The findings of recent research showing university students are confused about plagiarism and their institution’s policy on it, will be presented at a seminar for staff and students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Wednesday 30 May. Ms Judith Gullifer, a lecturer and researcher at the CSU School of Psychology  in Bathurst, says, “Research has established the term plagiarism is open to a wide range of interpretations resulting in confusion among students and staff alike. The research reported in this seminar looks only at the students’ understanding of the institution’s policy on academic integrity. The data confirmed the findings from a previous study, showing that confusion exists regarding what behaviours constitute plagiarism. The implications of these findings will be discussed in the context that psychological theory and research suggests a thorough understanding of an individual’s perception of an issue or problem is essential for successful change of that person’s attitudes and behaviours.”

To understand what it is like to be a person with a disability is the aim of a course at Charles Sturt University (CSU) where four people with disabilities act as tutors for CSU students in the third year of their speech pathology degrees. As part of the 2012 program, groups of students will present the life story of their tutor in a creative performance for the tutors, their families and other CSU students, to be held in the Gums Café at CSU in Albury-Wodonga on Thursday 31 May starting at 10.15am. Program coordinator and occupational therapy lecturer, Dr Ruth Beecham, said the presentations will use imagination as well as media such as theatre, cinema, and pictures or literary expression. “We want our students to totally focus on their future clients, and what their clients want from them. Teaching students to listen carefully and respond creatively is a great way of developing these skills,” Dr Beecham said. “We need to see problems from a number of perspectives, instead of rushing headlong into ‘solutions’, and take time to explore issues.”

MyDay at Charles Sturt University in Orange, to be held on Monday 4 June, has attracted high school students from Sydney, Canberra, and north and south coast regions all keen to experience life as a health sciences student. Highlighting courses in dentistry, physiotherapy, clinical science and pharmacy, the day introduces students to the campus known as the health hub of the University. Students will gain hands-on experience in the health clinics, meet with academics and tertiary students and tour the campus. MyDay offers high school students the unique opportunity to experience a day in the life of a university student and provides key information on support available to make their goals achievable. On the same day an Agriculture HSC enrichment day will be held for those studying agriculture in the HSC.

A group of 12 graduate education students from Michigan, USA, will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Saturday 2 June to attend a final rehearsal performance of Lost and Found, a new theatre-for-young-people production that is about to tour regional NSW schools. Ms Phoebe Lane, a lecturer at the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst, said, “The students are visiting schools in Australia and New Zealand, as part of a Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad. It’s the first time that eight of the 12 students have travelled overseas, and because they have been undertaking a comparative study of either ‘culturally responsive teaching’ or ‘arts-infused teaching’ in a particular subject area, a visit to Charles Sturt University for its theatre/media course was recommended by another university because of the high regard for it. There are eight primary school teachers and four high school teachers in the group (eight women and four men), and they were chosen in a competitive process for their very strong academic and social performance and demonstrated leadership skills.” The group will tour the theatre/media facilities at CSU before attending a performance of Lost and Found which begins a tour of regional NSW schools on Monday 4 June.

A theatre-for-young-people production by Charles Sturt University (CSU) students has begun a week-long tour starting on Monday 4 June that will deliver nine performances to students at 10 Central West schools. The theatre/media students from the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst are touring their new production Lost and Found to schools in Bathurst, Trunkey Creek, Rockley, Cullen Bullen, Mandurama, Manildra, Mullion Creek and Dubbo. CSU lecturer and co-director of the show, Mr Daniel Aubin said, “Lost and Found uses physical theatre, story-telling, circus and music to engage, amuse and amaze. With themes surrounding memory, relationships, family, communication and health, Lost and Found has a lesson for every child. We aim to entertain, educate and strengthen the relationship between the University and Central West schools. It’s been a pleasure working with this talented cast to investigate the themes and different methods of theatre-making.”

The 2012 Higher School Certificate (HSC) Seminar Day for Year 12 students from high schools across the NSW central west will be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Tuesday 19 June. Ms Kerry Browning, manager of the CSU Contact Centre which provides information and advice to prospective students, said organisers estimate about 300 students will attend the day to gain information relevant to their HSC exams. “The students will attend separate seminars and lectures on a variety of HSC topics provided by experienced HSC teachers, and the day will provide a positive experience of life at university,” Ms Browning said. The HSC Study Day is an initiative of secondary teachers with the NSW Department of Education and Communities in the region, and is sponsored by CSU. Coordinators for the event are Denison College Head Teachers Mr Jim Browning (Bathurst High Campus) and Ms Wendy Murphy (Kelso High Campus).

Enthusiastic robotics students from eight primary and secondary schools across the region will marshal their talents at the 2012 Central West RoboCup Junior Challenge when the annual robotics competition returns to Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Thursday 14 June. Mr Allen Benter, the coordinator of the competition who is also a PhD student and researcher at the CSU Centre for Research in Complex Systems (CRiCS) in Bathurst, said, “Last year’s event was staged at Charles Sturt University in Orange, and this year we expect about 60 students to build and operate mini robots on the day. University staff have been judges at previous RoboCup events and have provided technical advice to students and their teachers. It’s great to see that students and schools in the region have embraced the concept and the opportunity that the RoboCup offers, as robotics is an important and rapidly developing field.”

About 90 Year 11 and 12 students from 44 high schools across the region, and from as far away as Nyngan, Albury and Campbelltown, will attend a MyDay at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Tuesday 19 June to learn about future study options in psychology, policing, and justice studies. CSU prospective student adviser Ms Fran Dwyer said, “We’re delighted to have such a positive response from so many schools from around the state. It demonstrates strong interest in these important disciplines, and highlights the high regard for courses at Charles Sturt University”. Students will be able to discuss their interests with lecturers and current students, and will be provided with information about the Bachelor of Psychology, Bachelor of Justice Studies (Policing), Bachelor of Social Science (Criminal Justice), and the Associate Degree in Policing Practice.

Carers of people with a mental illness are the focus of a new research project by a psychology student at Charles Sturt University (CSU). Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) Honours student Mr Gerald Haslinger is seeking participants in a confidential survey which aims to find out more about the experience of unpaid carers and mental health service providers in caring for someone with a mental illness. “I am interested in hearing from unpaid carers and service providers, and what they understand about the Recovery approach to caring for someone living with a mental illness, an approach that is widely accepted within the mental health sector.  My study seeks to find out the level of awareness of this approach amongst mental health service providers as well as unpaid carers.” Mr Haslinger, an education and training officer with a non-government agency in Sydney, has extended the survey until Friday 13 July.  He is completing his degree by distance education through the School of Psychology at CSU in Wagga Wagga. For further details about the survey, contact Mr Haslinger on his email  or take the survey here.