An estimated 800 senior high school students from the NSW Central West will attend the annual Facts About Careers and Tertiary Study (FACTS) Day at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Thursday 4 May.CSU prospective student adviser Ms Melinda Negus said, "The FACTS Day provides students the opportunity to speak to and hear from a range of career-offering organisations and higher education providers."This is an important time in the students' lives as they approach the Higher School Certificate and end of secondary school and are considering their next moves and career paths. The information and insights on offer can help to make their decisions about their futures less daunting."Organised by the Central West Careers Advisers Association and hosted by CSU, the day will be divided into two sessions: Session 1 from 10.30am to 11.30am, and Session 2 from 11.45am to 12.45 pm.Speakers at the event will include Ms Hilary Matchett ( Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) graduate), Mr Jake Mayhew (current Bachelor of Physiotherapy student), and Mr Jarryd De Castro ( Bachelor of Justice Studies (Policing) graduate).Participating schools include Kandos High School, Orange Christian School, Orange High School, The Scots School (Bathurst), St Stanislaus College (Bathurst), All Saints College (Bathurst), James Sheahan Catholic High School (Orange), Cowra High School, Bathurst High School, Blayney High School, Canobolas High School (Orange), MacKillop College (Bathurst), Oberon High School, St Raphael's Catholic School (Cowra), Molong Central School, and Canowindra High School.Some of the exhibitors at the FACTS Day include University Admissions Centre (UAC), Sydney University, Newcastle University, the Australian Defence Force, and Centennial Coal.

The evaluation report about initiatives to create a child-safe, child-friendly environment in Bathurst has been launched at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Thursday 27th April.The report, prepared by CSU researchers Dr Sandie Wong and Dr Tamara Cumming, evaluated the effectiveness of the Bathurst Child and Family Network 2016 workforce development approach to the 'building child-safe, child-friendly communities initiative'.Ms Annette Meyers, the facilitator of the Bathurst Early Learning Support (BELS) and chair of Bathurst Child and Family Network (BCFN), said, "The quest of the BCFN is to help create a world where children are active, engaged and valued citizens."The purpose of the of the child-safe, child-friendly initiative was to provide opportunities and resources for organisations working with children and families to increase knowledge and awareness, make changes, and share their experiences and expertise in developing and implementing child-safe, child-friendly policies and practices."The launch promotes community awareness of the report through local and regional media, and aims to engage all early childhood and government agencies and schools in the region to inspire them to take action to embrace a child-safe, child-friendly environment in their organisation."Key findings of the report and future directions of the Bathurst Child and Family Network were outlined at the launch at The Grange at CSU in Bathurst at 10am Thursday 27 April.The initiative was evaluated through a CSU Community-University Partnership Grant.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with training and employment organisation VERTO.Pro Vice-Chancellor (International Education and Partnerships) Professor Heather Cavanagh signed the MoU with VERTO's Chief Executive Officer Mr Ron Maxwell.VERTO is a community-owned, not-for-profit organisation that provides a range of services including training, apprenticeships, employment and community support to individuals and businesses from its 26 locations across NSW.CSU and VERTO have entered an academic agreement, initially aiming to market a holistic tertiary education offering in China. The agreement will also help to create pathways for domestic and international learners by mapping education paths from vocational training to academic qualifications.Professor Cavanagh said, "VERTO is examining what opportunities exist for its clients and seeks to establish pathways for them from its present training offerings into Charles Sturt University programs. This could provide access to a new pool of students for the University via this pathway, and the new agreement gives VERTO a better way to articulate what further studies clients can undertake."The agreement is interesting because the University has a very similar geographic footprint to VERTO, and a similar view to support local communities with training services. VERTO's plan to deliver services in China could become a pathway into the University's courses in the future."VERTO's Chief Executive Officer, Ron Maxwell, said VERTO was proud to partner with such an exceptional institution like CSU."We are thrilled to enter an academic partnership with Charles Sturt University. It's also great that two local education institutions in Bathurst are able to collaborate in such a meaningful way," Mr Maxwell said."The University's graduate employment rate is the best, and this aligns with VERTO's core value of helping to change people's lives through training and employment."We look forward to working with the entire Charles Sturt University team now and into the future."

