A Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduate is putting the words into the mouths of some of the nation’s most watched television characters. Ms Kaneana May studied television production at the Wagga Wagga Campus and graduated in 2004 with first class honours in screenwriting, starting her career as a storyliner on the 2005 television series Headland. Ms May, aged 26, says “Since then I have since worked on the Seven network’s All Saints and now work as a script coordinator at Home and Away”.  Ms May was commissioned to write a Home and Away script which went to air in early October. Ms May, from the coastal village Old Bar on the New South Wales Mid North Coast, says “I would definitely encourage others interested in television to do the CSU course. I learned so much about the entire process of television. The course is continually improving to keep pace with what is happening in the industry”.

Researchers at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Bathurst Campus are investigating why exercise can help relive some pain. Mr Peter Micalos, lecturer in human anatomy and physiology at the School of Human Movement Studies, is seeking people aged 20 – 60 years with chronic pain syndrome, known as fibromyalgia (FMS), as well as people in good health but with low fitness levels. They are wanted to participate in a supervised, mild aerobic-based exercise program for eight weeks starting in February 2008. Mr Micalos says “Fibromyalgia is characterised by pain in muscles, joints or bones, fatigue, and a wide range of other symptoms. It can be triggered by an acute traumatic event, or have a slow onset from no specific cause, and can be debilitating, especially during an acute flare-up. It can prevent normal activities such as driving a car, walking up stairs, grooming or dressing. There is no universally accepted diagnosis or cure for fibromyalgia, however studies have found individualised exercise programming improves fitness and sleep and reduces pain and fatigue.” The study involves clinical tests and individually supervised exercise twice a week at the CSU Bathurst Campus fitness centre.

A new book that looks at quality assurance tools and certification programs in ecotourism will be a valuable guide for new and existing ecotourism operators world-wide. Co-edited by Dr Rosemary Black from Charles Sturt University (CSU), the book, Quality Assurance and Certification in Ecotourism, is the fifth in a series of books on ecotourism published by UK publisher CABI. Dr Black, a social scientist with CSU’s Institute for Land, Water and Society, said the book has developed from her research on certification of ‘ecotour’ guides. “The book also includes information on quality assurance and certification for different aspects of ecotourism operations like transport, tours and accommodation,” said Dr Black, who spent four years researching and writing the book. Apart from her own work, the book includes contributions from authors around the world including the UK, Australia, America, the South Pacific, South Africa and South America.

Mr Karl Shead, Theatre Technical Officer with Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Communication, has won the individual staff member Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Performance Excellence (General Staff) for 2007. Mr Gerard Boland, a lecturer in theatre and media at CSU, nominated Mr Shead for his outstanding services. “Karl manages the teaching and theatrical spaces that over six hundred students and staff use weekly during the academic year. Theatre/Media staff could not provide the quality learning and teaching interactions for which the course is renowned without his technical knowledge and artistic design skills. Karl has contributed technical supervision to around 30 productions in the past twelve months, and has been an integral member of the executive committee of the successful Catapult Festival since its inception in 2004, helping it attain national prominence among the members of the Australian Circus and Physical Theatre Association (ACAPTA) and other professional practitioners. Karl also shows his commitment to the wellbeing of others as a member of the Bathurst SES,” Mr Boland said.

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Dubbo Campus farewelled 26 graduating nurses at a barbeque on Monday 12 November following their return from a four week placement that focussed on the transition to practice as Registered Nurses. Lyn Croxon, lecturer and clinical coordinator in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, said that having completed a three year CSU nursing degree, the students can register with the NSW Nurses’ and Midwives’ Board. “CSU’s nursing students received great support from staff in the various western region hospitals in which they undertook their clinical placements,” she said. “The University thanks all the personnel in the various health settings for their support of our programs and the clinical practicum which is an integral component of the nursing course.” The graduating nurses come from Dubbo, Parkes, Peak Hill, Narromine, Warren and Gulgong. The majority have accepted positions as Registered Nurses at hospitals and health facilities across the western NSW region, while several will pursue careers in Sydney, Gosford and Canberra.

