With the cost of the Federal election running into the tens of millions of dollars, two Charles Sturt University (CSU) academics have spoken out in favour of voting online, stating it would be cheaper, secure and more efficient. “Australians are able to do their taxes online, bank online and even register to vote online,” lecturers Mr Geoff Fellows and Mr Ken Eustace said. “Yet Australians still turn up to polling stations around the country and have their names crossed off the roll in pencil and then mark their ballot papers in pencil. The technology is there for the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) to conduct the poll online. Voters could use their Medicare numbers to vote at portable ATM-style machines. The votes could still be scrutinised and it may reduce the number of voters who mistakenly vote informal if the system ensures invalid votes are authorised. Voters could also vote from home by pre-registering their computer and then voting through a special website. The AEC could even charge the political parties to have links from the special site to election material.”

Nursing is the focus of a careers night to be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Wednesday 1 September. Ms Cathy Maginnis, academic advisor for the Bachelor of Nursing at the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health at CSU in Dubbo, said, “The evening provides the opportunity for anyone interested in a nursing career to get expert information from the guest speakers about the courses available at Charles Sturt University. Prospective students will be able to learn about the campus, and speak to nursing students,  graduates and staff about the course and career options.” Enquiries about the nursing careers information evening can be made to Ms Kellie Butler, Administration and Clinical Placements Assistant at the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health at CSU in Dubbo on 02 6885 7321 or send an email.

Tickets for the inaugural fund-raising dinner for the Tony McGrane Memorial Scholarship at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Friday 24 September are on sale for $120 each, with all proceeds going to the scholarship fund. Head of Campus in Dubbo, Dr Beverley Moriarty, said, “Former Dubbo Mayor Tony McGrane’s legacy continues to serve the people of Dubbo and the region, and it is fitting that the memorial scholarship fund we are establishing in his name will ensure students from western NSW will be able to gain a university education. We’re also delighted to have received the portrait of Tony McGrane by artist Ms Leonie Sainsbury, to be on display at the dinner.” To purchase tickets to the dinner please contact Ms Christine Stewart at CSU on 02 6885 7370 or send an email. Businesses and community members who wish to support the Tony McGrane Memorial Scholarship can obtain sponsorship details from Dr Moriarty or Ms Stewart.

The success of a scholarship program for students moving from TAFE to Charles Sturt University (CSU) is being expanded in the wake of its success. CSU’s ‘TAFE to University’ Scholarship Program was developed last year specifically for Diploma and Advanced Diploma students studying at TAFE NSW’s Riverina Institute and TAFE Western, and the Canberra Institute of Technology. Due to the program’s success, it has now been expanded to include an additional five TAFE institutes. The move doubles the number of scholarships available to TAFE students in 2011. Three scholarships are available to each of the TAFE providers. “Charles Sturt University is committed to creating strong education pathways. Our collaboration with TAFE institutes is a great example of how educators can work together to ensure students reach their potential,” Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at CSU, Professor Ross Chambers said. Applications for the $2 500 scholarships are open until 5pm on Friday 26 November 2010.

Ms Libby Clark from Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Community Health sometimes feels a twinge of sorrow for tele-operators whose job it is to sit on the phone all day, trying to maintain a calm, clear voice as they either deal with complaints or try to sell a product. “I know we all loath those telephone calls, but after working with these people, and realising how hard this type of work is for the human voice, it really does make me feel sorry for them,” she said. As a discipline leader in speech pathology at the School of Community Health, Ms Clark spends a great deal of time helping people develop their voice for their working life. “Our voice, our speech and our language skills are central to everything we do as human beings,” she said. “It’s It’s how we develop and maintain relationships, but it's also really important for our working lives.” As well as feeling empathy for tele-operators, Ms Clark has concerns for the elderly. “It's important to spend time working with the elderly because if they often find it hard to be heard - especially if they have had some kind of communication impairment like a stroke or have a hearing loss. Just because they are old, doesn't mean they don't have a right to have a say, to be heard, to have a voice in what goes on in their lives.” Dr Clark has worked on voice and speech production skills with tour guides, sport professionals, teachers and business leaders. Speech Pathology Australia is hosting Speech Pathology Week from 22 to 28 August.                                        

The Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly, Mr Richard Torbay, MLC, will be the guest speaker at an inaugural fund-raising dinner for the Tony McGrane Memorial Scholarship at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Friday 24 September. The CSU Head of Campus in Dubbo, Dr Beverley Moriarty, said, “The dinner is a significant opportunity for the people of Dubbo to honour Mr McGrane and support the development of Charles Sturt University. The Tony McGrane Scholarship Fund has been established to make scholarships available to students from the Orana region and the Dubbo electorate to attend the University in Dubbo. The scholarship fund will be a lasting recognition of the involvement of Mr McGrane in the establishment of Charles Sturt University in Dubbo during his term as Mayor of Dubbo from 1991 to 1999. Mr Torbay was a long- time colleague of Mr McGrane in local and state governments.”

A nursing lecturer was recognised with an award last week for more than 10 years teaching service at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo. Ms Lyn Croxon, lecturer at the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health in Dubbo, said she had seen many changes during this time. “It is easy to stay in a profession which you enjoy, and the last 10 years at Charles Sturt University have been demanding but a lot of fun,” Ms Croxon said. “I teach both theoretical and clinical classes to on campus and distance education students. For the last year I have been Course Coordinator for the Bachelor of Nursing. This degree is taught to over 1 500 students across the University’s five campuses and by distance education. I coordinated the clinical placements for students across the Greater Western Area Health Service region for eight years and appreciate the support that the regional health services offer to our students. When I call or visit a health facility in the region, I often find I am speaking to a Charles Sturt University graduate who has returned to a local health facility to work as a Registered Nurse.”

Representing Dubbo as a member of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) governing board, CSU Council  is one way that Dr Patricia Logan feels she can give back to the regional city that has welcomed her family. Having moved to Dubbo 15 years ago to take an academic position in the University’s School of Biomedical Sciences, Dr Logan and her family enjoy living in the region.  “My daughters went to school in Dubbo and the eldest has returned to work here,” Dr Logan said. “We certainly feel we are part of the community. When the girls were growing up we were at pony club, volleyball and even Irish dancing lessons. Now it’s great to give something back. The city has been good to us as a family.” As a member of the CSU Council, Dr Logan hopes to continue the work done by former Council member Ms Heather Bell from CSU in Dubbo. “By having someone from Charles Sturt University in Dubbo on the CSU Council, it keeps the centre in people’s minds,” Dr Logan said.

Nguluway, the Wiradjuri word for ‘Meeting with Each Other’, is the title under which Indigenous staff from across Charles Sturt University (CSU) will meet this week for their annual conference. About 30 Indigenous staff are expected to attend the two-day event at the Convention Centre at CSU in Wagga Wagga from Wednesday 11 August to Thursday 12 August. Wiradjuri Elder Aunty Flo Grant will give the Welcome to Country from 9.20am on Wednesday 11 August. CSU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Ian Goulter will address Nguluway at 9.30am and the Indigenous dance group from Wagga Wagga Maliyaa, will perform at 10am. Indigenous Elders and community members will join CSU staff for these sessions of Nguluway. The University’s Australian Indigenous Employment Strategy aims to increase the proportion of Indigenous staff in continuing positions and boost the overall representation of Indigenous staff to three per cent. Read more about the strategy here.