BATHURST NSW: Charles Sturt University (CSU) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Goulter, will formally announce plans to seek the support of the State and Federal governments to establish a new medical program in central west NSW based in Orange and Bathurst. “With a fully functioning, upgraded hospital in Bathurst and a new base hospital in Orange soon to open, the Central West is becoming the health hub of NSW,” said Professor Goulter. “Charles Sturt University is leading the way in growing the future rural medical workforce and this initiative exemplifies our commitment to the health of rural and regional Australia.” The announcement will be made at midday Wednesday 18 August at CSU in Bathurst.  Other speakers include: Chancellor Lawrie Willett, AO (former Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Health; former Chairman, National Health and Medical Research Council; Chairman, Australian Hospital Care Limited) Emeritus Professor John Dwyer, AO (former Head of School and Clinical Dean, University of New South Wales Medical School; Clinical Program Director, Medicine and Oncology, Prince Henry/Prince of Wales Hospitals)  Mr Danny O’Connor, Chief Executive, Greater Western Area Health Service, NSW Health  Mr Gerard Martin, State Member for Bathurst  Clr Paul Toole, Mayor of Bathurst  Clr John Davis, Mayor of Orange

The Premier of NSW, the Hon. Ms Kristina Keneally, MP, will meet with the Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University (CSU), Professor Ian Goulter, during her visit to Bathurst on Friday 20 August. Professor Goulter will discuss with Ms Keneally the University’s proposal announced on Wednesday 18 August for $90 million from the Federal Government to establish a medical school at CSU in Orange, as well as funding for an Integrated Primary Health Care Clinic at CSU in Bathurst. The University has indicated it intends to seek the support of the NSW Government to open additional clinical places for CSU medical students in NSW hospitals. While at CSU in Bathurst, the Premier will also inspect the University’s newly completed Dental and Oral Health Clinic. Ms Keneally will discuss with Professor Goulter and Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Nick Klomp, the University’s request for government support for the construction of Australia’s first national paramedic education centre in Bathurst. The centre would allow the University to significantly increase its student intake and provide students with access to world-leading paramedic education facilities. The meeting will be joined by the Mayor of Bathurst, Councillor Paul Toole, to discuss a planned Technology Park adjoining CSU and the Western Institute of TAFE in Bathurst.

If you think the leader of the Labor party is working tirelessly prior to the election this Saturday, try being her comic double, Julia Spillard. Having perfected Prime Minister Gillard’s voice, facial expressions and hand gestures, the character actor, comic and Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduate, Ms Gabby Millgate, is winning votes throughout the country as she visits various locations on her busy schedule. Ms Millgate, a graduate of CSU’s Bachelor of Communication (Theatre/Media), has been seen in movies such as Muriel’s Wedding and thriller Feed, on television, radio, theatre and has also worked as a script writer. She is thought of as one of Australia’s most versatile and resourceful actors. “Charles Sturt University’s Theatre/Media degree gives students the tools they need to succeed in any medium of the arts,” says senior lecturer in the School of Communication and Creative Industries, Dr Gerard Boland. “Gabby is a perfect example of how our graduates use their skills to construct meaningful careers in the media, events and live entertainment industries.” Ms Millgate’s character, Julia Spillard, could be seeing a lot more work, if the election is won by the Labor party this weekend, which makes you wonder how Ms Millgate will vote.

Fresh air and the country lifestyle are thought to be factors in gaining the upper hand at the Roland Bryant Cup, the inaugural sporting event held in Sydney last week between first and second year dentistry students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the University of Sydney. “Charles Sturt University won the touch football and University of Sydney won the netball. It came down to Charles Sturt University winning the basketball by one point,” said Dr Sabrina Manickam, senior lecturer at the CSU School of Dentistry and Health Sciences in Orange. “The students were very excited by their win and it was great to see how very proud they all are to belong to Charles Sturt University in Orange.” Student Mr Adam Barrett said, “The win has made Charles Sturt University dentistry students determined to hold the trophy. We’ll have to be prepared next year because Sydney Uni will be keen to beat us.”