Cadet journalists working at National Radio News (NRN) at Charles Sturt University (CSU) have gained a number of paid internships with leading media organisations. NRN manager Mr Peter Hetherington said that the success of NRN staff in gaining outside internships and other placements is quite significant. “This is the pilot for an ongoing program, and those who show aptitude during the internship will be fast tracked into fulltime work at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC),” he said. “It demonstrates that the training our students receive in their CSU journalism course and the practical experience they gain through their NRN cadetships equips them to step straight into on-air roles with major broadcasters.” Three NRN cadets - Rebecca Bruce, Frank Ienco and Cameron Green - commenced paid internships with ABC Radio in Sydney from 5 November. Former NRN journalist Matthew Reardon has been accepted for an internship with Deutsche Vella, Germany’s major public broadcaster NRN cadet Patrick Cronan has commenced with 2TM Tamworth as on-air news journalist, while CSU graduate Rochelle Nolan has commenced as fulltime journalist with NRN.

A study conducted by a Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher has revealed disturbing links between diabetes and depression. Medical science honours student, Ms Marina Jeeawody, reports that the level of depression in people with diabetes is much higher than those without diabetes. Based on the analysis of 750 participants from Albury and surrounding areas, the research showed depression is more prevalent in older women, and despite the stigma of mental illness, there is a shift towards recognition and the acceptance of depression and a willingness to discuss mood changes with health professionals. “For the people with diabetes, depression may be an additional barrier to achieving effective self-care. As a risk that can be modified, depression treatments could decrease the risk of diabetes-related complications,” said Ms Jeeawody.

Scientists from around Australia and overseas will discuss how the brain processes text at a forum convened by Charles Sturt University (CSU) in the Blue Mountains of NSW on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 December. Dr Joanne Arciuli, from CSU’s School of Social Sciences and Liberal Studies, said that the forum - It’s all in the Mind; Information Processing and our Language and Literacy Development - will consider questions such as: What parts of the brain are active during reading? Do we inherit our reading ability? Do you have to be a good speller to be a good reader? and Artificial intelligence is largely based on understanding of the left hemisphere - but what about the right hemisphere? The forum, at the Fairmont Resort, Leura, will report on new research in studies of text, gathering researchers, students, clinicians, educators and technology developers from the Australian Research Council’s Research Network in Human Communication Science (HCSNet), who are working in areas such as visual word recognition, reading and spelling, literacy development, text analyses, brain imaging and computer modelling.

Starting on Monday 11 February, Orientation Week at Charles Sturt University (CSU) will welcome over 1100 new students to the Bathurst Campus as well as introduce them to the social attractions and businesses in Bathurst. Ms Pamela Rudge, a CSU student who is also Orientation Week Sponsorship Coordinator, says “This is a time that students remember fondly for the rest of their lives. The experiences new students have and the associations they form during Orientation Week will influence their spending behaviour and preferences for the rest of their time at CSU. That’s why this is the perfect opportunity for businesses to introduce and promote their services and products to new students whose combined long-term spending contributes millions of dollars to the Bathurst economy.* I encourage all Bathurst business people to contact me to arrange to promote their businesses to the new CSU students during Orientation Week,” Ms Rudge said. Orientation Week activities run from Monday 11 to Friday 15 February, and will centre on the theme for 2008, ‘Orientation Games - Achieving Your Goals’. Highlights of the week will include; an information market day for local community organisations to promote their services to new university students; a market day for commercial businesses to promote their products and services to students from stalls on the CSU library lawn; mystery bus tours which familiarises students with landmarks, essential services and participating business houses; and day and night entertainment. Bathurst businesses interested in becoming involved with Orientation Week can contact Ms Rudge at the CSU Orientation office on 6338 4799.