A leading group of veterinary educators has given their stamp of approval to Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) veterinary course, the first such course offered in regional Australia. The Veterinary Science Accreditation Advisory Committee which visited CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus last week has recommended accreditation for the University’s new Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree. The committee of six veterinary practitioners and academics from Australian and New Zealand universities will recommend to the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council that they provide provisional accreditation of CSU’s veterinary program. CSU’s first dedicated building for veterinary science, the $4.5 million Pre-Clinical Centre for teaching anatomy and physiology, was formally handed over to staff and students last week. Professor Kym Abbott, Director of Veterinary Science at CSU, said the accreditation committee praised the high quality of staff and facilities and the strong support given to the new program by the University.

Last week the Federal Government announced its high-profile appointments to the Youth Mental Health Foundation Advisory Board to advise on ways to improve access to mental health services for the nation’s 12 to 25-year-olds. Experts agree that young people in Australia are increasingly troubled by various forms of mental disorder, including Dr Lynelle Osburn, a lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. “Why is it a growing problem? One reason is an increasing intolerance of kids who are a bit different.” She says the vulnerable are easy to recognise. “Young people who leave home in an unplanned way, are isolated, are taking extreme risks or have substance abuse problems, who have eating or stress disorders. There is a growing number of young people who are on medications like amphetamines or Ritalin, or using various party drugs.” Another CSU academic Dr Janki Shankar, lecturer in mental health also in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, is on the Australian Association of Social Workers Mental Health Interest Group. She says “the current system is failing because of a lack of support services, particularly in rural areas. There are hardly any psycho-social rehabilitation programs that are targeted to youth, there’s almost nothing for people who need early intervention services.”

As the Federal Government urges innovation in housing and urban design to take Australia’s ageing population into account, one scenario could be acres of empty ‘McMansions’ as older people flee to smaller homes with easy access to healthcare and social ties. Community for All Ages – Building the Future seminars were recently held all over the country to discuss the topic. Facilitated by Dr Keith Suter, he will now put together a formal report and other findings and recommendations. Celia Bevan, senior lecturer in Gerontology at Charles Sturt University, says "one of the interesting things to come out of this circuit of conferences is that architecturally, we should be looking at housing which is adaptable", homes that are accessible for everybody, regardless of age or ability or mobility. It’s called Universal Design, but unlike architecture, the emotional needs of older Australians are anything but universal. "There are people who absolutely love retirement villages and that life suits them, but then there are other people who do not. To just look at an ageing population and say well, this is the kind of housing they would want would be as disastrous as leaving it as it currently is." But can governments successfully legislate for change? Probably not, according to Ms Bevan. "The will has to be there and the cultural shift has to occur. Obviously architects and the housing industry have to be able to see that there’s something in it for them, because our whole philosophy around housing is around profit as well. The industry has to be persuaded to see that it is in their interest to engage in a new form of housing."

Is it fair that educational achievement can depend on where you live? Anecdotally, it is known that young, inexperienced teachers fresh out of university are usually sent to unpopular destinations such as western NSW. Another assumption is that school students in these areas have uneven educational outcomes. Now these "hunches" have been verified by the Rural (Teacher) Education Project, and the search is on for some solutions. "It’s all about attracting, preparing, retaining and renewing teachers for the bush," said project leader Professor Bill Green from Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Faculty of Education. "One key issue was that location matters. You’re getting young teachers working with often the most disadvantaged groups. They have energy and enthusiasm and embrace innovation, but the downside is they don’t have experience." Some of the early recommendations to emerge include nominating certain isolated schools as professional development centres, better preparation of student teachers, changing staffing patterns so that groups of teachers are appointed to a region, and involving local communities and government agencies so that young professionals are connecting socially. More complete findings are due next month.

School leavers whose Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) was not as high as they had hoped have been told they don’t have to give up their university aspirations, with Charles Sturt University (CSU) continuing its Pathway Program in 2013. The program, a partnership between CSU and TAFE, runs for one year full-time and provides entry options for students who applied to CSU but were unsuccessful, or who need further preparation. Pathway coordinator Ms Sandra Fisher said the program offered multiple benefits. “Upon completion, students receive a Diploma of General Studies from Charles Sturt University and the Certificate IV in Further Education, or Tertiary Preparation Certificate from TAFE,” she said. “They are also guaranteed entry into a range of CSU degrees and may receive credit for some subjects.” The program is offered face-to-face at CSU in Bathurst, Wagga Wagga and Albury-Wodonga, and this year will be offered at CSU in Dubbo as a blended distance education option.

