Prospective students interested in a career in education, and their parents and partners, are invited to an information session for Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Teacher Education at its Dubbo Campus on Tuesday 21 October. The information session provides information on courses, accommodation, facilities, fees, scholarships and financial assistance. Associate Head of the School of Teacher Education at Dubbo, Dr Bev Moriarty, said the CSU Dubbo Campus offers the residents of western NSW the opportunity to study closer to home and within the region. “With the spiralling costs of travel and living, Charles Sturt University provides a national standard of education for the professions and our graduates can work anywhere in Australia or around the world.” Representatives from Centrelink and other support agencies will be available to talk about study assistance and future employment possibilities.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is lending its expertise to a recruitment campaign with a difference. Instead of targeting prospective students, this campaign is targeting pet dogs. In partnership with the Sydney Animal Behavioural Service and the company HomeoPet, CSU is recruiting 150 dogs from across Australia to participate in research into the treatment of anxious animals. The study will examine the effect on dogs of the homeopathic remedy known as Anxiety. “We would like to hear from anyone who has a pet dog which reacts to thunderstorms,” said Dr Jacqui Ley from the Sydney Animal Behavioural Service. “The anxiety may be demonstrated in behaviour ranging from destructive activities to simply barking at a storm.” “Through its veterinary science program, CSU will be supporting the research by analysis of the data,” said Head of the CSU School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Professor Kym Abbott.

The Federal Government has announced that Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange will receive 15 new places in the Graduate Certificate in Rural Mental Health Nursing, and the 30 new places for the Bachelor of Nursing course in Orange and Dubbo in 2009.  Supporting higher education places in the national priority area of nursing, the Government offered 300 places for rural and regional areas. “We are happy that 45 places were allocated to Charles Sturt University,” said Professor Elaine Duffy, Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery. “It may be a small per cent of the total number allocated, but Charles Sturt University is already a dominant industry supporter and our graduates are highly sought. Applicants from around Australia are invited to learn more about the distance education courses via the CSU website link.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has announced it is a major sponsor of Career Central Australia, an online career advisory service designed, developed and maintained by careers advisors and teachers. Ms Zelma Bone, lecturer in management communication at CSU’s Orange Campus, said that the CSU sponsorship enables 2 500 students at thirteen schools in western and central western NSW to become regional members for a greatly subsidised annual fee. Another 27 schools are waiting to join. “This is a wonderful initiative that demonstrates CSU’s commitment to the professions as the University of inland Australia by assisting schools and students to access online careers information every hour of every day, all year around,” Ms Bone said. Career Central Australia provides the latest careers information and job services, a careers newsletter, email bulletins and notices, and customized careers profiles, letters, applications and apprenticeship information.

As the start of the Charles Sturt University (CSU) dental and oral health courses approach in February 2009, the University has added the international experience of Professor David Wilson to its teaching staff. Professor Wilson is a professor in dentistry and health science (oral and maxillofacial pathology). He has joined CSU at Orange from the International Medical University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Professor Wilson has also worked in Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and has about 30 years undergraduate and postgraduate teaching experience in oral pathology. He maintains ongoing clinical practice and research into specialist diagnostic oral histopathology. His research interests include oral cancer, oral diseases and forensic odontology.  The new courses offered through the CSU School of Dentistry and Health Sciences  in 2009 include the Bachelor of Dental Science and a Bachelor of Oral Health in Dental Therapy/Dental Hygiene.

Teacher education students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo have spent Children’s Week interacting with school children this week as part of their after-school fieldwork program, which allows undergraduates to gain hands-on experience relevant to their future careers. CSU education lecturer Maria Bennet says the courses prepare students for the modern classroom. “Students are working with the Smith Family, Apollo House and engaging with on-campus playgroup sessions to develop an understanding of children and their needs,” she says. “The program allows our students to network and develop relationships with, and an understanding of, children and their community. These attributes help make a positive difference to children and families.” Children’s Week is a national annual event celebrating the right of children to enjoy childhood.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will host a barbeque at the Dubbo Campus on Monday 3 November to farewell 18 nursing students who have completed a three-year nursing degree with the School of Nursing and Midwifery. The nursing students have just returned after four weeks focussing on their transitions to becoming registered nurses as they are now eligible to register with the NSW Nurses and Midwives Board. Subject coordinator at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the Dubbo campus, Ms Lyn Croxon, said “The nursing students received great support from the staff in the hospitals in which they undertook the clinical placement. The University thanks these health settings for the support of our programs as the clinical element is an integral component of the course.” The students originate from Dubbo and the surrounding region, and the majority have accepted positions at Dubbo Base Hospital, Lourdes Hospital, Dubbo Mental Health Unit, and regional hospitals such as Narromine, Gilgandra, Nyngan, Wellington, Warren, and Bathurst. Several students will practice in Newcastle and Tamworth.

A national award promoting religious harmony and acceptance within Australian society has been bestowed on Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer in theology, Associate Professor Clive Pearson. The principal of the United Theological College (UTC) in Sydney, within the CSU School of Theology, received an Australian Affinity Award in September. The award recognised Professor Pearson’s significant contributions in the study of religion, interfaith and intercultural dialogue, and the ‘facilitating' by CSU in this dialogue. Associate Professor Pearson was particularly recognised for his work on the public theology of issues of diversity in Sydney, including analysis of the riots in the Sydney suburb of Cronulla in December 2005. “The United Theological College has been working with Affinity and Sydney’s Islamic community firstly out of concern for the neighbour, for the stranger in our midst and a concern for social cohesion,” said Associate Professor Pearson. “We have attended and presented at each other's conferences because we believe that it is important for a Christian theology to be done these days in the presence of the religious other as well as the secular.”

A new information technology (IT) course to be offered by Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Bathurst will be launched on Friday 7 November by the Hon. Phillip Costa, MP, NSW Minister for Water, Rural Affairs and Regional Development. The Bachelor of Information Technology (Business Services) degree has been developed by CSU and international computer firm IBM to keep pace with rapidly evolving industry needs and will provide skilled IT professionals for a range of industries. Head of the CSU School of Accounting and Computer Science, Associate Professor Ross Wilson, said, “The degree, which offers a mix of technical and business aspects that reflects what industry is looking for, will be offered from the start of 2009 and will incorporate flexible delivery to facilitate concurrent work experience. All 22 students accepted into the new course will be fully supported by scholarships funded by industry partners IBM, Country Energy and the NSW Department of Lands.”