Students pitch recommendations to local organisations

Charles Sturt University (CSU) students will present their marketing communication recommendations to several Central West organisations at CSU in Bathurst on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 June. Twenty-four teams each with four to six second and third-year students from the CSU School of Management and Marketing and the School of Communication and Creative Industries have researched briefs provided by four organisations to develop marketing communication recommendations. The student groups will have up to 12 minutes to highlight their research and make recommendations to representatives of the organisations and CSU academics. Marketing lecturer Mr Andrew Mashman said, "These students will benefit from these client-based research projects in a number of ways. Firstly, they learn to investigate and leverage the academic theory they have learned. They experience the excitement and tensions of having to deliver their findings to a real client who is likely busy, time-poor and expectant, in a corporate-style environment. Each student receives valuable team-work experience where they have to be self-reliant and manage various stakeholders for success. Finally, students have a major differentiator in their portfolio or resume which starts a whole different conversation during job interviews, because these experiences make CSU students more employable."

Scholarship ceremony for CSU in Bathurst

Sixty seven students will receive scholarships valued at $245 000 at the 2014 Charles Sturt University (CSU) Foundation Trust scholarship ceremony in Bathurst on Friday 30 May. Head of Campus at CSU in Bathurst, Mr Col Sharp, said, "The ceremony is a chance for the University to thank our scholarship donors for their generosity. It's a highly emotional occasion for all concerned. The donors meet the individuals they are supporting and, for many donors, the gift itself has its own special and often very personal meaning. At the same time the students celebrate their achievements, and have the opportunity to express their gratitude in person. And of course the student's parents and supporters beam with pride." Notable recipients and scholarships to be presented include:

Ms Laura Cole (Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) / Bachelor of Business Studies) - Bathurst Regional Council Scholarship;Ms Cole hopes for a career in events management upon graduation, while continuing to contribute to community service and not-for-profit organisations. She has previously been a Senior Councillor at MacKillop College (Bathurst), was elected as Deputy Mayor of the Bathurst Youth Council, and is currently Bathurst's Jack Aubin Youth Citizen of the Year. She says that this scholarship will make a significant contribution to her tertiary education costs, and will also assist with the costs of her planned trip to Cambodia later this year to help in disadvantaged communities.

Ms Carissa Licciardello (Bachelor of Communication (Theatre/Media)) – the Blair Milan Memorial Scholarship;Since commencing her studies at CSU, Ms Licciardello has relished the many opportunities that have extended her skills in theatre, and particularly performance through study and practical experience. She feels that being awarded the Blair Milan scholarship means being given the honour of continuing Blair's legacy of hard work, a love of theatre and performance, and a joy for life.

Ms Lucy Waterer (Bachelor of Computer Science) – the Australian Computer Society Foundation Scholarship;When Ms Waterer applied for entry to the Bachelor of Computer Science last year, she wondered if she was silly for considering a career in a tech industry given that she was a 34 year-old stay-at-home mother with no experience in computing. She says winning this scholarship is a sign that she made the right decision, and a reminder that she is capable of more than just running a household.

Mr Ron Camplin, OAM, will attend as a donor to present the Radio 2BS Bathurst Broadcasters Scholarship, and the Ron Camplin OAM Scholarship.The CSU Foundation Scholarship Ceremony will be held at 11.30am Friday 30 May in the CD Blake Auditorium (building 1220) at CSU in Bathurst, following a morning tea at 10.30am for donors and recipients. Professor Jo-Anne Reid, University Council Member, will present the scholarships.

US entrepreneur boosts Indigenous businesses

African-American author and business leader Mr Clifton Taulbert will meet and address academics and Indigenous business students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Thursday 29 May. Mr Taulbert is the guest of the CSU Faculty of Business and his visit follows the formal launch of the Australian Indigenous Leadership and Entrepreneurship Research Cluster in Sydney on Wednesday 28 May. He is helping to highlight the current Australian Indigenous leadership and entrepreneurship research being conducted at CSU. Dr Michelle Evans, senior lecturer in leadership at the CSU School for Management and Marketing, said, "The Faculty is committed to producing fundamental knowledge in the developing area of Australian Indigenous leadership and entrepreneurship. Mr Taulbert has extensive experience in the comparable field in the US as an entrepreneur and a leader. His presentation, 'Entrepreneurial Thinking and Personal Resolve', will discuss the tremendous changes to the workplace and the need bring entrepreneurial thinking and a personal resolve to business endeavours in order to succeed."

