A Charles Sturt University (CSU) communication student is raising money for Bathurst charities Glenray Industries and Carenne School as part of her ambition to be a 2014 V8 Ambassador. Twenty-two year-old Ms Leilani Vakaahi from Forster, NSW, graduated from the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst in 2013 with a degree in journalism and is currently undertaking second degree in commercial radio. She is presently working full-time at radio 2BS/B-Rock in Bathurst as an executive assistant in sales, and announcer and program producer. "It's such a great feeling to be out in the Bathurst community, fundraising for and creating awareness about two highly valued services - Glenray Industries and Carenne School," Ms Vakaahi said. "I've been blown away by the support that the Bathurst community and local businesses have shown, and I'm glad to have their support to make a positive difference. I'm inspired by the work of Glenray Industries and Carenne School, and I'm thankful for the support of the V8 Ambassador Program and Bathurst Broadcasters in fundraising for these important services." In the lead up to the annual Great Race V8 Ball on Friday 10 October, Ms Vakaahi will face an interview panel to determine the winner of the V8 Ambassador Program. Ms Vakaahi is holding a trivia night and raffle at the Panorama Hotel, Durham Street, Bathurst, at 7.30pm Tuesday 9 September with over $5 000 worth of prizes donated by local businesses to be won. Students and the wider community are welcome.

Outstanding service by staff at Charles Sturt University (CSU) will be acknowledged with the presentation of annual awards in Bathurst on Wednesday 6 August. The 2014 CSU Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellence, and Faculty and Division awards, aim to strengthen professionalism and reward staff for their commitment to the University and its mission. CSU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Vann, said, "As an institution committed to advancing the public good, Charles Sturt University relies on and acknowledges the dedicated service of its staff to achieve its goals. It is important that the University recognises the many individuals and teams whose innovative and sustained contributions benefit our students and regional communities. This is a welcome celebration of the University community's efforts." The Vice-Chancellor's awards include categories for excellence in leadership, sustainability, innovation, performance, teaching and research. The Faculty and Division awards recognise improvements in workflow, knowledge and understanding, cost-savings, work to enhance the student experience, and building the service culture at the University. A full list of the awards can be found here.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) students can learn about travel scholarships and overseas study opportunities at the second biannual CSU Global Showcase in Bathurst on Monday 4 August. Dr Shevahn Telfser, manager of CSU Global, said, "The CSU Global Showcase celebrates the many varied experiences that students have when studying at the University. It will be held on several campuses, including online, over the coming weeks, and is a wonderful event that lets many students showcase the opportunities they have had to study overseas and the benefits they gained. It will be a great opportunity to meet returned exchange students, past short-term program participants, incoming exchange students from partner universities, and CSU Global staff to share stories and details about the various programs on offer." CSU Global administers scholarships worth $3 000 to $5 000 to study in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, China, Hong Kong, and Korea. The CSU Global Showcase will be on-campus at: Bathurst, 12pm to 2pm Monday 4 August at the Library Learning Commons (building 1412); Online, 8pm to 9pm Tuesday 5 August at the CSU Global online meeting room; Wagga Wagga, 12pm to 2pm Wednesday 6 August at 'eat@20'; Albury-Wodonga, 12pm to 2pm Thursday 7 August at 'The G'; and Orange, 6pm to 8pm Thursday 14 August at lecture room 120, building 1004.  

If you are a Bathurst resident affected in some way by adoption, a Charles Sturt University (CSU) student's research project needs your help. Ms Alesha Elbourne, an honours student in the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst, is researching the use of art-based methods to explore stories, experiences and issues concerning people affected by adoption. "I am seeking adoptees, parents, siblings, grandparents, close relatives and persons who identify themselves as being part of the community of people affected by adoption," Ms Elbourne said. "My research will ask participants to participate in small art-making workshops in which art works exploring their stories and experiences of adoption will be presented through creative activities such as collage, drawing, sculpture and storytelling. No artistic skills or training are required as a homemade style is appreciated, materials will be provided, and I will help you throughout the art-making process." As an adoptee herself, Ms Elbourne's research aims to study interactive arts-based methods as a tool for bringing cultural awareness to the broader community. Through this study participants will have an opportunity to contribute their story and experience of adoption to a community art project while maintaining anonymity if they choose. Several two to three hour-long workshops for participants are planned, starting in mid-August in Bathurst. For further details or to register your interest, please contact Ms Alesha Elbourne on 0407 871 202 or aleshaunleashed@gmail.com.

