Nursing students, academics and local colleagues will celebrate International Nurses Day with a morning coffee at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Monday 12 May. Dr Judith Anderson from the CSU School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health said the aim of the meeting is to express solidarity with their peers around the world and to enable local nurses to meet to discuss relevant professional issues. "Nurses play a vitally important role in the health care system, and they make a great contribution to the wellbeing of individuals and communities," Dr Anderson said. "It is important to acknowledge the work nurses do and to strengthen recognition of their contribution to society." International Nurses Day is celebrated annually on the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. The theme for 2014 is Nurses: A Force for Change – A Vital Resource for Health. The morning coffee will be at the A2Z Cafe at the front of the CSU library (building 1412) starting at 8.30am Monday 12 May.

Work has been completed on a joint project by Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Bathurst Regional Council (BRC) to rehabilitate a shared section of Hawthornden Creek, the southern boundary of CSU in Bathurst with Mount Panorama. Mr Chris O'Connor, energy manager in the CSU Division of Facilities Management, said, "In 2010 a BRC report identified Hawthornden Creek as being the most significantly degraded of five urban creek systems within the Bathurst city area and recommended this as the highest priority for rehabilitation". The rehabilitation consisted of two significant 'packages' of civil works: the construction of a 45 metre section of rock capping, and installation of three Schauburger sills, which are large rock structures within the creek bed designed to reduce the flow rate of water in the creek; and construction of three stormwater 'rock chutes' designed to receive stormwater run-off from the CSU campus. "These works are designed to slow the speed of water flowing in the creek under storm conditions," Mr O'Connor said. "This minimises erosion of the channel bed and creek bank, and the volume of sediment entering the Macquarie River. High sediment loads have the potential to decrease the amount of light penetration and dissolved oxygen within the creek, thereby starving freshwater fauna and flora of light and oxygen, which can lead to death of freshwater organisms. These rehabilitation works complement CSU's target to allocate 20 per cent of University land to biodiversity improvement by 2015."Photo: L to R: Ms Gretchen Purcell (CSU Green), the Mayor of Bathurst, Councillor Garry Rush, and DFM campus services manager (Bathurst) Peter Scott.

Year 12 high schools students from across the NSW central west will attend the annual FACTS Day (Facts About Careers and Tertiary Study) at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Thursday 8 May. FACTS Day is organised by the Central West Careers Advisers Association to assist students explore their future career and employment opportunities. CSU Prospective Student Adviser, Ms Melinda Negus, said, "FACTS Day provides regional final year high school students the opportunity to speak with a range of education providers, and hear a motivational speaker. It is also an opportunity for students to experience and tour a Charles Sturt University campus. As with previous years, we expect about 1 000 Year 12 students from schools in Bathurst, Lithgow, Kandos, Oberon, Blayney, Cowra, Canowindra, Orange, Molong and Wellington will seek information from about 120 representatives of more than 60 career and employer organisations, including universities, private providers, TAFE, Centrelink, police, and other government agencies."

Journalism students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) gained insights into the rapidly changing world of media and news when two representatives of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) addressed them this week. Ms Heather Forbes, manager of ABC News staff development and policy, and ABC video journalist Mr Allan Clarke, visited CSU in Bathurst on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 April to discuss with students the dynamic media world they explore now and will seek employment in when they graduate. Journalism lecturer at the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst, Ms Kay Nankervis, said, "We're delighted that the ABC, Australia's leading news service and broadcaster, takes an interest in the development of Charles Sturt University journalism students and regularly recruits our graduates for careers with the national broadcaster. Students benefit from the insights they gain from hearing the advice of senior industry practitioners like Ms Forbes and video journalist Mr Clarke."

