A student attending Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange has been awarded a Rural Scholarship from the Royal Agricultural Society Foundation to help her realise her dream of becoming a regional dentist. Ms Grace Amey, 22, is in her second year of the CSU Bachelor of Dental Science and is passionate about returning to western NSW to practice dentistry once she graduates. “I work at a dental clinic in my home town of Dubbo when I’m not at uni,” Ms Amey said. “I see so many people come to the clinic from further west who have to wait months to see a dentist. There is so much demand for health professionals.” Ms Amey’s $5 000 scholarship will help her with the cost of equipment needed for her course. “It’s a big help to have this kind of support.” The RAS Rural Scholarships are available to support individuals in NSW who demonstrate a passion for rural issues and whose studies will add value to rural communities.

Local mother of two, Ms Kellie Maskey now has further incentive to complete her degree having received a Rural Scholarship from the Royal Agricultural Society Foundation. Studying a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo, Ms Maskey was thrilled to receive a $5 000 scholarship to help complete her studies. "I'll put the money towards education costs like text books and the support needed while I'm on practicum placement," Ms Maskey, 28, said. With a third child due in a matter of weeks, Ms Maskey is aware of the hurdles she'll face finishing her degree. "I'm in my third year of the course but next year could be extremely challenging. I was really excited to be interviewed for the scholarship and to be awarded the prize."  The RAS Rural Scholarships are available to support individuals in NSW who demonstrate a passion for rural issues and whose studies will add value to rural communities. "I hope to teach locally and in the long-term work in a more rural and remote location."

Charles Sturt University graduate David Ford has won the Great Australian Story Challenge with his short film, A Little Bit of Magic. David graduated this year with a Bachelor of Arts (Television Production), and will now spend three months working with Australian Story at ABC TV. “I have a lot of respect for both the program and the ABC. I feel I have the capacity to make good stories, but it is also knowing how to work within a particular production environment. I don’t know where it will take me or what it will hold but it is looking optimistic.” A Little Bit of Magic tells the story of Cliff Armitage, who had an amazing career change since being involved in the gun control policy formation after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. David says making the film was a challenge “because I was doing the lighting, sound and camera, as well as producing and directing and researching”. Last year David filmed a travelogue documentary about his time spent at an African AIDS orphanage, which airs in July on cable TV in Australia, and later in New Zealand and Indonesia.

Carers of people with a mental illness are the focus of a new research project by a psychology student at Charles Sturt University (CSU). Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) Honours student Mr Gerald Haslinger is seeking participants in a confidential survey which aims to find out more about the experience of unpaid carers and mental health service providers in caring for someone with a mental illness. “I am interested in hearing from unpaid carers and service providers, and what they understand about the Recovery approach to caring for someone living with a mental illness, an approach that is widely accepted within the mental health sector.  My study seeks to find out the level of awareness of this approach amongst mental health service providers as well as unpaid carers.” Mr Haslinger, an education and training officer with a non-government agency in Sydney, has extended the survey until Friday 13 July.  He is completing his degree by distance education through the School of Psychology at CSU in Wagga Wagga. For further details about the survey, contact Mr Haslinger on his email  or take the survey here.

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Regional and Remote Learning Support Team will visit towns around NSW starting on Tuesday 10 July to provide advice and assistance to its new and continuing distance education students. The CSU Regional and Remote Learning Support Team will visit Broken Hill, Parkes, Griffith, Mudgee, Narrabri, Coffs Harbour, Moree, Bega, Bourke, and Cooma. Team manager, Mr James Brann, said, “This is the third study support tour in 2012 to enhance the University’s distance education students’ experience of their courses and their prospects for successful completion. The Regional and Remote Learning Support program provides students who may never visit their campus with access to support and information that students studying on campus may take for granted. The sessions provide group presentations as well as the opportunity for students to make individual face-to-face appointments with staff for support with their studies.”

The 25th Western District National Photographic Exhibition opens at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Thursday 12 July with a display of 100 images by photographers from around Australia. The Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo, Dr Beverley Moriarty said, “Charles Sturt University is delighted to again host this vibrant national exhibition approved by the Australian Photographic Society”. The exhibition is coordinated by Dubbo’s Mrs Lorna White from the Western Districts National Committee. “This is one of 17 approved national exhibitions held around Australia each year, open to all photographers in Australia who choose to compete to be exhibited,” Ms White said. “There are images from most states in Australia in five categories; Colour, Monochrome, Nature, People, and Photojournalism. Photographs in each category are assessed by three judges, and the selected images are exhibited with first, second and merits awarded. Some local photographers with works on display include Geoff Wheeler, Brian White, and Margaret Pollard.”

Three teacher-chaperones accompanying a delegation of exchange students from Wujiang, Dubbo’s sister-city in China, will tour Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo at 3.30pm on Friday 20 July during their four-day visit to the city. Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo, Dr Bev Moriarty, will host and escort the teachers from the Wujiang Experimental Primary School on their tour of the University campus. “I look forward to welcoming the Wujiang teachers to Charles Sturt University and showing them around our growing campus, particularly the new Dental Clinic,” Dr Moriarty said. The 15 primary school students and their teachers are being hosted by Dubbo South Primary School and 10 Dubbo families from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 July. They will be officially welcomed to Dubbo by the Mayor, Councillor Mathew Dickerson, and during their stay they will also visit the Old Dubbo Goal, the Western Plains Zoo, the Dubbo Observatory, and will enjoy an Aussie-style barbeque as well as spend time with the host families.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Regional Development Australia (Central West) will host the Agribusiness Today 2012 forum highlighting opportunities for grain producers at the Forbes Services Memorial Club on Thursday 2 August. Dr Karl Behrendt, director of the Australasian Agribusiness Research Centre at CSU’s School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, said the forum’s focus is ‘Getting the pulse on cereals and oilseeds’. “Agribusiness Today 2012 is a free day-long forum to update central west grain growers and industry leaders about crop trends in the northern hemisphere and potential demand from Asia for their crops,” Dr Behrendt said. “Participants will hear from a range of experts from the CSIRO, Rabobank, NSW Department of Primary Industries, and others, as well as two international speakers from Argentina, Dr Roberto Peiretti and Ms Cintia Castagnino. Peak Hill farmer Mr Grant Byrne, who is the Conservation Farmer of the Year 2011, will also speak about resilience and adaptive cropping systems.”

The independent federal member for New England, Mr Tony Windsor, MP, will be the guest speaker at the biennial Tony McGrane Memorial Scholarship Dinner at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Monday 24 September. The Acting Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo, Dr Patricia Logan, said, “We are delighted that Mr Windsor has agreed to speak at the dinner. As a rural independent like Mr McGrane, Mr Windsor brings a regional perspective and voice to policy deliberations, and his contribution as guest speaker at the dinner will provide insight into some of the topical issues confronting the nation.” Mr McGrane, OAM, was a former Mayor of Dubbo (1991-99) and was subsequently the independent Member for Dubbo in the NSW Parliament. The memorial scholarship fund was established in his name in 2010 to ensure that students from western NSW are able to gain a university education. Tickets for the dinner are on sale for $130 per head. To purchase, please contact Ms Christine Stewart at CSU on (02) 6885 7370.