The award-winning author of a book about asylum seekers and people smugglers will deliver a free public lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Wednesday 30 July. Sydney writer, filmmaker, producer and director Ms Robin de Crespigny will talk about The People Smuggler, her first book, which has won the 25th Human Rights Award for Literature, the Queensland Literary Award, and the Ned Kelly Award for True Crime. Ms de Crespigny is also a former lecturer in directing at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. The public lecture by is hosted by Dr Alison Gerard and Dr Suzie Gibson, lecturers at the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences, in association with the CSU Explorations Series public lectures, Rural Australians for Asylum Seekers (Bathurst), and BooksPlus. Dr Gerard said, "This public lecture is part of the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences commitment to foster dialogue and debate on social justice issues relevant to our region. We hear a lot about border protection but very little about the actual people who make this dangerous journey to Australia seeking refuge from conflict in their countries of origin. The People Smuggler captures that human account and brings to life the story of Iraqi man, Ali Al Jenabi, and has received wide acclaim. Robin de Crespigny's public lecture will inform and challenge the community." The public lecture is at 6.30pm Wednesday 30 July in room 223, building 1292, at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst. Please RSVP to Ms Kate Esdaile on (02) 6338 4645 or kesdaile@csu.edu.au

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Rugby Club in Bathurst has raised and donated $7 300 to the local youth mental health organisation 'headspace'. Following the death of a club member in 2012, the club executive decided they would stage a combined 'Charity and Old Boys Day', which included an auction, and donate the funds to 'headspace'. President of CSU Rugby, Mr Charlie Newton, said, "I am just extremely proud of the club for the money we raised. The amount donated shows the importance headspace has for the students, and the willingness we have to help keep such a great organisation running." Headspace personnel subsequently suggested that they conduct mental health training for CSU sporting club members. The CSU Rugby Club executive asked that the free training not be limited to sporting clubs but be open to all CSU clubs in Bathurst and also local community clubs. The training is to be held over four weeks (3.5 hours per session) commencing on Tuesday 5 August. CSU Rugby will hold another charity day on Saturday 16 August, with a game against the Bathurst Bulldogs, to raise money for headspace.

Two award winning plays will be presented by Bathurst Arts and Theatrical Society (BATS) at Charles Sturt University (CSU) from Thursday 17 to Saturday 19 July. The plays, The Eisteddfod and Plaza Suite, are directed and performed by CSU students from the School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst. The Eisteddfod directed by Ms Brooke Murray, is a comic suburban tragedy about family, loss and letting go, which won the Excellence in Direction and Producers' Choice awards at the 2004 New York International Fringe Festival. Plaza Suite directed by Ms Eve Beck, follows the journey of three couples who occupy suite 719 in the Plaza Suite Hotel at different times of the same day. It was adapted into a film in 1971. Ms Beck, said, "Directing is a challenge, but it's one that fuels curiosity, interest and creativity. There is nothing quite like having a clear vision of a show that you wish could become a reality, to then see it unfold and form in front of you." BATS productions of The Eisteddfod, and Plaza Suite are at The Ponton Theatre (building 1434; formerly N3) Charles Sturt University in Bathurst at 7pm on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 July with a matinee at 2pm Saturday 19 July. Tickets are to be booked from Ben Musgrave by calling 0423 900 086; limited tickets will be available at the performances.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) marketing communications students recently presented communication plans they had developed for headspace, a not-for-profit youth mental health service in Bathurst. Dr Felicity Small, lecturer in marketing at the School of Management and Marketing, said, "The purpose of the project was to have students develop relevant and contemporary campaigns for headspace with consideration to its target audiences. Forty-two third-year students in 11 teams developed a media plan including mock-ups of the creative strategy and budget information. This kind of work-integrated assessment is invaluable for students. It gives them insights into the market, and the practical applications of the concepts we teach them. It is a pleasure to work with the local community and to see the students putting so much effort into meeting their client's needs." The students presented their ideas to the marketing officer of headspace in Bathurst, Ms Karen Golland, who chose the winning CSU team called 'Pride Rock Communications'. Ms Golland said all the students had been able to create plans that could easily reach the target audiences and convey the message that headspace is a free service for 12 to 24 year-olds who need support for their mental health.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will launch the Creative Regions Lab (CRL) in Bathurst on Monday 30 June. Associate Professor Margaret Woodward, the acting Executive Dean of the CSU the Faculty of Arts, said, "The Creative Regions Lab is a teaching and research hub that aims to drive the development of creative enterprises and activities in regional Australia because innovative creative industries are needed to enrich and sustain a vibrant economic future in regional, rural and remote regions. It will explore the relationship between creativity, innovation, and regional living, and will redefine regional creative industries." Following the launch by CSU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Vann, guest speaker Professor Justin O'Connor, Professor of Communications and Cultural Economy at Monash University, will deliver a presentation titled 'Reframing Cultural Economy'. The launch of the CRL project and the recently developed website will be in The Media Hub of the School of Communication and Creative Industries (room 115, building 1399) at CSU in Bathurst at 1.30pm Monday 30 June. The event will be broadcast to CSU in Wagga Wagga at room 201, building 21 (School of Communication and Creative Industries lecture theatre near car park 2).