Charles Sturt University’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences is hoping to unearth young people who are making a difference in their communities with the inaugural Making a Difference Social Justice Innovation Award. The award is aimed at Year 11 or 12 high school students or TAFE students who are doing a community services or welfare related qualification. Mr Bill Anscombe, senior lecturer in the School says the two winners will be announced in October. They will receive a $500 cash prize, as well as a $500 donation to a charity of their choice. He says the number of enquiries so far has been very encouraging, and “we already have entries logged onto our website. We want to hear about the fantastic things that young people are doing.”

The Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon. Julie Bishop MP will officially open the new Veterinary Science Pre-clinical Centre at Charles Sturt University (CSU) Wagga Wagga Campus on Thursday 24 August. The $4.5 million centre for teaching anatomy and physiology is the first purpose-built facility for CSU’s Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree which began with 45 students in 2005. CSU is the first regional university in Australia to train veterinary science practitioners to meet the shortage of veterinarians in rural practices and work in the area of herd management. While visiting CSU, Minister Bishop will also launch a report on the impact of drought on secondary education access in rural Australia, written by Professor Margaret Alston and Ms Jenny Kent from CSU’s Centre for Rural Social Research. The Minister will also launch a Senior Women’s Network of academics and administrators with the goal of increasing the proportion of women in leadership positions at Charles Sturt University. Minister Bishop will open the Veterinary Science Centre in Nathan Cobb Drive, CSU Wagga Wagga Campus at 10am on Thursday 24 August.

Commonwealth Learning Scholarships for Charles Sturt University (CSU) students studying on all CSU’s campuses in 2007 are now open for applications. The Federally-funded scholarships aim to improve access for students from geographically remote locations or lower socio-economic circumstances to a university education. The program includes accommodation scholarships worth over $4 000 per year for up to four years; and education scholarships worth over $2 000 per year for up to four years. In 2006 CSU students were successful in gaining 105 accommodation scholarships and 128 education scholarships. In addition the University has funded 30 new Professional Placement Equity Scholarships as part of the CSU’s leadership in practical and industry based training. The scholarships are aimed at assisting CSU students to take part in compulsory professional placements required for their courses. Applications for Professional Placement Scholarship support close on Friday 25 August. Worth a total of $30 000, each successful applicant is eligible for up to $1 000 each.

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.

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."

Daryl McMahon’s Rugby club history includes Charles Sturt University, the Mudgee Wombats and now the Vientiane Buffalos. The Buffalos are one of four teams in the Lao Rugby Federation. Daryl’s job, funded through Volunteer International Development of Australia, is to develop the sport throughout Laos. The CSU graduate says Rugby is taking off all over Asia, with the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) claiming 25 member countries. The national Lao team recently made their international debut competing against Brunei, Indonesia, and Cambodia in the ARFU Division 6 Tournament. He describes the local players as “fearless. In the Lao culture there is minimal physical contact, so we had to overcome that in the Rugby training. And you have to be tough off the rugby field as well, because the Lao culture involves a lot of eating and drinking the local Lao whiskey."

A leading telecommunications analyst heads the speakers list at a free seminar to be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Monday 31 October. Examining a critical issue for regional Australia, Paul Budde, Managing Director of BuddeComm, will draw on his company’s research to discuss the future of regional telecommunications from 9.25am to 10.25am in the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre near the CSU Winery, Wagga Wagga. His address will be followed by a roundtable discussion led by an expert panel including Dean of the University’s Faculty of Science and Agriculture, Professor Jim Pratley, Executive Director of the CSU Division of Information Technology, Mike Rebbechi and Managing Director of the Commercial Response Unit in Wagga Wagga, Gary Wells. The seminar will be held from 9.15am to 12noon and will cover a range of topics including the sale of Telstra, the $2 billion Regional Telecommunications Fund, broadband and new business opportunities as well as developments in telecommunications.

The biennial 'Admin Focus' conference for Charles Sturt University (CSU) administration staff is being held at CSU in Bathurst on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 February. The conference is open to CSU administration staff and approximately 130 staff from all campuses will attend. Ms Karen Lenihan, Director, Organisational and People Capability in the CSU Division of Human Resources, said, "The conference is a fantastic professional development and networking event which primarily aims to recognise the contributions of the University's administration staff, foster networking, and increase awareness of professional development for these staff. "There are a variety of session topics to enhance performance and assist staff to navigate the evolving administrative landscape of this dynamic organisation. Relevant topics include high impact business writing; developing career goals; using the internet to manage workload; and learning the fundamentals of the FAST reporting system. There will be an opportunity for delegates to engage in 'Q&A'-style discussions with the University's Senior Executive Committee. There will also be an interactive group session designed to build an understanding of the important role administrative staff play in contributing to the outcomes of the organisation and 'unleashing your inner marketer'." More information can be found here.

Instead of exchanging gifts last Christmas, staff at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health in Bathurst chose to make a donation to charities. Nursing lecturer Ms Denise McGarry said her colleagues elected to donate to local causes rather than participate in the traditional workplace 'Kris Kringle' exchange of presents. "Staff donated more than $400, and we decided to make donations to the Bathurst Refugee Support Group, under the patronage of the Sisters of Mercy, and to Daffodil Cottage Palliative Care Service in Bathurst," Ms McGarry said. "This week Daffodil Cottage received the portable intravenous pole which was purchased with the School's staff donation. This will allow off-site patients to stay out of hospital for more of their treatments than previously, as this mobile device can be loaned to allow treatment in the home. The donation to the Bathurst Refugee Support Group will assist with the provision of respite services and accommodation in Bathurst with the purchase of household goods."