Lysistrata re-imagined at CSU Ponton Theatre

An imaginatively reconceptualised production of the ancient Greek comedy Lysistrata by Aristophanes opened at the Ponton Theatre at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst last night, Tuesday 27 May. The story of the women of Athens trying to end the Pelopponesian War (431-404 BC) by abstaining from sex is retold in cabaret style by third-year theatre/media students from the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries with the setting shifted to 1940s war-time. CSU lecturer and director Mr Adam Deusien said, "At first glance the story looks like an empowering story about women's role in society, but the solutions the play presents don't actually advance moves toward equality. This production draws into light the contemporary issues around gender inequality that still exist." Lysistrata plays at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 May at the Ponton Theatre (building 1434) at CSU in Bathurst. Tickets are $15 or $10 for student / concession, and are available at the door or by phoning 0431 909 886.

US insights for Dubbo Aboriginal business leaders

A US entrepreneur and business leader will meet academics and Aboriginal business leaders at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Friday 30 May. African-American author and business leader Mr Clifton Taulbert is the guest of the CSU Faculty of Business. His Dubbo visit is part of a brief tour to highlight the current Australian Indigenous leadership and entrepreneurship research being conducted by CSU. Dr Michelle Evans, senior lecturer in leadership at the CSU School for Management and Marketing, said, "The University aims to advance the development of Australian Indigenous leadership and entrepreneurship, and Mr Taulbert has extensive US experience to share with his audience in Dubbo. His presentation, 'Dual Initiatives: Building Community and Entrepreneurial Thinking', will explore how his life was nurtured and changed by ordinary people using the 'Eight Habits of the Heart' in the process of building community. He saw the personal impact of business ownership on people who were entrepreneurs even though they may not have been familiar with that term." Mr Taulbert's presentation starts at 12.30pm Friday 30 May.

More than $40 000 in scholarships at CSU in Orange

More than $42 000 in scholarships will be awarded to students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange at a ceremony from 9.30am to 11.30am on Wednesday 28 May. Honours student in the Bachelor of Pharmacy Ms Samantha Boog, who attended local schools before continuing her studies at CSU, will receive the Capital Chemist and Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (NSW) Scholarship. Ms Boog said she believed she has an excellent foundation for a career in health as her mother was a midwife and both her grandmothers were nurses. "These scholarships will help me contribute 100 per cent towards my research, which will benefit the pharmaceutical field," she said. Bachelor of Pharmacy student Ms Jessica Morgan-Thomas will also receive the Capital Chemist Scholarship. "My goal is to become a community pharmacist in a regional area and to provide a high standard of professional health services to the local community," she said. The Capital Chemist Scholarships have been offered to students in each year of the pharmacy degree since the course began in 1997. Bachelor of Physiotherapy student Ms Chelsea Noon will receive the EnergyAustralia Scholarship. She said she aims to provide physiotherapy with a focus on musculoskeletal physiotherapy or pediatrics in regional and rural areas, and to open her own business. Energy Australia has been a supporter of the Charles Sturt Foundation Scholarship scheme for the last four years. Head of Campus Dr Heather Robinson said, "Scholarships provide valuable support to our students, allowing them to focus on their studies and work towards their professional and career goals. CSU appreciates the significant contributions of our scholarship donors and the part they play in our students' success."  The scholarships ceremony will be held in the Templers Mill Bar area at CSU in Orange in conjunction with the Deans' Awards for Excellence. Read more about CSU scholarships here.

CSU academics at Minds Matters conference

Two Charles Sturt University (CSU) academics are among the guest speakers at a conference in Wagga Wagga which will tackle the issue of better approaches to mental health in family law on Friday 30 May. The Riverina Family Law Pathways Network is hosting the conference for professionals wanting to know more about this complex area of the law. Among the guest speakers are Family Court Justice Hilary Hannam; Dr Sarah Cavanagh, the Manager of Strategic Development and KidsMatter at the Australian Psychological Society; lecturer in social work in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Ms Ruth Bailey; and lecturer in biomedical sciences Dr Wouter Kalle from the School of Biomedical Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga. The Chair of the Riverina Family Law Pathways, Mrs Robyn Gooden said, "This is an important conference for those working in domestic and family violence, legal, mediators, counsellors, housing, schools, hospitals and mental health services."

