Living sustainably through kitchen gardens in schools and in the wider community is the focus of the 2009 Education for Sustainability Conference to be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Bathurst on Friday 30 October, with a second optional day on Saturday 31 October. The conference is being staged in conjunction with the Bathurst Community Climate Action Network (BCCAN), and will examine growing food as a way of addressing sustainability issues through school curricula and the development of practical skills. One of the conference organisers, Ms Jan Page, from the CSU School of Teacher Education at Bathurst, said, “With food being the largest component of many individuals’ ecological footprints, growing food not only addresses health issues but also provides a framework to develop knowledge and skills for individuals to reduce their footprint by living more sustainably.” As well as educators from pre-school to tertiary level, members of the Bathurst region community are invited to attend.

It was smiles all-around when five Charles Sturt University (CSU) students and five local TAFE students received scholarships from the V8 Supercars organisation to assist with their studies. The scholarships, with a total value of $23 000, were presented at a ceremony at the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum in Bathurst on Thursday 8 October in the lead-up to the annual ‘Great Race’ at Mount Panorama. Four students from the CSU School of Communication - Ms Kate Prince, Ms Melissa Gompes, Mr Thomas Lowrey, and Mr Joshua Manning - and one from the CSU School of Nursing, Ms Clare Pithers, received scholarships. They were congratulated by the Mayor of Bathurst, Councillor Paul Toole, Chief Operations Officer with V8 Supercars, Mr Shane Howard, CSU Head of Campus at Bathurst, Mr Col Sharp, and by Associate Professor Rod McCulloch, Head of the CSU School of Communication at Bathurst. Journalism student Ms Melissa Gompes received The Peter Brock Memorial Scholarship in association with V8 Supercars and Bathurst Regional Council. Ms Gompes gave the vote of thanks on behalf of all students, stressing how much the financial assistance was appreciated. During proceedings it was noted that several of the TAFE students who received scholarships intend to study at CSU in 2010.

A team of 140 Charles Sturt University (CSU) students in 15 teams in 13 different sports competed against 7 000 students from 40 other Australian and New Zealand universities at Australia’s largest annual sporting event, the 2009 Australian University Games held at the Gold Coast, Queensland, from 27 September to 2 October. CSU’s lawn bowls team of Mr Andrew Banasik and Mr Adam Parker (pairs) and Mr Jay Mathieson (singles) won the gold medal, while the CSU Bluebottles men’s water polo team won a silver medal, and the CSU men’s touch football team, which was down on numbers, won the bronze medal. CSU team manager, Mr Nik Granger, said it was a great week of competition where all CSU students participated in the right spirit. “This did not go unnoticed, and CSU was the unofficial runner-up for the ‘Spirit of the Games’ award. This is testament to the great nature of CSU students, who, year-in year-out, are known for their sportsmanship and good behaviour.” For each sport, a paper-based Green and Gold Merit team is chosen of people who have stood out to selectors during the week. CSU had six team members selected in their respective Green and Gold teams; Ms Chiara Porter (basketball), Mr Shane Conroy (hockey), and Mr Adam Parker (lawn bowls) and Ms Eliza Baddock, Mr Sam Thompson and Mr Brendan Collits (all in touch football).

A tutor at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Bathurst has won awards in the two categories for which she was nominated at the annual 2009 Australian Commercial Radio Association (ACRA) Awards presented in Sydney on Saturday 10 October. Ms Janeen Hosemans, a tutor in commercial radio and advertising courses at the CSU School of Communication, who hosted the popular Morning Wireless Program on local Bathurst radio station 2BS, won the top award in the  categories for Best Talk Presenter, and Best On-air Team (with co-host Mr Peter Harrison for their weekly ‘Fishy Friday’ segment). The producer of both these segments, Ms Andrea Moore, also won Best Show Producer – Talk and Current Affairs (non-metropolitan). The Head of the School of Communication, Associate Professor Rod McCulloch said, “As our valued industry partner and supporter of the School of Communication, our congratulations go to all at Bathurst Broadcasters for a stellar performance at the ACRA Awards.”