There's no shortage of players lining up to sign on with the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Football Club in Bathurst.A record number of 80 women have registered to play with the Club in the Bathurst District Football League in 2017.The high number of registrations has prompted the Club to field 10 teams for the 2017 season.This includes four women's teams across three grades, five men's sides, and for the first time a mixed team.The recorded registrations is being attributed to the leadership of the Club.Club president and CSU student Ms Meaghan Kempson said, "The Charles Sturt University Football Club is proud to lead the charge for a growth in women's football throughout the region."The current success of the Australian women's team has certainly contributed to our boost in female members."At the beginning of the year, it was our goal to create an inviting and rewarding environment for all who were looking to join a student club at Charles Sturt University. We set out to embody the notion that we are 'the club for everyone'."The record-breaking number of CSUFC members this year truly reflects our success in achieving this goal."Our Club aims to give Charles Sturt University students the opportunity to enjoy a well-rounded and fulfilled experience at University – an experience that nobody should be denied."The season started on Sunday 26 March and runs until Sunday 17 SeptemberThrough its Office for Students, the University supports a range of sporting and social clubs.

For the first time students in two Charles Sturt University (CSU) history and politics classes have shared an excursion to an historic Bathurst property to gain insight into colonial conflict and modern day reconciliation.The tour by 25 students and their lecturers to Brucedale, which was established in 1824, included a visit to the burial site and memorial to the Wiradyuri warrior Windradyne located on the property.The tour was led by Brucedale owner Mr David Suttor, sixth generation of the Suttor family, and Wiradyuri Elder Mr Bill Allen Junior (Dinawan Dyirribang). Mr Suttor's great-great-grandfather, William Suttor, knew Windradyne, from whom Mr Allen is descended.Lecturer in the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Bathurst Mr Sam Malloy (pictured front right with the group) said, "Students enrolled in the subject Colonial Australia used their trip to Brucedale to further their knowledge and understanding of events that have shaped colonial Australia."This subject has a particular focus on British settler expansion in the early 1800s and its impact on the Wiradyuri people in the Bathurst region."The students discussed the debates surrounding the interpretation of those events, and how they have contributed to our collective understanding of Wiradyuri history and colonisation."Australian history and politics lecturer Mr Nathan Down said the site visit aimed to enhance student understanding of contemporary Australia and political awareness through an examination of our unique history and politics."Both David Suttor and Bill Allen (pictured left) shared personal and cultural anecdotes relevant to their respective familial connections and interactions in that critical early colonial setting," he said. "This gave our students an intrinsic historical understanding beyond what is presented in a textbook or a more formal class setting."It is important for the University and community to continue to liaise and interact in such ways."In Bathurst we are indeed fortunate to have so many historical points of interest in one locale. It is our hope that we continue to visit and engage with our local history, whether it be through continued discussions with Indigenous Elders like Uncle Bill, or visiting tangible history locations such as Brucedale or Chifley Home."

A new centre to promote innovation by small and medium businesses in central west NSW will have its community launch at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Wednesday evening 29 March.As part of a partnership between CSU and the NSW Department of Industry, CenWest Innovate aims to help businesses in the region to develop the necessary skills and find technical expertise to convert ideas into viable business opportunities.CSU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Vann, said, "Charles Sturt University is pleased to partner with the NSW Government to support the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystems critical for sustaining our regional economies and the communities that they support."The goals of the government's Boosting Business Innovation Program which underpins CenWest Innovate are all about furthering a network innovation ecosystem across Australia, supporting small-medium enterprises (SMEs) that want to scale up and innovate, growing the regional start-up sector and creating innovation clusters, and providing access to high-tech equipment and technical expertise for SMEs."CenWest Innovate is designed to support the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem across Central Western NSW, through support for new and existing businesses, and business leaders, through encouraging business innovation."Both the local member Mr Paul Toole and the NSW Government have been great champions of the University and we are pleased to partner with the Government in delivering this exciting suite of initiatives to boost business and commercial opportunity."Director of CenWest Innovate Professor Mark Morrison said, "The CenWest Innovate program seeks to build business capabilities and encourage collaboration between small and medium businesses and Charles Sturt University, aiming to help businesses to innovate and become more competitive."New entrepreneurs, existing businesses and business leaders will receive a range of support which commenced last weekend with our 'Getting into Business Bootcamp' for new entrepreneurs," Professor Morrison said."We are planning monthly events to help businesses develop key entrepreneurship capabilities, starting with a 'Digital Marketing Masterclass'."In July we are due to start a more in-depth business accelerator program, called the 'Next Stage Growth Program'. This is for existing sustainable businesses that want to move to the 'next stage', such as developing new markets or new products.Professor Morrison said CenWest Innovate would also administer a voucher system to increase access to CSU research and technical capabilities."We will also have 'Tech Vouchers' and 'Business Development Vouchers' to help businesses in Central West NSW get easier access to capabilities we have at Charles Sturt University that can help businesses to innovate."This includes access to our 'makerspace' facilities for developing prototypes, 3D printers and laser cutters, our machine learning capability, data mining, market research and many other research capabilities."CenWest Innovate forms part of CSU's Multi-Region Hub approach to fully harness the benefits of the Boosting Business Innovation Program.The CenWest Innovate community launch by Professor Vann will be at CSU Engineering (building 1305) in Bathurst from 6pm to 8 pm on Wednesday 29 March.

