Melinda Fox should have graduated with a Charles Sturt University (CSU) degree early childhood education in 2006 but instead became a mother three months early - and assignments took a backseat to a new baby. Melinda, 23, will be the first Aboriginal to graduate from the program in Dubbo this Thursday having completed her studies soon after her daughter Shanaya was born. “I still had three assignments to do when Shanaya was born last January,” Melinda says. “My lecturers were really supportive and gave me extensions so I could complete the assignments by May.” Melinda enjoyed the practical side of the degree working in childcare centres in Dubbo, Orange, Mount Druitt and Narromine. “I loved working with children throughout my degree and the theory has helped me understand my own child’s developmental stages.” Sixteen month old Shanaya will be at the graduation ceremony with Melinda’s mum cheering her on as she celebrates her latest achievement.

While grain growers rejoice, a Charles Sturt University (CSU) livestock expert is warning recent widespread rainfall across New South Wales and Victoria brings risks as well as great benefits for pastoralists. Professor Kym Abbott from the CSU School of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences Wagga Wagga Campus says sheep flocks and cattle herds face the increased threat of parasitic infestation over the next four to six weeks as parasite larvae, that had lain dormant in the soil, move onto pastures. He is urging sheep and cattle producers to closely monitor parasite egg counts over the next few months to treat sheep if necessary but avoid the excessive use of drenches. Professor Abbott says sheep and calves in particular risk weight loss and scour from parasites such as Brown Stomach worm, Black Scour worm and Nematodirus which thrive after prolonged periods of drought.

Kiama High School pupils will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) Dubbo Campus tomorrow to hear about CSU’s innovative Enhanced Training Program for teaching in schools with significant Aboriginal enrolments. Tracey Simpson, senior lecturer and Associate Head of the School of Teacher Education at CSU Dubbo, is the driving force behind the program. She explains that fourth year Bachelor of Teaching students, who participate in the Enhanced Program, take on subjects that explore “Aboriginal history and social justice issues, as well as working within schools and communities where there are Aboriginal families”. Todd Mackie, who attended Kiama High, is currently undertaking the Enhanced Program, which he describes as, “Extremely positive. It is amazing how the learning experiences in the program are starting to connect and help us see the bigger picture - addressing systematic educational inequalities."

Academics and other professional staff at Charles Sturt University (CSU) are being introduced to the next wave of online change. Associate Professor Marian Tulloch, the Director of the Centre for Enhanced Learning and Teaching (CELT), will introduce the new online learning and teaching environment CSU Interact at a series of seminars on CSU’s campuses between 7 May and 16 May. “In early 2008 CSU Interact the new online collaborative scholarly environment will be rolled out across the University for learning and teaching,” Professor Tulloch said. “As part of CSU’s flexible learning strategy it will provide an integrated, enhanced and evolving learning environment for on and off campus students. Because it is a complex and collaborative process, these seminars will provide an opportunity for staff to hear more about the development of CSU Interact, to ask questions, and make suggestions.”

Western New South Wales year 11 students will learn how to study and write essays more effectively at the annual Study Skills Day to be held at Dubbo Campus of Charles Sturt University (CSU) this Friday (27 April). Organiser Heather Bell said sessions will include time management, motivation, note taking and HSC Online. As well, “This year the school students will hear a presentation about what we offer at CSU,” Ms Bell said. Angela Calvert from Parkes is in the first year of her CSU Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood). She attended the Dubbo Study Skills Day two years ago. “Before that I hadn’t really been thinking much about going to University, but then I really liked the Campus and the interaction between the lecturers and the students. It really helped in my HSC. It was a fun day.”

Prospective students are investigating the hundreds of course options at Charles Sturt University (CSU) as part of the 2007 mid-year intake. Tuesday 1 May is the mid-year deadline for enrolling to study nursing fulltime on the University’s Albury-Wodonga Campus or performing and visual arts on its Wagga Wagga Campus. More than 200 courses are available at undergraduate and post-graduate levels through distance education, including courses in business, theology, communication, information technology, applied science, health science, paramedic and rural studies. CSU nursing student Jessica Roennfeldt, from CSU’s Albury-Wodonga Campus, said: “I’m glad I applied for the 2006 mid-year intake because it’s been a great way to start my professional training. There was no need to wait another six months.”

Young people’s access to educational opportunities can be adversely affected by drought, according to new research that will be presented at a national conference soon. Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Professor Margaret Alston and Dr Jenny Kent will present the final report on their research at the conference which will be hosted by the Federal Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST), the Foundation for Regional / Rural Renewal (FRRR) and CSU. Former Deputy Prime Minister and conference convenor Ian Sinclair will join with members of the Myer family, who are the major donors to the FRRR, at the official welcome starting at 2pm on Tuesday 17 April at the Nowik Auditorium, CSU Albury City site, Guinea St, Albury.

The Australian wine industry will benefit from Charles Sturt University (CSU) research to prevent revenue loss for Shiraz growers. A research team, led by senior lecturer in viticulture at the School of Wine and Food Sciences Dr Dennis Greer, is using business intelligence software to investigate water loss from Shiraz grapes. The project has received about $2 million funding from the Australian Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation. Shiraz grapes lose up to 20 per cent of their water content at the end of the growing season which means growers, who are paid on weight, lose up to 20 per cent of their potential revenue. Data including grape bunch weights, carbon dioxide and water vapour emissions is collected every five minutes over several days. According to Dr Greer, "This is relatively new science that has not been done on Shiraz grapes before".

In what’s been described as a "U-turn of dramatic proportions", the same study that in 2002 warned menopausal women to abandon Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has now released findings that show HRT risks are not as bad as first thought. The Women's Health Initiative Study (WHIS), a major 15-year research program to address the most common causes of death, disability and poor quality of life in postmenopausal women, last week stated any additional risks may apply only to older women. Charles Sturt University (CSU) biomedical researcher Dr Christopher Scott says he is not surprised by the new findings. “The initial findings were quite scary, but since then they have done a lot more thorough number-crunching. HRT is considered to be beneficial to deal with the symptoms of menopause, but a woman with a strong family history of breast cancer and cardiovascular should not take HRT long term. You have to look at the particular person and what they want to use it for and how long they want to use it.”