Twenty five general practitioner (GP) registrars commenced their training in regional NSW through Beyond Medical Education (BME), based at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst, on Monday 21 January. The registrars are fully qualified doctors who are undertaking specialist training to become GPs. BME’s Chief Operating Officer, Ms Megan Armstrong, said, “The GP registrars are undertaking the Australian General Practice Training program through Beyond Medical Education. They commenced their training in general practice yesterday under the supervision and support of the local medical practices and Beyond Medical Education, and they are committed to the area for at least two years. The start of term is always an exciting and busy time for Beyond Medical Education as all the registrars, medical educators and administration staff come together for the first workshop of the year”. The registrars are from diverse cultural backgrounds (Australia, China, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Burma), and, in NSW, will be living and working in Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo, Parkes, Forbes, Cowra, Lithgow, Mudgee, Oberon, Wellington, Wallerawang and Broken Hill.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will hold Wellness and Wellbeing Expos at its five main campuses, starting in Bathurst on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 February, to promote happier, healthier, more satisfied and more productive employees who are also resilient in an ever-changing workplace. Mr David Tallentire, CSU manager of occupational health and safety, said, “Charles Sturt University recognises and values the importance of staff wellness and wellbeing, and aims to adopt a holistic approach to the treatment of workplace health and safety. The University appreciates that personal problems can adversely affect employees’ work performance, work satisfaction, health, and feelings of wellbeing. We’re running Wellness and Wellbeing Expos to provide information to staff on the many health and wellbeing services available to them at Charles Sturt University and in our local communities, and to participate in workshops.” The Wellness and Wellbeing Expos will be held at CSU in Bathurst on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 February; at CSU in Orange on Thursday 7 February; at CSU in Dubbo on Friday 8 February; at CSU in Wagga Wagga on Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 February; and at CSU in Albury-Wodonga on Thursday 14 February.

The Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University (CSU), Professor Andrew Vann, was one of the first to attend the Wellness and Wellbeing Expo for staff which commenced at CSU in Bathurst today, Tuesday 5, and continues on Wednesday 6 February. The series of expos will be stage at the five main CSU campuses, and aims to promote happier, healthier, more satisfied and more productive employees who are also resilient in an ever-changing workplace. Mr David Tallentire, CSU manager of occupational health and safety, said, “Charles Sturt University is running Wellness and Wellbeing Expos to provide information to staff on the many health and wellbeing services available to them at the University and in our local communities, and to participate in workshops.” Among the sessions, CSU psychology lecturer Dr Stephanie Quinton from the School of Psychology discussed eating disorders, and staff from the School of Human Movement Studies offered hi-tech balance testing. Other services represented include Relationships Australia, Men’s Sheds Australia, financial planning, and a range of counselling, health, fitness and wellbeing interests.

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Regional and Remote Learning Support Team will visit Homebush in Sydney as well as Broken Hill in far west NSW next week to assist distance education students in person. CSU manager of Regional and Remote Support, Mr James Brann, said “The University’s outreach program is free for current Charles Sturt University distance education students, and is designed to assist them to be more successful in their studies. We hold both group and one-to-one sessions with students to provide advice and guidance about online learning, effective reading skills, note taking, time management, and assignment writing.” Learning support advisers will be at Sydney Olympic Park at Homebush on Monday 18 February for individual sessions from 1.30pm to 3pm, and for a group session from 5.30pm to 7pm. To book a place at the Homebush session students are asked to please email Mr James Brann on jbrann@csu.edu.au. On Tuesday 19 February at the Western Insitute of TAFE in Broken Hill individual sessions are from 10.30am to 12pm, then again from 1.30pm to 3pm, with a group session from 5.30pm to 7pm. To book a place at a session in Broken Hill please email Ms Diane Middleton on dmiddleton@csu.edu.au or Ms Sharon Patterson on spatterson@csu.edu.au .