High school students from around the NSW Central West region will battle it out in a science and engineering 'Olympics' at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Thursday 23 March.More than 250 Year 10 students from as far as Lithgow, Oberon and Orange are taking part in this year's Science and Engineering Challenge, hosted by CSU."This competition encourages our brightest prospective brains in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to pit their abilities against themselves, the clock and each other in a series of challenging activities that run all day," said CSU Professor of Engineering Euan Lindsay. "It encourages high school students to follow their STEM passions by providing real-world problems to hone their skills. We show them that STEM underpins our modern society, and a career in these fields is a way for them to make a difference in the world."The Science and Engineering Challenge, which runs from 9am to 2.30pm, is a nationwide STEM outreach program presented by the University of Newcastle in partnership with the Bathurst community, various Rotary Clubs across Central West NSW, and sponsors.The event will be held in the University gymnasium, off Panorama Ave at CSU in Bathurst.

A special free film screening will be the first 2017 Explorations Series public lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Wednesday 29 March.The screening of Constance on the Edge, about a group of African Australians from refugee backgrounds, has been organised by the CSU Centre for Law and Justice in collaboration with the Bathurst Refugee Support Group.Centre Director Associate Professor Alison Gerard said, "Constance on the Edge is an unflinchingly honest portrayal of a group of African Australians from refugee backgrounds, attempting ─ often against the odds ─ to create a home in Wagga Wagga. It reveals their courage and resilience, as they strive to reconstruct their own lives and enrich others along the way."We don't often hear the stories of those who arrive on our borders seeking freedom from persecution and their challenges navigating a new life in Australia. This film is a humanised account of these struggles and the Centre for Law and Justice is proud to partner with the Bathurst Refugee Support Group to present this to the University and wider community."Within the Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Criminal Justice degrees, Charles Sturt University builds the technical expertise of students in law and criminology, but also showcases, through examples such as Constance on the Edge, the human impact of law and policy. We produce graduates that are adept at understanding different complexities so they may innovate and problem-solve effectively, leading change within their communities."Head of Campus at CSU in Bathurst Associate Professor Chika Anyanwu said, "Constance on the Edge was produced in Wagga Wagga, and it is our story. We are all Constance. We are all struggling every day, trying to balance our past with our present, trying to meet our family obligations, trying to meet our societal obligations, and trying to make contributions to our society, and hoping to be welcome within our communities."The screening begins at 6.30pm and will be followed by a 'Question and Answer' panel, then light refreshments. More information about the film can be found here.

Workplace learning in communities is a vital part of professional education in Charles Sturt University's (CSU) undergraduate courses, including the criminal justice degree at CSU in Bathurst."It is vital that students receive this experience to hit the ground running when they receive their degrees. We want them to put their knowledge into practice. This continues the University's status as having the highest graduate employment rate in Australia," said lecturer Lisa Coates with CSU's Centre for Law and Justice."For example, one of our students, who graduated last year from the Bachelor of Criminal Justice, helped prepare for and attended an entire criminal trial as part of her placement with Ireland Killen Lawyers in Bathurst. This experience is invaluable on a resume."In 2016, 71 students were placed in 66 locations around NSW and the ACT with 32 different organisations, ranging from NSW Community Corrections and Juvenile Justice to Barnardos Australia. In 2016, CSU was also the first Australian university outside of ANU and University of Canberra to place students with ACT Legal Aid and Aboriginal Legal Aid (ACT).In addition, this year the ACT Law Courts in Canberra will offer a student placement to CSU, the first-ever placement in criminology offered by the Court and the first to a non-ACT university.To assist such a dispersed student group during their placements, Ms Coates has developed a Workplace Learning Resource website, which will serve CSU students from Bathurst and Port Macquarie  as well as those studying through CSU online around Australia."With students placed as far as Taree, Lake Macquarie and Griffith across regional NSW to inner-city Sydney, this website is an interactive resource for students to prepare, inform and support them during their placements.  It will also assist them in transitioning into graduate working life," Ms Coates concluded.The new resource website will be launched with final year criminal justice studies students at 1pm on Monday 13 March at CSU in Bathurst.