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will host 'The Big Day In' on Thursday 1 May to provide information for students in Years 9 to 12 and at university who are interested in studying for careers in technology. Mr Jason Howarth, course director at the CSU School of Computing and Mathematics, said "The Big Day In offers high school students a great chance to learn more about the varied career opportunities in the technology industry. There has never been a better time to enter into an IT career. A skill shortage is looming with around 100 000 IT jobs created over the past decade but less than half that number of students graduating with a technology degree. And forget the stereotypes of IT workers as 'back-room geeks', because IT is needed in nearly every business, so career opportunities are as varied as the businesses that rely on it." A range of speakers from IBM, WiseTech Global and more will talk about the future of technology, as well as exhibitors from LEGO Education, WiseTech Global, Group X, IBM and more. The Big Day In will be held at the Centre for Professional Development (building 1285) at CSU in Bathurst from 9am to 2.30pm on Thursday 1 May. CSU is one of 10 locations to host the event around Australia.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff and students will be able to recharge their mobile phones and devices like iPads, iPods and laptops while they exercise when the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Vann, launches 'Ride and Recharge' at the CSU Library Learning Commons in Bathurst on Wednesday 30 April. Ms Kate Hadley, acting Manager Business Services in the University's Division of Library Services said the stationary exercise bike connects to a generator creating battery power which then connects to an inverter. The 'cyclist' can recharge their mobile phone or device by plugging it into the inverter. The energy output data is displayed on a screen in front of the 'cyclist'. "This fun and interactive sustainability initiative by the Division of Library Services will engage students and staff, and instil an energy conservation message," Ms Hadley said. "The 'Ride and Recharge' initiative will provide an alternative reliable, clean, green source of power in the University Bathurst Learning Commons. By simply riding the bike, users can produce sufficient human-generated power to charge low power consumption items while increasing fitness and reducing energy costs and their carbon footprint." The 'Ride and Recharge' initiative was funded through CSU Green's Sustainability Grant program and developed with the assistance of many stakeholders.

A program to foster a culture that is inclusive of people who are of diverse sexuality or gender identity will be launched at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst by Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann from 1pm on Monday 28 April. The Ally Program will establish a network of allies who publicly support the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI). Student equity and diversity officer, Ms Chai Palila, said, "The Ally Program is in place in a number of universities in Australia and New Zealand and we are very excited about its launch at Charles Sturt University. This is about supporting a higher education environment that is inclusive, safe and respectful of all people at the University." Following the launch, the first round of Ally training for staff and students will be held at CSU in Bathurst on Tuesday 29 April. On Thursday 1 May, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Ken Dillon will unveil the Ally program from 2pm at CSU in Wagga Wagga. It will precede training for Wagga Wagga staff and students from 9am till 2pm. There will be further training opportunities for staff and students at CSU in Orange on Monday 5 May and in Albury-Wodonga on Friday 16 May. The Ally Program is an initiative of the University's Office of the Dean of Students.

Year-12 students interested to study sports journalism and communication at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst are attending a MyDay information event today, Monday 14 April. CSU prospective student adviser, Ms Melinda Negus, said, "This is an excellent opportunity for students to gain information and insights as well as some hands-on experience with careers they can study for at the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries. We have 42 students registered for this event from seven central west schools - Condobolin High School, Cowra High School, Kinross Wolaroi, Molong Central School, Orange Christian School, Orange High School, Red Bend Catholic College – and from schools elsewhere." Students from outside the region will attend from Abbotsleigh School for Girls, Bomaderry High School, Colo High School, Evans High School, Hennessy Catholic College, Jindabyne Central School, John Therry Catholic High School, Loreto Kirribilli, Loreto Normanhurst, Mackillop College, Mater Dei Catholic College, MLC Burwood, Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, Ravenswood School for Girls, St Josephs Catholic College (Gosford), St Pauls College Walla Walla, TAFE – Goulburn Campus, Turramurra High School, Wenona School, and Wyndham College (Sydney).

Students' creativity will bloom in a newly-dedicated 'Creative Hub' at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst. The $500 000 Creative Hub features state-of-the-art multimedia equipment, individual sound and video booths, and collaborative spaces set against bright yellow, orange and green feature walls. The space supports learning across all School of Communication and Creative Industries courses and campuses, with a particular focus on the first-year experience. Associate Professor Chika Anyanwu, Head of the School of Communication and Creative Industries, said, "The Creative Hub supports new course delivery methods and learning environments as the School moves towards BYO devices and a student-centred learning and teaching approach for our first-year media subjects. The space supports a multi-modal approach to learning and teaching, and accommodates workshops, mentoring and consultation, and cross-campus experiences. It is the learning and creative home for our students, a place where they can be creative, act, record and rehearse - sometimes very loudly. By demystifying the creative process we hope to produce 21st Century-ready graduates with determination and a sense of purpose."