A key Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher has been returned to the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s (GDRC) Southern Regional Panel for the next two years. Associate Professor of Food Science Chris Blanchard from the School of Biomedical Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga is the Deputy Chair of the Panel. The CSU academic is one of 11 members appointed until 2015. The Regional Panels link the Corporation with growers, researchers, scientists, agribusiness and grower groups. Southern Regional Panel Chair, Mr Keith Pengilley, described the Panels as, “very important in ensuring grower concerns, ideas and priorities are fed into GRDC”. Associate Professor Blanchard is also a member of the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation - an alliance between CSU and NSW DPI.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will present a free seminar in online marketing in Orange on Thursday 25 July, as part of a series of Small Business Management Foundation Seminars. The seminar is designed to help small business operators increase the effectiveness of their online marketing efforts and will address the basics of search engine optimisation (SEO) and search engine marketing. CSU Graduate Certificate in Small Business Management course director Dr Lan Snell, who will chair the seminar, said online marketing could be a powerful tool for small business. “By using simple techniques such as a SEO self assessment tool, Google’s URL builder tool, and a basic conversion checklist, your business can increase its online marketing effectiveness to achieve desired results,” she said. Mr Ben Stickland, CEO and Founder of Alliance Software, will be a guest speaker at the seminar which is presented in conjunction with the Orange Business Chamber, NSW Business Chamber, Orange City Council and Orange Ex Services Club. “The seminars will be short, sharp, and engaging sessions that address the challenges in small business management,” Dr Snell said. The topics include marketing, finance, and human resources.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will present a free seminar on human resource management, in Orange on 22 August, as part of a series of Small Business Management Foundation Seminars. CSU Graduate Certificate in Small Business Management course director Dr Lan Snell will chair the seminar and said the small business sector makes up over 90 per cent of workplaces in Australia. “Small businesses face a number of challenges regarding human resource practices,” she said. “These include understanding legislation on work and pay conditions, and how to recruit and retain staff. This session covers these issues as well as providing an understanding of how to access low cost dispute resolution services, how to handle unfair practices, and solutions to the onerous administration requirements related to running a small business.” Ms Yasmin King, NSW Commissioner for Small Business will be a guest speaker at the seminar which is presented in conjunction with the Orange Business Chamber, NSW Business Chamber, Orange City Council and Orange Ex Services Club. “The Seminars will be short, sharp, engaging sessions that address the challenges in small business management,” Dr Snell said. The topics include marketing, finance, and human resources.

Teams from seven schools in the region gained places at the 2010 Central West RoboCup Junior Challenge robotics competition staged at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Friday 25 June. The coordinator of the event Mr Allen Benter, a PhD student and researcher at the CSU Centre for Research in Complex Systems (CRiCS) in Bathurst, said, “The event was an overwhelming success. The organisers and judges were delighted by the level of enthusiasm of students and their teachers, and with the high standard of entries. This is a growing event that will help motivate future computer scientists and robotics engineers, and we thank all the students and teachers who put in so much effort.” Overall, Dubbo Christian School was most successful, with three of its teams taking the top three places in the Senior Dance category. All schools that won a category will have the opportunity to represent the region at the NSW titles to be held in Sydney on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 August.

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

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has joined Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS) TAFE NSW Riverina Institute and Wagga Wagga City Council to cut costs through the efficient use of energy in their buildings. CSU is overseeing the training, which is being delivered by the Australian Institute of Air-conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating (AIRAH) after securing a competitive State Government grant of $27 970 to conduct energy efficiency training of its operations and building maintenance staff. “Charles Sturt University hopes the skilling of about 25 staff from the three organisations in energy efficiencies will provide them with greater confidence to make decisions that will ultimately lead to cost savings for their employers,” CSU Energy Manager Mr Edward Maher said. “It is conservatively estimated that energy efficiency improvements of three per cent can be achieved in building services in the organisations within two years of the completion of the training. This represents total carbon savings of 2 000 tonnes a year.” The funding from the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water is part of the government’s $20 million Energy Efficiency Training Program, established in 2009 to ensure NSW has a well-trained workforce to meet the demands of a green economy. Further information on the Energy Efficiency Training Program is available here.

The 2010 Central West RoboCup Junior Challenge robotics competition will see 153 students from 11 schools across the region build and operate mini robots at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Friday 25 June. The coordinator of the competition, Mr Allen Benter, a PhD student and researcher at the CSU Centre for Research in Complex Systems (CRiCS)  in Bathurst, said, “Charles Sturt University is now the official sponsor of the RoboCup Junior Challenge in the NSW central west following its strong support for the event in recent years. Staff at the University have provided technical advice to students and their teachers, have been judges at previous RoboCup events, and in February this year we held a training workshop on campus in Bathurst for students and teachers. It’s very exciting to now see this developing field so enthusiastically embraced by schools in the region.”

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.