Charles Student University (CSU) animal science students came face to face with the harsh reality of elephant cruelty and mistreatment during a visit to Thailand to undertake a project on wildlife conservation. The 18 day excursion in January centred on volunteer work at the Elephant Nature Park near Chang Mai in the country’s north. The park rescues maltreated, physically handicapped and mentally disturbed Asian elephants and provides a sanctuary for their rehabilitation. One agricultural science and 17 animal science students from CSU returned from the trip last week, recounting their cherished experiences being ‘up close and personal’ when feeding and washing the elephants. Course Coordinator of the CSU veterinary science program, Dr Gaye Krebs said the trip was an incredible learning experience and one student is planning to return to the park next year. “It was the impetus for one student to propose an Honours project with Lek, who runs the park, which is a fantastic outcome,” said Dr Krebs. “The trip went ahead with the assistance of CSU Global and the IGA supermarket at Hillston who donated $6 000 towards costs.”

A mental health worker from the remote Pilbara region of Australia’s far northwest has been honoured by Charles Sturt University (CSU) for her achievements in the unique Djirruwang Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Program. Ms Katie Papertalk is the first Western Australian student in the University’s Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) degree to receive a Faculty of Science Dean’s Award. Students who have achieved consistent Distinctions or High Distinctions are nominated for the award. In a ceremony in the Marr Mooditj Foundation garden in Perth, Ms Papertalk was presented the Dean’s Award by the Djirruwang Program Director Mr Wayne Rigby. “Receiving a Dean’s Award is a proud moment for any student and for an Aboriginal student it is an honour for themselves as well as their family and community,” Mr Rigby said. Since its inception as a pilot program in southern NSW in 1994, the Djirruwang Program has graduated 111 mental health workers. “With the support of the WA Department of Health, Charles Sturt University expects a record student intake from Western Australia in 2011,” said Mr Rigby.

Three Charles Sturt University (CSU) students with the School of Animal Science and Veterinary Science are making last minute preparations as they head off to the United States for international meat judging competitions and a meat industry study tour. In 2012, Mr Isaac Allen from Forbes, Ms Vanessa Campbell from Rutherglen, who is currently living and working in Wagga Wagga, and Ms Jordon Hoban from near Macksville in Northern NSW were named in the five-member Australian team to compete in two meat judging competitions in the USA. It follows their success last July at the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging (ICMJ) and at a subsequent intensive Meat & Livestock Australia training program in Brisbane. The team is due to leave Australia for a three-week industry tour of the USA on Friday 11 January and return on Thursday 7 February. Ms Campbell said the trio is all very excited about the trip. “This is a really great opportunity because, as a fourth year vet science student, it gives me a chance to make international meat industry contacts and to see the industry differences between America and the way we do things back home,” she said.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) researchers investigating the detection, prevention and monitoring of diabetes are seeking participants at CSU in Orange in November. Biomedical Sciences lecturer with CSU’s School of Community Health, Dr Hayder Al-Aubaidy, said the research will seek new biochemical markers to screen patients for diabetes and abnormally low blood glucose levels which show prediabetes to predict the development of diabetic complications such as cardiovascular and renal disease and to monitor patients’ responses to treatment. “The earlier we can detect prediabetes, the better chance we have to prevent progression into diabetes and reduce the risk of diabetic complications,” he said. Study participants will have their blood pressure, height and weight measured, body mass index calculated, and blood and urine samples taken to test for biochemical indicators including blood sugar, glycosylated haemoglobin, and blood fats. Participants also answer questions about their overall health, medical conditions and current medication. “We will give each participant the results of their tests, including blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels,” Dr Al-Aubaidy said. Each session will take about an hour, and will be conducted at CSU in Orange in early November. To participate in the study or for more details, contact Dr Al-Aubaidy on (02) 6365 7512 or send an email.

A new physical theatre production by Charles Sturt University (CSU) theatre/media students will tour secondary schools in central west NSW from Tuesday 11 to Friday 14 June. The production, titled Outta Touch, was devised as part of the second-year subject Drama and Theatre for Young People, and involves movement, comedy, body percussion and acrobatics. Outta Touch is directed by Mr Dan Aubin, lecturer in theatre/media at the CSU the School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst, and Mr Adam Deusien. Mr Aubin said, “The cast has been working to devise a show from scratch exploring the questions: Have we become too distant? What would happen if we could not touch? How far will our safety culture go, and what does this mean for connecting to other people?” The production will visit four schools - The Scots School, Bathurst; Canowindra High School; La Salle Academy, Lithgow; and Wellington High School. Find out more about Outta Touch here.

The latest debate on climate change and bushfires is “the discussion the Australian community has to have”, a senior CSU ecologist says. Associate Professor David Watson with the University’s Institute for Land, Water and Society said the latest debate is a timely reminder of the importance of extreme weather events in Australia. “Recent reports have shown climate change is real and is linked to increasing extremes in weather such as droughts and dry periods, which will increase the chance of bushfires,” said Professor Watson. “Increasing incidences of floods and cyclones are also more likely with climate change, so we as a nation need to consider how we are going to address this. We need to plan for both short-term responses and longer term planning of our cities and settlements across Australia and the various landscapes that will be affected. This is not a political issue — in 2006, then Prime Minister John Howard linked human-induced climate change with increased bushfire risk.  Insurers, agronomists and many other industries are already planning for increases in bushfires, severe storms and other extreme events, so it seems incongruous that the federal government is not being more pro-active.  We cannot afford to sit back and just let climate change happen with doing something about it,” he said.

It will be smiles all round when the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Dentistry foundation students celebrate their professional induction at the inaugural White Coat Ceremony on Friday 21 May. Representatives from the Australian Dental Association (NSW Branch), local practitioners and staff will join the second year students as they are presented with a white lab coat featuring the CSU Arms. The white coats will be presented to the 2009 foundation students by Head of the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences, Professor David Wilson. “The coat is a memento signifying the students’ commitment to the course and the dental profession,” he said. With the establishment of dentistry clinics at Albury, Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga, the second year students are looking forward to beginning their practical work.

The potential health risk of rural drinking water was the topic of a talk Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher Dr Andrea Crampton gave to Rotarians in Wagga Wagga last month. Dr Crampton, who is a member of CSU’s Institute for Land, Water and Society (ILWS)  found that more than 50 per cent of rural tank water drinkers were drinking water that exceeded the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. In one instance the level of E.coli was 230 times the acceptable limit. Interviews with participants in the study identified a need for more information on potential risks and how to reduce those risks, steps already known but not communicated effectively to the rural community. “Not surprisingly most were more than happy for the government to stay away from their water supplies, preferring to manage their own systems but in a more informed manner,” Dr Crampton said.

Eighteen high-achieving students will receive scholarships at a presentation ceremony at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange on Friday 21 May. The Head of Campus at CSU in Orange, Professor Kevin Parton, will welcome the students and their guests to the campus, and the scholarships will be presented.  The University’s Deputy Chancellor, Ms Kathryn Pitkin will also extend a welcome to guests to the University on behalf of the University Council. Bachelor of Clinical Science student and Beyond Medical Education scholar, Ms Cassane Eccleston, will give the Vote of Thanks on behalf of the students.