O Week at CSU in Albury

Filled with excitement and apprehension, nearly 2 400 new students will be welcomed to all Charles Sturt University (CSU) campuses to commence their university studies during Orientation Week which starts on Monday 24 February. More than 450 students commence at CSU in Albury-Wodonga in 2014. Head of Campus, Professor Julia Coyle, said, "O Week blends serious and social activities to introduce the students from around Australia and overseas to their new lives of study and education. Degree courses in greatest demand in 2014 were early childhood and primary education, occupational therapy, speech pathology, nursing and physiotherapy." Money raised at this year's social activities during O Week will be donated to Cystic Fibrosis (NSW and ACT).

Jewellery designs explore sexuality issues

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduate from Wagga Wagga has been invited to show her jewellery designs in an annual exhibition for new and emerging artists in Canberra. Ms Sarah Adcock graduated last December with a Bachelor of Arts (Jewellery) from the University's School of Communication and Creative Industries. Her designs are featured in the Emerging Contemporaries exhibition at the Canberra Craft and Design Centre. The exhibition, involving 12 artists described as the 'next wave of Australia's design talent', runs from Thursday 13 February to Saturday 29 March. Ms Adcock is exhibiting a series of her pendants which explore issues of gender, sexuality and identity. "I hope my designs speak for themselves as they explore my experience of going into, living in and coming out of the closet," Ms Adcock said. "While my work relates to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and other queer people, I hope there is a message of hope for anyone who has had to reveal something difficult or has felt isolated or invisible in their lives." Read more about the artist and CSU graduate on the Canberra Craft and Design Centre site here.

The future of student accommodation

The latest in student accommodation at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will be on display during an Open Day on Wednesday 19 February. The new $17.6 million accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate students includes 152 beds with ensuites, and living and learning spaces such as kitchen and laundry facilities. Director of the University's Residence Life, Mr David Griffin, said, "The new student accommodation development at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga has been designed as a showcase for future undergraduate and postgraduate students requiring on-campus accommodation. It ensures an environment that provides outstanding student experiences and captures the vibrancy of campus life. The University has identified a need for such accommodation as a way to attract and retain undergraduate and postgraduate students." The Open Day will be held from 4pm to 5.30pm and will include a brief welcome from Residence Life and tours of the new complex. Through Residence Life, CSU in Wagga Wagga offers 1 178 beds on campus in a range of accommodation. Read more here. New students return to CSU in Wagga Wagga during O Week from Monday 24 February.

145 Minutes in Wagga: The 1954 Royal Tour

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Regional Archives is commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Queen's visit to Wagga Wagga on 13 February 1954 with an exhibition of records from the Royal Tour by Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. The records include photographs, commemorative items, and a 15 minute film of the visit. Archives Manager, Mr Wayne Doubleday, said, "145 Minutes in Wagga: The 1954 Royal Tour reflects on the huge impact the visit made on the city and the large crowds that turned out from across the Riverina to catch a glimpse of the Royal couple's short, but action-packed tour of Wagga Wagga." The exhibition is open until Monday 31 March in the foyer of the University's Regional Archives, Blakemore Building, South Campus, College Avenue in Wagga Wagga. The Archives is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Further information is available on the Archives' blog, On Record, here.

Diabetes - are you at risk?

A senior medical researcher at CSU will outline recent research on diabetes in regional Australia in a public lecture on Tuesday 25 February.

O Week at CSU in Albury

Filled with excitement and apprehension, more than 450 students commence studies at CSU in Albury-Wodonga in 2014.

Help still needed for Parkinson's research

Parkinson's disease and rheumatoid arthritis patients in and around Albury-Wodonga are urgently needed to help complete a CSU research study into the role of free radical chemicals and the inflammation they cause.

‘Skill Fix’ workshops for Year-12 students

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will host a 'Skill Fix' event for 170 Year-12 students from Denison College on Thursday 13 February. The University's Future Moves program has organised a full-day program of workshops to improve the students' skills in writing, research, note-taking, exam preparation, and time management. Mr Ben Morris, CSU Future Moves program coordinator, said, "Teachers from Denison College in Bathurst and specialists from the University and Future Moves will deliver the sessions. University student leaders also support this event which will provide young people with a great learning experience in the university setting. The high school students will experience what it's like to be a university student for a day."

Distance education support sessions start

Charles Sturt University (CSU) students studying remotely will have some extra help from next week when the Distance Education Outreach team (DE Outreach) begins visiting regional centres. DE Outreach Team manager Mr James Brann said, "Our aim is to assist all students to overcome problems they may encounter when studying by distance education. The DE Outreach advisers will provide face-to-face and group appointments to new distance education students to help them develop new study skills, provide feedback on assignment tasks, and answer questions about distance education study. The team is also contactable via the DE Outreach website, Skype or email, and by specially-designed Online Orientation Outreach sessions for those who don't live near towns and centres visited by the team." DE Outreach will be in selected regional centres from Tuesday 18 February. Consultation sessions are also available online, and the full schedule and a booking form are available here.

Tuesday 18 February, 10.30am-7.30pm: Melbourne, and Brisbane.

Wednesday 19 February, 10.30am-7.30pm: Melbourne, and Brisbane.

Monday 24 February, 2.30pm-7pm: Sydney Olympic Park, Barton (Canberra), Parkes, Port Macquarie, Benalla (Victoria), Wangaratta (Victoria).

Tuesday 25 February, 2.30pm-7pm: Barton (Canberra), Benalla (Victoria), Sydney Olympic Park; and Dubbo (10.30am-7.30pm).

Wednesday 26 February, 2.30pm-7pm: Nowra, Shepparton (Victoria), Sydney Olympic Park, and Cowra (10.30pm-7.30pm).

Thursday 27 February, 2.30pm-7pm: Cooma, Bendigo; and Mudgee (10.30am-7.30pm), and Griffith (5.30pm-7pm).

Friday 28 February, 10.30pm-12pm: Cooma.

Monday 3 March, 2.30pm-7pm: Yass, Wollongong; and Taree (2.30pm-7.30pm).

Hunt on for heritage trees

If you have an old tree on your property that might bear the marks of surveyors from the past, or you know of one, researcher Dr Peter Spooner from Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Institute for Land, Water and Society wants to hear from you. Dr Spooner is creating an inventory of survey heritage trees around Culcairn and Holbrook in southern NSW. Eucalyptus, pine or casuarina trees were marked by the first surveyors and explorers in many parts of rural Australia. "These trees often marked the boundaries of the first land parcels surveyed in the late 1800s," Dr Spooner said. "Many trees would be over 200 years old and be important for cultural heritage and biodiversity, as large old eucalypt trees normally have hollows which provide important habitat for many native animals." Early surveyors cut a 'blaze' in the tree with an axe, producing a unique mark such a government arrow symbol and the adjacent lot number. However, many markings would have decayed or grown over, making them difficult to recognise. "Identifying the location and attributes of heritage trees can provide important insights to our past, record the development of Australian rural landscapes, and inform future conservation management activities," Dr Spooner said.