Students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) have demonstrated that their culinary skills go way beyond two minute noodles. Embracing the fever generated by the high rating MasterChef Australia television series, students from the self-catered new Halls of Residences pitted their skills against each other during a cooking competition. Organised by the student Residential Advisors, the challenge was judged by a panel of professional chefs and celebrity imitators on Monday 9 August. Coming up trumps was Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) student Ms Georgie Lucas who took out first place with her baked cheesecake with toffee shards, strawberries and ice-cream. “The cooking challenge was initially organised in response to the popularity of the MasterChef program,” CSU Catering Assistant Manager Mr Toby Perry said. “However the students and aspiring chefs were taking it very seriously with some putting in hours of practise to perfect their dishes.” The Division of Student Services hopes to support the event so it becomes an annual feature of campus life.

A Canadian student who studied for a year at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Australia has become an Australian Student Ambassador for 2010 and 2011. Ms Keely Snider, who is currently enrolled at Lakehead University in Ontario, studied English literature during 2009 at CSU in Wagga Wagga, in southern New South Wales. She hopes to become a teacher after finishing teachers college in 2013. “My experience in Australia was amazing,” Ms Snider said. “I met many wonderful people and made life long friends from Australia and other countries around the world, students who were also on exchange programs. I travelled a lot around Australia, and I would recommend studying in Australia to anyone. Hopefully I will get back to Australia soon.” Ms Snider is keen to encourage more Canadian students to study overseas, especially at CSU in Australia.

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Ms Stephanie Frazer has won a national award for her services to a student rural health club. Ms Frazer, who is president of the CSU Multidisciplinary Albury Rural Health Society (MARHS), was awarded $1 000 by the National Rural Health Students Network (NRHSN). The Network recognised her significant involvement in helping build MARHS into a strong and active club, particularly in relation to mental health in regional Australia. “Improving awareness about mental health is important as almost half of all Australians will experience mental illness in their lifetime. We can make a difference by encouraging understanding and improving support. I feel humbled to be recognised by my fellow students and to work with such great people at Charles Sturt University,” Ms Frazer said. Ms Frazer, who is a third year physiotherapy student with the School of Community Health based at Thurgoona, received her award in Alice Springs in July during the Network’s national conference of 29 student rural health clubs. MARHS vice-president and second year occupational therapy student Mr Alan Dyason also won a prize at the conference for his contribution to increasing awareness and action in Indigenous health issues.

The Chancellor of Charles Sturt University (CSU) Mr Lawrie Willett AO will praise the academic achievements of almost 70 graduates who are eligible to receive their awards at a ceremony in Hong Kong on Saturday 7 November. The graduates will receive their postgraduate and undergraduate awards from the University’s Faculties of Arts, Business, Education and Science from 10.30am in the Langham Place Hotel in Hong Kong. The occasional address will be delivered at the graduation ceremony by Mr Steve O’Conner, the Librarian at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Mr O’Conner has worked in Higher Education for most of his career and has researched, published, spoken, consulted and taught very extensively in the areas of change, organisational management, information delivery, scenario and strategic planning, as well as the wider library and information environment. Graduates have completed a range of courses at CSU in areas such as theology, business, information technology, hotel management, arts, primary education, library and information management, medical imaging and clinical nursing.  

September has seen the start of a new course at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Ontario, Canada, that aims to increase access to early childhood specialist degrees in Ontario. Twenty-three students were welcomed into the new Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies at the Burlington campus, which was developed in partnership with faculty from Sheridan and Mohawk Colleges. The program director, Dr Pat Dickinson, says, “The students, who have completed a two-year Early Childhood Diploma at an Ontario college with a B average, can now complete the four year Honours Bachelor’s degree with two years of full-time study with CSU. As with the existing Bachelor of Primary Education Studies already offered at CSU in Ontario, this course has both Australian and Canadian faculty offering broad experiences to these students.” The course is one of only a few available in Ontario which provide early childhood educators with full credit for their two year diploma. CSU will accept more students into this program in January 2010.

A consortium led by Charles Sturt University (CSU) based in Australia, has developed the nation's first framework for early child education and care services for the Australian federal government. Sub Dean of CSU’s Faculty of Education, Professor Jennifer Sumsion will discuss Belonging, Being and Becoming - Early Years Learning Framework at a public lecture to be presented at 4.30pm on Wednesday 9 September at CSU’s Burlington site. “Since late 2008 and for over six months we consulted with teachers, parents and various private and government agencies on how the framework could best support the learning of young pre-school children and enhance the professional practice and status or early childhood educators,” Professor Sumsion said. Read more about the Early Years Learning Framework here.

One of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) most senior academics is among those honoured for his years of service to CSU and its predecessor institutions. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Ross Chambers is one of 13 staff eligible to receive 20 and 30 year service medals during a ceremony on Friday 11 September in the Convention Centre at CSU at Wagga Wagga from 12.30pm. Professor Chambers joined the Riverina College of Advanced Education (RCAE) in 1979 as an Associate Lecturer in history and politics after studies at the University of Sydney and the School of Slavonic and East European Studies at the University of London.  He was appointed a Principal Lecturer at RCAE in 1987.  Following the creation of CSU in 1989, Professor Chambers was appointed Head of the School of Humanities and Social Science and in 1992 the Dean of the Faculty of Arts.  In 2002 he was appointed to his current position as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic). “It has been a great privilege to be part of the development of Charles Sturt University and to work with the community of staff and students at the University,” said Professor Chambers. “I have especially appreciated being part of an organisation with a strong commitment to the values of equity in access and participation and of service to its communities.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will celebrate the award of six green stars and ‘world leader’ status for environmentally sustainable features to a new building on its Thurgoona site. The Academic Accommodation Stage 3 (AA3) office building has received “a six star Green Star ‘World Leader’ certified rating under Office Design v2” from the national Green Building Council of Australia. Staff from the AA3 building, which is home to the academic staff and students of CSU’s School of Business and Information Technology, will be on hand celebrate the award at a morning tea at 10am on Monday 15 June. “The principles used in buildings at Thurgoona demonstrate a comprehensive, environmentally sensitive process that spans from site planning to selection of materials,” said Executive Director of the University’s Division of Facilities Management, Mr Stephen Butt. Innovative aspects of the building that receive special mention include reduced carbon dioxide production and energy consumption by 65 per cent, and the world’s first use of phase-changing materials in the concrete floor to reduce heating and cooling used in the building.

Following the death of the former Charles Sturt University (CSU) Chancellor, Dr David Asimus, AO, on Saturday 26 January 2008, the University has today opened an electronic condolences book. The University invites members of the community to express their condolences to Dr Asimus’ family. The condolences book will remain open until Friday 8 February 2008. The University will then collate the correspondence into a bound booklet to present to Dr Asimus’ widow, Jane and her family as a memorial to her late husband’s work with CSU and inland Australia. People wishing to extend a condolence are asked to please email their comments by Friday 8 February 2008.