The CSU Media team welcomes you to 2010. We hope you had a safe and enjoyable holiday season, and that the year ahead is a healthy one.

Resources collated in a national education project, to be launched in Canberra on Wednesday 26 October, will provide a major boost for early childhood education students says Professor Sue Dockett, project team leader from Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Murray School of Education. “Funding for the Early Childhood Education Workforce Project was available for only a limited time, so it has been really important that the outcomes of this project are sustainable. Although funding for the collaboration will finish, the resources will have a life of their own. They will have an influence far beyond the life of the project and will be freely available across the country. Regional and remote communities, in particular, will benefit in lots of ways. The studying teachers are working in communities where there aren’t many educators and they should feel valued and important. This project recognises the value quality educators give to a community. They can upgrade their qualifications and stay within their chosen community It’s a chance to look at career options without necessarily having to change location, so quality education is accessible and the profession is gaining and retaining the best qualified educators.”

Four students from Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Ontario Campus, Canada have arrived in Dubbo to work at Buninyong and Wellington Public Schools as part of their studies. Ms Angelica Barone, Ms Laura Donnelly, Ms Lucy Lee and Ms Wendy Wright have been provided accommodation on the CSU Dubbo Campus during their stay and will complete their practical studies as part of their Bachelor of Primary Education Studies. Lecturer in the School of Education in Dubbo, Ms Alison Lord, is excited about the Canadian student’s arrival, having taught them during her secondment at CSU in Ontario. “These girls are passionate about children’s education,” Ms Lord said. “Their commitment to the course and their future careers is proven by travelling to the Western Region of NSW to complete their studies.”

A graduate of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) primary school teaching program at Ontario has taken out the ‘New teacher of the Year’ award in the 2010 Premier’s Award for Teaching Excellence. Ms Michelle Jerzyk teaches Grade 4/5 at Sam Sherratt Public School in Milton and graduated in 2007 from the Bachelor of Primary Education Studies (BPES). “Teaching is an extremely rewarding vocation. Each day, the kids in my class inspire me. It is truly amazing to see them want to come to class every day to learn, and to grow together,” Ms Jerzyk said. The Head of the Ontario School of Education, Dr Will Letts said, “The staff and alumni at Charles Sturt University are tremendously proud of Michelle’s achievement. As they say in Australia ‘good on her’! Michelle’s passion to meet the needs of each and every student, and her commitment to continuous learning and innovation in education, is a wonderful reflection of the values and objectives of our BPES program.” Ms Jerzyk said her training at CSU helped her become a better teacher. “Charles Sturt University’s approach is different than other universities. First, they want to meet you and actually interview you and, throughout the program, they place a lot of emphasis on practicum in the classroom and learning best practices and the latest education research. I think that helped to prepare me for the very demanding job of teaching and set me up for success,” she said.

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) reputation as a leader in early childhood education is highlighted by its involvement in the second Early Years Education Ontario Network (EYEON) Symposium on Friday 16 April. The event will bring together a range of organisations with responsibility for young children including 250 administrators, researchers, front-line teachers, early childhood educators, and government policy makers. The Program Director of CSU’s Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies, Dr Pat Dickinson said, “Charles Sturt University has provided substantial support in organising and facilitating the symposium, and continues to be an active member of EYEON. The main aim of the symposium is to link current teaching methods into research in early childhood education. EYEON members work to promote advocacy for children from infants to eight years by building knowledge and capacity, professional learning and research in action.” Other symposium sponsors are the Council for Early Child Development, the Peel District School Board, The Learning Partnership, and the Halton Catholic District School Board. The keynote speaker is Mr Jim Grieve, the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Early Learning Division in the Ontario Ministry of Education.

A former trained fire-fighter, paramedic, rock climbing expert and personal trainer will join a former professional singer and over 260 fellow graduates in the largest graduation ceremony ever held for Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Ontario. Dr Paula du Hamel Yellow Horn, a member of Canada’s First Nations, will receive her Doctorate in Education from the Faculty of Education in front of a large audience of CSU staff, family and friends including the University’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Ian Goulter, who has travelled from Australia for the event. Graduates from CSU’s Faculties of Arts, Business, Education and Science will receive awards on Friday 18 June in Burlington, Ontario. Other graduates include 12 members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who have completed CSU’s Bachelor of Policing degree.

New students to Charles Sturt University (CSU) wanting to apply for scholarships for the coming year will need to get their applications in before Monday 18 February. The scholarships, which are offered through the Charles Sturt Foundation, are awarded to students who have demonstrated high levels of academic performance, leadership and motivation throughout their school careers. Some scholarships are also available for students undergoing economic hardship, are disadvantaged, are Indigenous or are undertaking distance education with CSU. In 2007, the Foundation provided 235 students with ongoing support for their University studies through the scholarship program.

More than 500 mourners have attended a memorial service at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Wagga Wagga Campus on Monday 4 February to honour former Chancellor, Dr David Asimus, AO, who died on Australia Day 2008. Moving tributes to Dr Asimus were delivered in eulogies from Ian Macintosh, Ian Sully and son-in-law James Sutherland. The congregation included the Hon. Kay Hull, federal Member for Riverina; The Hon. Daryl McGuire, NSW Member for Wagga; John Fairfax, Chairman, Fairfax Media, the Hon. Tim Fischer, Former Deputy Prime Minister; The Rev. Archbishop Francis Carroll, Catholic Bishop of Canberra; Mr Lawrie Willet AO, Chancellor CSU and Mr James Sutherland, CEO Cricket Australia. Dr Asimus was elected the foundation Chancellor of CSU in 1989 and served in this post until 2002. As Chancellor, he oversaw the integration of the Riverina-Murray Institute of Higher Education and Mitchell College of Advanced Education to form the new Charles Sturt University.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) have extended condolences to the Drayton family over the tragic death of Mr Trevor Drayton who was killed in an explosion at the Drayton Family Winery at Pokolbin in the NSW Hunter Valley on Thursday 17 January 2008. Professor Thomas Henick-Kling, Director, National Wine and Grape Industry Centre, says Mr Drayton was a highly respected leader of the Australian wine industry who will be sadly missed by all who knew and worked with him. His knowledge and experience was a wonderful resource for the national wine industry. Mr Drayton contributed to the research activities of the NWGIC and his input will be missed but not forgotten. CSU and the NWGIC also expresses condolences to the family of a second man, Mr Edgar Orgo, also killed in the tragic incident, and hopes for a full and speedy recovery of Mr William Rikard-Bell, a graduate of CSU in 2006 with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Wine Science), who was injured in the conflagration.