstanding academic record in the Faculty's School of Biomedical Sciences, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health, and School of Human Movement Studies. "It was a great honour to give awards to students who have consistently shown excellence by gaining the highest grades," Professor Wess said. "These students are likely to work in the community after their studies, and this can only help to make Bathurst a stronger community." The awards presentation ceremony was at 2.30pm Tuesday 7 April at the Centre for Professional Development at CSU in Bathurst.

Performance research symposium at CSU

Performance in everyday life, and how to better research it, is the focus of a one-day symposium for communication academics at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Friday 17 April. Co-organiser of the symposium, Dr Johanna Fawkes, senior lecturer in public relations in the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries, said, "The Mask symposium is about how identity and professions can be performed, as well as theatrical and artistic works, in this 'age of the selfie'. These days, everyone is obsessed with managing their profile online. What does this mean for society? Are we all celebrities now? The symposium has been designed to encourage new researchers and to develop research capacity in an emerging field of relevance to the School and the wider University." CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann will formally open the symposium at 9am at the James Hardie Room (building 1286) at the CSU Centre for Professional Development. Approximately 20 academics with interests in theatre, fine arts, professional studies, communication, and photography will deliver presentations at the symposium, which will also include a 1.30pm book launch by Professor Bill Green, editor of The Body in Professional Practice, Learning and Education.

Students descend on Orange for taste of uni life

Almost 40 students from around the country will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) Orange on Monday 13 April to experience life as a university student first-hand. Students from 25 schools will travel from as far as Tasmania to participate in MyDay which involves hands-on workshops in Clinical Science, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Physiotherapy, meeting CSU students and academics, touring the campus and the on-campus accommodation."We're looking forward to welcoming students from around Australia to Charles Sturt University Orange, helping them experience what life at Charles Sturt University is really like and giving them hands on experience in our outstanding on-campus facilities," Prospective Student Advisor Mrs Katy Fardell said.MyDay events are held across all CSU campuses to help future students gather the information and experiences they need to find the best course for them.

CSU Faculty of Science student awards in Wagga Wagga

The Executive Dean of the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Faculty of Science, Professor Tim Wess, has presented annual awards to leading students in Wagga Wagga on Thursday 9 April. Professor Wess presented awards to students who have excelled academically in the Faculty's School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences School of Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry and Health Sciences, and School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health. Among those to be recognised was first year oral health student Mr Hrishikesh Apte, who attended the ceremony with his wife (pictured). Mr Apte received two Dean's Awards as well as The Orthodontics Wagga Wagga Dr Neil Pinto 1^st year Prize. The Dean's Awards and Prizes for the 2014 academic year will be presented across the University in April and May. Read further dates here. See more photos on CSU Facebook page here.

Participants needed to help improve treatments for diabetic neuropathy

Charles Sturt University (CSU) researchers are seeking new ways to manage pain and loss of lower limb sensation for Diabetes sufferers. Bachelor of Physiotherapy Honours student Mr Jack Archer is seeking participants from Albury for his project which will assess the effectiveness of therapeutic taping in the management of pain and the loss of sensation in lower limbs, known as Diabetic Neuropathy. "Diabetic Neuropathy is caused by damage to the nervous system which arises due to altered blood glucose levels," Mr Archer said. "Over 1.2 million Australians have diabetes and of those more than 30 per cent have diabetic neuropathy." Mr Archer has been working with participants from the Central West and is now looking for participants in Albury to help finalise his results."I hope to be able to show that the application of therapeutic tapes reduces pain, and improves patients' ability to sense touch through the skin of their legs and feet. This will be an important step towards improving the treatment options currently available," Mr Archer said.

Mr Archer requires participants who:

• Are over 18 years of age, male or female
• Have Diabetes and experience pain and sensation loss in the legs and feet
• Can attend the CSU Albury campus research facilities for four 90 minute sessions, held between 27 April and 8 May
• Can participate in a series of non-invasive tests to determine their level of pain and ability to sense contact on the skin.

The project has Ethics Committee approval and will be conducted under the supervision of CSU School of Community Health academics. Potential participants are encouraged to contact Mr Archer before Friday 24 April for more information on jackaroo_is@yahoo.com.au or 0457 355 101.

Student seeks old laptops for Africa charities

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) student who has worked as a volunteer in Africa and outback Australia seeks donations of old laptop computers for use by medical charities. Mr Jarrod Wolhuter, a final-year nursing student in the CSU School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health at CSU in Bathurst, overcame severe depression and social isolation in his youth to work to improve the lives of others in more isolated and disadvantaged locations. He has worked for non-government organisations (NGOs) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and in remote Australia. "Since enrolling in this degree I've lived and worked in two remote Indigenous communities, Wadeye in the Northern Territory, and Mornington Island at the bottom of the Gulf of Carpentaria, where I worked in aged care as an assistant in nursing. All these experiences were both amazing and heartbreaking. In the DRC I worked with doctors who referred to decades-old medical text books because that is all they had. With the number of outdated computers in Australia these days, I suspect there are many redundant laptops gathering dust that would be useful to health workers in disadvantaged areas in the DRC and elsewhere in Africa. Even a small number of donations can revolutionise practices in these remote areas." Mr Wolhuter says his goal now is to finish his degree at the end of 2015, attain the minimum requirements needed to work as a nurse with Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), and return to wherever needs the most help. "In my heart I'd love to go back to DRC, but as long as I'm doing something constructive and learning, I'll be happy," he said.

Religious freedom in Australia – CSU public lecture

Religious freedom in Australia is the focus of the first 2015 Exploration Series free public lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Port Macquarie on Wednesday 25 March. Right Reverend Professor Stephen Pickard, the Executive Director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture and Professor of Theology at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Canberra, will speak about 'Religious freedom and the future of Christianity in a multi-faith and secular Australia'. His lecture will explore the character of civil society and a vision for the common good. Reverend Professor Pickard was formerly head of the CSU School of Theology for nine years, and is also Assistant Bishop in the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn. The CSU public lecture is from 5pm to 7pm Wednesday 25 March at The Glasshouse Theatre, corner of Clarence and Hay Streets, Port Macquarie. For more information please contact Ms Alison Woods on (02) 6582 9334 or alwoods@csu.edu.au.

Life after the mining boom discussed at public lecture

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo will host the free public lecture by economist and Reserve Bank board member Dr John Edwards on Thursday 26 March. 'Beyond the Boom' is part of the University's Explorations Series and will be held in building 901, room 411 from 6pm to 7pm. With falling iron ore and coal prices and declining mining investment, Australia's mining boom is fading. Dr John Edwards will discuss the future for jobs, incomes and growth, and where we are now headed in the Australian economy. Dr Edwards is a member of the Board of the Reserve Bank of Australia and non-resident Fellow at the Lowy Institute. He is Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney School of Business and the John Curtin Institute of Public Policy at Curtin University. For more information and to register please visit here.

Millions follow PhD student on journey to Wagga Wagga

Approximately 10 million international viewers will tune in to watch a Charles Sturt University (CSU) PhD student on his journey to find a home in Wagga Wagga. Mr Wade Kelly, originally from Edmonton Canada, is currently completing his PhD in information technology with the Faculty of Education. He has moved to Wagga Wagga with his husband and has enlisted the help of the North American television show House Hunters International to help them find a home in the regional centre. "Wagga deserves a little bit of press," Mr Kelly said. "Its location is great and there is a vibrant community."House Hunters International followed Mr Kelly around Wagga Wagga for six days and it is expected that approximately 10 million people will tune in to watch the episode when it airs in the U.S. and Canada later this year.