Exercise and ageing – CSU public lecture

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst is hosting a public lecture on Thursday 28 May that's set to get you out of your chair and moving.  In his talk, The Need for Quality Exercise During Aging: How to Plan For Your Productive Retirement Professor of exercise science, Robert Robergs from CSU's School of Human Movement Studies will outline why being inactive, regardless of age, is a recipe for disaster. Professor Robergs has developed the Active Lifestyle Education Program (ALEP) which operates at CSU in Bathurst each Tuesday and Thursday morning from 8-9am. The ALEP helps people to become more physically active, and improves participants' understanding of the importance of being physically fit. Professor Robergs said, "One of the best ways to live a long, healthy life is to improve your physical fitness." The goal of the talk is to have people walk away better equipped with the knowledge to understand the need to exercise, know what to do, and to start this process now. The event is part of CSU's Explorations Series of lectures and will be held from 6-7pm, with refreshments to follow, in room 223 of building 1292, near car park 7 at CSU in Bathurst.

‘Freedom Ride’ screening in Dubbo

A video about the 2011 re-enactment of the 1965 'Freedom Ride' in western NSW will be screened in Dubbo on Tuesday 27 May. Mr John Nolan, community relations officer in the Office of Indigenous Affairs at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo said, "The original 'Freedom Ride' played a significant role is advancing Indigenous rights in Australia. This is a wonderful opportunity for people to come along and see this free screening of an historic re-enactment, Freedom Ride 2011 - The Documentary. Afterwards, guests can meet some of the people who were present when the bus visited Dubbo in 2011 as part of its journey." The screening is at 10am Tuesday 27 May at the Dubbo RSL Club Theatrette in Brisbane Street, Dubbo.

CSU scholarship ceremony in Port Macquarie

Charles Sturt University (CSU) students on the Mid North Coast will be presented with a range of scholarships and awards at a ceremony in Port Macquarie on Friday 23 May. The event will be hosted by Emeritus Professor Ross Chambers, the Head of Campus at CSU in Port Macquarie, and the Deputy Chancellor, Ms Kathryn Pitkin, with Associate Professor Gayle Smythe, Associate Dean of Research. Professor Chambers said, "We are very proud of the students at Port Macquarie and their achievements, and also of the contributions that they and their families are making to the successful establishment of Charles Sturt University on the Mid North Coast. The University's scholarships are created through community and business support, and this has developed very well already at Port Macquarie. We gratefully acknowledge our donors and supporters."

The ceremony will include:

School of Biomedical Sciences – Executive Dean's Award's for Academic Excellence for 2013 outstanding performance in the Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) course: Ms Helen Atkins (for Session 1); Mr Adam Rowsell (for Session 1); Adam Rowsell (for Session 2); Mr Patrick Boyle (for Session 2) and Mr Lewis Heywood (for Session 2).

School of Dentistry and Health Sciences - Elsevier Science Australia Award for Academic Excellence in First Year Medical Radiations Clinical Practice and Techniques, awarded to the student enrolled in the first-year of Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science course who achieves the best overall raw scores in the subjects Professional Fundamentals, and Introductory Medical Radiation Science: to Ms Jodi Webb.

CSU Foundation scholarships to Ms Jody Denny (Bachelor of Social Work), and Ms Yvette Coulon, (Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science).

Lions Club of Port Macquarie, Tacking Point Scholarship, to Ms Amy Bourke (Bachelor of Social Science - Psychology).

CSU Foundation CEFA Scholarship to Mr Nathan Ross, Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic).

Lions Club of Port Macquarie, Tacking Point: Mr John Urquhart to be presented with the Certificate of Appreciation from CSU.The scholarships will be presented in Room 116 at Charles Sturt University, 27 Grant Street, Port Macquarie, following a welcome and morning tea starting at 10am Friday 23 May.