Parents, teachers and others who work with children in a variety of settings are invited to hear about the latest research at an information day at the Research in Early Childhood Conference 2006 to be held in Dubbo tomorrow (Friday 10 November) at Charles Sturt University (CSU).   Presented by CSU Dubbo 3rd Year Early Childhood students and Early Childhood Australia Inc NSW Central Far West Regional Group (ECA), the conference will feature research from “nationally-known speakers who are very well known in the field,” according to Laura McFarland, a lecturer with the School of Teacher Education.   “Margaret Young, National President of ECA, and Judy Kynaston, Executive Director of the Country Children's Services Association of NSW, will both be talking about current trends in Early Childhood.”   Ms McFarland says student’s research topics include “a series of interviews with teachers in the field about their behaviour management techniques and what is successful, another group looked at fertility choices of university students and non university students, another was about food choices of parents and children, and also how parents decide on when to send their children to kindergarten.”   The Dubbo community and local media are welcome to attend the conference. “The student research projects are applicable to parents, teachers as well as the community in general.”   Media note: Media are invited to attend the conference. For interviews, contact CSU Media.

The generosity of an Australian non-profit organisation has guaranteed four Charles Sturt University (CSU) Dentistry students receive more than $50,000 each towards their studies. At a recent scholarship and award function at CSU in Orange, the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF) awarded four first-year students annual scholarships of $10,000 during their five years of study. Since 1962 the VFFF has distributed in excess of $70 million to non-profit organisations in Australia. The future of young people is of particular interest to the VFFF, as are the special needs of Australians living beyond the major metropolitan centres, particularly in rural and outback Australia. “With graduates from the School Dentistry and Health Sciences encouraged to practice in regional Australia, these scholarships are not only helping four students each year, they stand to benefit regional Australia as a whole,” said Head of School, Professor David Wilson.

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) students who formed 18 teams to compete in 10 sports at the recent 2010 Eastern University Games at Coffs Harbour in NSW came fourth overall on points and won the Ann Mitchell Cup for points scored per capita of university enrolments. The CSU team manager, Mr Nik Granger, said, “This is a very good result from a great week of competition where all our students participated in the right spirit. The Charles Sturt University team comprised 180 students from all our campuses, as well as some distance education students. The competition was extremely good, and we had a few teams heading for gold medals. After dominating the pools, our highly-fancied Mixed Touch Football team took the silver medal when, in the final game, they contested a University of Wollongong side that contained a number of national representative players. The Ten Pin Bowlers were the surprise, finishing the competition with a silver medal, as did one of the Lawn Bowls teams. We can be very proud of this effort.”

Photographers from around Australia will display their work at the 23rd Western District National Photographic Exhibition which opens at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Friday 16 July. The Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo, Dr Beverley Moriarty, said, “Charles Sturt University is delighted to host this Australian Photographic Society approved national exhibition. It is one of 17 approved national exhibitions held around Australia each year. These exhibitions are open to all photographers in Australia who choose to compete to be exhibited. Photographs in each category are assessed by three from a panel of six judges, and the selected images are exhibited. This year there are 100 images from most states in Australia, in several categories; Monochrome Open, Colour Open, Nature, People, Creative, and Photojournalism. Some local photographers with works on display include David Slack-Smith, Geoff Wheeler, and Brian and Lorna White.”

A trial project encouraging Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff to take personal responsibility for cutting their computer and monitor energy use has concluded with results showing energy use dropped by one-third. Meters were installed in the offices of volunteers from the School of Education at CSU in Wagga Wagga for two week periods earlier this year. In the first week of the trial, participants were instructed to use their computers ‘as per usual’. In the second week they made a conscious effort to use less energy by turning computers off at the power point at the end of each day and by switching off monitors when leaving the room for more than 10 minutes. “The project found that energy use in the second week fell by an average of 32 per cent,” said team member Ms Barbara Conlan. The amount of energy saved in the second week was 62 kilowatt-hours for the 30 volunteers, equivalent to an annual saving of approximately $470. “One of the aims of this project was to promote a cultural change within Charles Sturt University as well as to provide case studies for education students on ways to be environmentally sustainable in schools, workplaces and homes.”

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Winery is still celebrating after being named one of the winners of a 2010 Inland Tourism Award. The winery took out the Wineries, Distilleries and Boutique Breweries Award during a ceremony held at the Temora Aviation Museum on Saturday 24 July. Established in 1977 at CSU in Wagga Wagga, the commercial winery produces premium varietal table wines. The Winery is tightly integrated with the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga and the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre.   “We are thrilled to be recognised for providing a great experience for visitors to Wagga Wagga and the Riverina,” winemaker Mr Andrew Drumm said. The CSU Winery has a number of awards to its name including 25 trophies and 95 gold medals.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) Health and Safety in Early Childhood Settings students will once again be holding their annual Health and Wellbeing Expos, this year at Kelso Public School as well as a local shopping centre in Dubbo. Lynda Ireland, a lecturer in CSU’s School of Teacher Education, says the expos are about “trying to encourage early childhood professionals students to see there is a connection between community health and early childhood education. It is really nice to show that the University is out there interacting with the community. The students get a real buzz from the response that they get to their health topics”. She says the topics include “asthma, road safety, sun safety, emotional wellbeing, caring for babies, water safety, farm safety, allergies, anaphylaxis, things that are relevant to the children.”

Participants from Charles Sturt University (CSU) recently returned from a three-day OzGreen YouthLead workshop in Sydney. Thanks to sponsorship from CSU Green, one student and one trainee attended the conference “to gain leadership training and learn more about eco-social projects that forge pathways to sustainable futures,” said CSU Green manager Mr William Adlong. Ms Lucy Denniss-Arnold, a trainee at CSU, attended the workshop and was impressed with the calibre of young people who also took part. “Never have I been in the presence of a more compassionate, kind, welcoming group of people. They made the workshop a joy.” Ms Denniss-Arnold found the course inspiring and moving. Mr Adlong said that CSU Green may look to continue offering the sponsorship in future years. “It engages participants deeply with sustainability issues and builds commitment to take actions that make a difference.”

Students on the NSW North Coast can look forward to increased options and opportunities in higher education when TAFE NSW North Coast Institute and Charles Sturt University (CSU) sign a formal Memorandum of Understanding in Port Macquarie on Friday 23 July. CSU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Ross Chambers said the arrangement focuses on academic collaboration, including integrated programs that combine TAFE and university qualifications. “The agreement will increase the number and range of formal study pathways and articulation arrangements between the two institutions, which will allow students to complete a university degree without moving away from home,” he said. Institute Director for TAFE NSW North Coast Institute, Ms Elizabeth McGregor said that the MOU would support Commonwealth Government initiatives aimed at developing a more highly qualified population in regional Australia. “The local Education and Skills Forum is developing a collaborative approach to expand tertiary education on the North Coast, and TAFE NSW North Coast Institute and other forum members welcome Charles Sturt University’s decision to join us in these efforts,” she said.