In a first for Australia, a new research network will be launched at Charles Sturt University (CSU) on Thursday 8 November to focus on environmental justice and governance in Australia. The new group is part of CSU’s Institute for Land Water and Society (ILWS)  and will be known as the Environmental Justice and Governance for Social Change Strategic Research Area. Co-leaders of the new group, Dr Helen Masterman-Smith, an environmental sociologist, and Associate Professor Vaughan Higgins, a rural sociologist, said, “This new Strategic Research Area is one of the first research concentrations or networks in Australia that focuses on the fields of justice and governance in environmental issues, including climate change.” To launch the new group, a public workshop, Environmental Justice and Governance: Strategies for building environmentally sustainable and socially just communities will be held from 10 to 4pm on Thursday 8 November at the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre at CSU in Wagga Wagga. Pre-eminent Australian environmental sociologist, Professor Stewart Lockie from The Australian National University, will give the keynote address from 10.30am to 12noon. . To RSVP, contact Dr John Rafferty on 02 6051 9406 or email. A full workshop program is available from the ILWS here.

The risks of the sexualisation of girls and tips on how to help girls grow up with healthy attitudes towards body image and sexuality will be discussed at a public lecture in Braidwood on Wednesday 7 November 2012. Lecturer in philosophy and ethics at Charles Sturt University (CSU), Dr Emma Rush, will give an overview of what researchers and experts have to say about the risks associated with the sexualisation of girls and explain the government’s response. “A generation ago we didn’t see fashion and gossip magazines, padded bras and cosmetics pitched specifically at the primary school market,” she said. “While sex appeal has been used to sell products for a long time, in the last decade or so imagery directly inspired by pornography has also become much more prevalent in fashion and advertising. The increasing pressure on girls to meet very narrow appearance ideals at younger and younger ages is of significant concern to experts in child health and welfare.”  The free lecture, Getting Real: Challenging the Sexualisation of Girls, will also identify resources for parents and professionals who work with girls. 

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is continuing to make tertiary education more available in regional Australia when it opens its latest Regional University Centre in collaboration with Goulburn Ovens TAFE (GOTAFE) in 2013. Head of CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Ms Sue Moloney, will formally announce the expansion today, Thursday 3 May, during the release of the Rural City of Wangaratta's South Wangaratta Urban Renewal Strategy at 10am during a Special Council meeting at the Council Chamber, Wangaratta Government Centre. “This initiative recognises the complementary and combined strengths of Charles Sturt University and GOTAFE, particularly in agriculture. Initially, students undertaking a GOTAFE diploma in dairy management can continue their studies with credits from their GOTAFE course to gain a CSU degree in agricultural business management. We are also looking to offer further opportunities for CSU courses through the Wangaratta centre, including postgraduate agriculture studies as well as nursing,” Ms Moloney said. The CSU Regional University Centre at Wangaratta will be established by CSU in collaboration with GOTAFE with the support of a Commonwealth Structural Adjustment Fund grant of over $7m.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff and students affected by recent flooding are being reminded to look after their emotional wellbeing.  The University is providing counselling to students both in person and via the telephone. Student Counsellor, Ms Katie Murrell-Orgill said she is expecting a demand for services once people are able to return to flood affected homes.  “It’s normal to experience a range of emotions in these kinds of situations and it can be really helpful to seek support to help process what has occurred,” she said. “With much of southern and central west NSW and northern Victoria affected by floods, the service is available to all students including those studying by distance education.”  Students can make an appointment for counselling by calling Student Central on 1800 275 278 while after hours support is available by phoning Lifeline on 13 11 14. Staff and members of their immediate families can access CSU’s Employee Assistance Program, which offers free short-term professional counselling services. Information is also available on the CSU 2012 flood website here.

The CSU Media team wishes you a safe and Merry Christmas. We look forward to working with you in the New Year.

December hails the arrival of the graduation season at Charles Sturt University (CSU). In response to the needs of students, CSU is holding its graduations in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Canberra, Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga from Saturday 10 December to Saturday 17 December. The change from a graduation season in the first half of the year will allow students at CSU to attend their ceremony and receive their awards much closer to the completion of their course. Graduations will be held at CSU in Albury-Wodonga on Friday 16 December and Saturday 17 December; in Bathurst on Thursday 15, Friday 16 and Saturday 17 December; in Canberra on Saturday 10 December; in Dubbo on Monday 12 December; in Orange on Tuesday 13 December; and in Wagga Wagga on Monday 12, Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 December. Read more here.

With the Australian carbon tax on the horizon, Charles Sturt University (CSU) will provide an international perspective on how businesses can effectively account for their energy costs with a presentation on Wednesday 3 August. Professor Ulrich Nissen, from the University of Applied Science in Germany, will give a presentation on accounting for energy costs. Event organiser Dr Dianne McGrath with CSU’s School of Accounting and Institute for Land, Water and Society said Australian companies acknowledge they need to account for current and future energy costs. “This is where accounting professionals can assist. Business managers and accountants will need to develop skills and qualifications in energy cost management for now and especially the future, issues Professor Nissen has recently addressed by modifying university teaching in accounting in Germany,” Dr McGrath said. Professor Nissen’s presentation will commence at 9am until 11am on Wednesday 3 August via video conference in the Business Faculty building, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.

The latest research for the Australian wine industry will be on display when the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga holds an Industry Showcase on Thursday 16 June. President of the NSW Wine Industry Association, Mr David Lowe will open the event at 9.15am before a range of research topics are discussed. They include: grapevine carbohydrate balance; grapevine carbohydrate reserves; young vine decline; heat stress; yield predictions from the air and on ground; consumer preferred wine styles; climate change and impacts in NSW regions; and pest and disease recognition. The day will also involve a tour of the NWGIC facilities. A full program can be found here. “Our Industry Showcase is an important event for Australian grape-growers and winemakers by offering them a one-spot shop for the current research findings across a range of topics,” said NWGIC Director Professor Jim Hardie.

A new agreement will be signed between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Anglicare Canberra and Goulburn on Monday 21 March. The purpose of the agreement is to further develop the relationship between the higher education institution and the welfare agency over the next five years. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlines a number of ways the two organisations can foster future cooperation. These include initiatives such as adjunct academic appointments; reciprocal ethics committee arrangements; and expanding workplace learning opportunities for CSU students with Anglicare Canberra and Goulburn in areas such as social work, allied health and nursing. Course Director from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga Dr Bill Anscombe said, “As Charles Sturt University is one of the leading providers of social work, nursing and allied health education in Australia, the new broad ranging Memorandum of Understanding will give us more opportunities to ensure our students are ‘work ready’’. The MoU will be signed by the University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Ross Chambers and Bishop Stuart Robinson from the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn at 12midday on Monday 21 March. The ceremony will take place in the Chancellor’s Room in the Convention Centre, building 230, near car park 16, Jingellic Place at CSU in Wagga Wagga.