The Evocities campaign which aims to encourage Sydney residents to live, work and invest in one of NSW’s seven Evocities, will be launched in Orange, Albury-Wodonga and Wagga Wagga on Friday 24 September. Charles Sturt University (CSU), as a corporate sponsor, is excited about the opportunities this collaborative project will provide. Evocities is a major marketing and public relations campaign funded by the Australian Government and the participating councils, and is supported by the NSW government and corporate sponsors, including CSU. “Research already undertaken indicates that more than 30 per cent of the Sydney population has considered a move to one of the seven Evocities,” said Professor Kevin Parton, Head of Campus at CSU in Orange. “Charles Sturt University is based in five of the seven cities represented, so we are in a great position to support this campaign.”

Research into the behaviour of the world’s fastest bird cannot continue without state-of-the-art equipment, according to researchers at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange, which has gained intimate access to the Peregrine Falcon. “The Peregrine Falcon is one of the world’s most iconic species and we believe our research will provide the closest 24 hour surveillance of this creature available anywhere on the globe,” says CSU’s Dr Cilla Kinross. A family of Peregrine Falcons is enjoying its third year of nesting in a specially-built box placed in the University’s water tower and, with the dedication of Dr Kinross and information technology specialist Mr Scott Banks, concealed camera equipment has been set up next to the bird’s nest. “We can view the birds’ behaviour, but we need more sophisticated equipment, including recording software, if we are to take the next step in our research,” Dr Kinross said. “We can gather fundamental information on these creatures that will be internationally regarded, but we need the right tools to do it.” Better equipment will also enable the public to watch the birds on the Internet.

Having recently returned from a tour of the United Kingdom (UK) through the myOE Travel Scholarship program, Charles Sturt University (CSU) communication student Mr Angus Rutherford has begun his first job even before finishing his studies. “I think the trip to the UK was a great addition to my overall university experience,” Mr Rutherford said. “As part of the scholarship I made a video which showcases my skills in that area. I showed it to [employer] Coxinall Communications and now they have me doing some visual media work as part of my role.” Scholarships like myOE are giving CSU students the ability to discover the possibilities of working professionally overseas after graduating from university. “It was good to see how easily you could get set up in the UK if you wanted to work there,” Mr Rutherford said. For now, Mr Rutherford, from Wellington, NSW, is completing his studies and enjoying his second week of full-time employment in Australia.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic Professor Cilla Kinross, the coordinator of Biodiversity Day, a free community event on Sunday 17 October, says, “Our role as educators plays a big part in why Charles Sturt University gets involved in community events like a Biodiversity Day”. Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, or on an entire planet, and 2010 was declared the International Year of Biodiversity. The Biodiversity Day will focus on the importance of biodiversity through a program of talks relating to biodiversity of the Central West, as well as fun events for the whole family. In the International Year of Biodiversity, CSU is conscious of its involvement in research and education within the local community and further afield to ensure more is understood about biodiversity. “The Biodiversity Day aims to give the general public a better understanding of our flora and fauna and its natural habitat.There will be events for the whole family throughout the day and prizes to be won,” Dr Kinross said. The Orange Biodiversity Day will take place at the Orange Botanic Gardens on Sunday 17 October. For bookings, timetable and further information, please contact Professor Cilla Kinross on ckinross@csu.edu.au  or phone 6365 7651.

For those with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background who are interested in attending university, Charles Sturt University (CSU) has launched a new program which will make the university experience more attainable. CSU’s Indigenous Student Services has introduced a new skills assessment program called Darrambal. “Darrambal means ’footmarks’ or ’roadway’ and is used here to represent the lifelong journey of learning we all travel,” explains CSU’s Indigenous Student Services manager, Mr Ray Eldridge. “The program assesses each person’s skills, abilities and potential to succeed in their preferred course of study. Students who successfully the complete Darrambal program may be offered a place at Charles Sturt University to study their chosen course.” Any person who identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander may attend. “This is the perfect program for anyone who would like to study at university but are not sure if they satisfy the usual entry requirements.”