Students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Bathurst staged a ‘Global Dinner’ on Tuesday 13 October which raised $1 600 for charity. One of the organisers, Ms Georgia Gilson, a third-year journalism student and a residential advisor at ‘The Diggings’ student accommodation, said the charity event was part of Diggings Week, and the first of its kind to be held on the Bathurst Campus. “More than 150 students attended,” Ms Gilson said. “We divided the room into 19 national tables consisting of first, second and third world countries, and we treated these tables accordingly throughout the night. All residential advisors from the various accommodation complexes on the Bathurst Campus volunteered to help on the night as ‘United Nations representatives’. It is rare for all the residences to work together for the greater good, and to raise awareness among students about life outside our privileged sphere.”

The preparatory work is under way for the start of construction of two projects at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Bathurst worth more than $9 million. The extensive refurbishment of the University’s corporate headquarters, The Grange, has commenced, along with development of the new Dental and Oral Health Clinic which is a feature of the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences. The Director of Planning, Design and Construction at the CSU Division of Facilities Management, Mr Richard Barraclough, said these projects are part of the University’s extensive multi-million dollar 2007-2011 capital works program. “Work at The Grange is valued at $3.2 million, including furniture and equipment, and is expected to be completed by April 2010. The Dental and Oral Health Clinic is valued at $6.16 million including furniture, fittings, dental chairs and instrumentation, and is due for completion by May 2010. Both projects are being undertaken by Joss Constructions,” Mr Barraclough said.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) academics have a new opportunity to bring their education research to the forefront of international efforts in Indigenous, rural and remote, and environmental education. Professor Jo-Anne Reid, Associate Dean of the CSU Faculty of Education at Bathurst, and President of the Australian Association for Research in Education, said the newly established World Education Research Association (WERA) is a worldwide network of education researchers which will bring together the very best of education research. “We live in a global world and education in Australia can only benefit from being a part of this international body,” Professor Reid said. “These collaborations extend and enrich our own knowledge across all fields of education.” One study currently underway which has the potential for global application is TERRAnova, an Australian Research Council-funded project run in collaboration with researchers from four Australian universities looking at the factors which appear to make a difference in attracting and retaining teachers in rural communities. “Our nationwide study is focusing on schools in communities that have been nominated as successful in attracting and retaining good teachers. This is truly a global issue that, through research, can impact positively on our future as a nation, as well as internationally,” she said.

TAFE students who have enrolled in or recently completed Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses at TAFE Western, the Canberra Institute of Technology and TAFE NSW Riverina Institute can now win scholarships to further their education at Charles Sturt University (CSU). Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at CSU, Professor Ross Chambers, says applications for the 12 scholarships, each worth $2 500, are available for 2010, with four scholarships available at each institution. “The CSU University Pathway Scholarship Program is part of the University’s ongoing commitment to create strong education pathways and collaboration from TAFE to University in our regional cities and regions,” Professor Chambers said. Acting Institute Director at TAFE Western, Ms Kate Baxter, says each year a number of TAFE Western graduates seek higher qualifications by studying at universities. “These scholarships will provide welcome support and encouragement and expand the opportunities for people in Western NSW to achieve their aspirations,” Ms Baxter said. Applications will close on Friday 27 November, with offers due to be made to successful TAFE students on Friday 11 December.

Aboriginal students considering a tertiary degree are encouraged to apply for Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Koori Admissions Program (KAP) within the next week to ensure they are considered for study in 2010. The annual KAP is an alternative entry program designed specifically for Indigenous students. The KAP provides potential students with a supportive and caring environment to assess whether or not they are likely to be suited to university life. It is free of charge to eligible participants, with travel, meal and accommodation costs funded by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training. Students who successfully complete the KAP will be offered a place in their chosen course at any CSU campus or via distance education. Koori students interested in being part of the program should register their interest with the University’s Indigenous Student Services (ph 6338 4236) in the coming weeks or visit here.