The effective management of diabetes, one of Australia’s major health problems, will come through input from a range of health professionals, not just a general practitioner (GP), says Professor of Rural and Remote Pharmacy Patrick Ball of Charles Sturt University (CSU). In response to the Federal Government’s plan to keep the growing number of diabetics out of hospital, Professor Ball said one-on-one professional input from diabetes educators, dietitians, pharmacists, physiotherapists and exercise physiologists are needed to tackle the health problem. “While additional resources are welcome, the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s plan seems to lack a clear appreciation of how the outcomes will best be delivered, particularly in inland Australia,” Professor Ball said. “While the GP must always be kept in the information loop, routing all the resources through already over-worked general practices is unlikely to be the best way to achieve the outcomes for which the government is aiming.” Professor Ball believes the successful control of Type 2 Diabetes requires that the diabetic takes their prescribed treatment but successful management also requires a change of diet and lifestyle.  “This has to come from the person, the family and the community.  How can one person change their diet if the rest of their household will not?  How can people walk more if we don’t have safe streets and pavements?” questioned Professor Ball.

A leading climate change researcher with Charles Sturt University (CSU) believes delaying the emissions trading scheme (ETS) will cost every Australian in the long run. Professor Kevin Parton, a lead researcher with CSU’s Institute for Land, Water and Society, said the Federal government’s decision to delay the introduction of the scheme until after 2012 to wait and see what the rest of the world will do on carbon emissions was no reason to delay. “The three biggest polluters are USA, China and Europe. China is developing green technologies, and Europe already has an ETS. They are going to be way ahead of Australia,” Professor Parton said. “The media has greatly exaggerated the cost of an ETS to the public, leading to falling public support for the scheme. And the government doesn’t want to take the scheme to its first election.” Professor Parton said under ‘business as usual’ without an ETS, Australia can expect to double its average level of income by 2050. “But with the ETS this income doubling would be delayed only one year.”

TAFE students who have enrolled in or recently completed Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses at the Canberra Institute of Technology, TAFE NSW Riverina Institute and TAFE Western can now win scholarships to further their education at Charles Sturt University (CSU). Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at CSU, Professor Ross Chambers, says applications for the 12 scholarships, each worth $2 500, are available for 2010, with four scholarships available at each institution. “The CSU University Pathway Scholarship Program is part of the University’s ongoing commitment to create strong education pathways and collaboration from TAFE to University in our regional cities and regions,” says Professor Chambers. Dr Colin Adrian, Chief Executive of the Canberra Institute of Technology, said it is extremely important that people with financial constraints are given the opportunity to further their education. “People top up their education to advance their careers and keep abreast of technical and social changes,” Dr Adrian said. “We no longer live in a world where one basic qualification will last our entire working life.” Scholarship applications will close on Friday 27 November, with offers due to be made to successful TAFE students on Friday 11 December.

Staff at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Policing Studies in Goulburn, NSW, have raised more than $3 000 for Ms Jan Pike, a Riding for the Disabled champion who is aiming to compete at the 2012 London Paralympics. The Head of the School of Policing Studies, Associate Professor Rosemary Woolston, said, “We’re delighted with the fundraising efforts by CSU staff and some police staff at the college. So far we have raised over $3 000 dollars and we still have an outstanding raffle from which we expect to raise more money. These funds will be used to assist Ms Pike to get to the Paralympics in London in 2012 by helping with necessities such as horse feed, farrier services, agistment fees, equipment and maintenance, accommodation for training and competition, and travel.”

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Policing Studies in Goulburn received a NSW Premier’s Public Sector Awards 2009 Commendation on Friday 7 May for its Indigenous Police Recruitment Out West Delivery (IPROWD) project. The award was in the category of Engaging with the Community, and included CSU’s program delivery partners the Department of Police and Emergency Services, NSW Police Force, the Department of Education and Training, and TAFE Western Institute. The Head of the School of Policing Studies, Associate Professor Rosemary Woolston, said, “The School of Policing Studies has been actively involved in this program since its inception and has worked closely with TAFE Dubbo to ensure the curriculum suitably prepares the Indigenous students for study in the Associate Degree in Policing Practice, the entry course for the NSW Police Force. In particular, Mr Paul Comino, a lecturer in the School, has been a key player in this project.”

The Curate at Saint John’s Canberra will be honoured for outstanding academic achievements at Charles Sturt University (CSU) when she is awarded the CSU Medal at her graduation on Thursday 20 May. Ordained as an Anglican Deacon in November 2009, The Rev. Susan Bridge will be awarded a Bachelor of Theology with Distinction during the CSU graduation ceremony from 5pm in the Parramatta Town Hall in Sydney. The graduate is a lawyer and worked in senior management positions before leaving her former career to study at CSU through the St Mark's National Theological Centre by distance education. The Rev. Bridge moved from Sydney to Canberra in the final year of her degree in 2009 to continue her studies on campus and to be ordained in the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn. "I loved studying at St Mark's and now I am delighted to be involved in the life of a vibrant Anglican parish based in the Canberra suburb of Reid," she said.

It has been a busy few months for Ms Amanda Davies, a lecturer with the School of Policing Studies  at CSU in Goulburn. The award-winning lecturer recently published a book and conducted research in the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada. The CSU academic visited the UK to research the use of simulation in policing training. “I am interviewing police in the field who have undertaken training through simulation and reflecting on how this has impacted on their professional practice. The research seeks to inform the design, implementation and educational benefits of using simulation in the future training of police.” Ms Davies then moved onto Canada for the implementation of Problem Based Learning in policing. “In Canada, I travelled between the Durham Regional Police Service and Sudbury Regional Police, meeting training officers, field offices and recruits to understand how they have implemented the Problem Based Learning concepts into their recruit training.” Ms Davies’ new book evaluates the impact of delivering fire investigation studies using a CD-ROM with virtual fire scene scenarios.

Former and current police officers and school teachers are sought to participate in Charles Sturt University (CSU) research about decision-making in their careers. The study by Ms Loene Howes, a psychology student and a teacher for 14 years, will focus on the career decision-making of police officers and teachers who stay in these professions or enter new careers. “In particular, I need former school teachers and police officers who have gone into other fields, as well as current police officers and school teachers, to complete an anonymous online survey,” said Ms Howes. "The survey usually takes 10 to 30 minutes to complete, depending on how many questions are relevant to the experience of the individual completing the survey. I hope my research will be of use to police officers and teachers considering career change, counsellors assisting police officers and teachers with career transitions, and police and education departments in addressing the needs of staff and keeping experienced staff in the professions.” The survey can be found here. 

While 2009 provides Charles Sturt University (CSU) with an opportunity to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the year is also a time to honour the 114-year tradition of excellence and innovation in teaching, learning and research. The University was established when the Charles Sturt University Act was passed by the NSW Parliament in July 1989, however the institution’s history can be traced back to the Bathurst Experimental Farm, established in 1895.The official opening ceremony for the University’s 20th anniversary will be held from 11am, Thursday 12 March, in Joyes Hall at CSU at Wagga Wagga. Read more here.