Racehorse injuries and performance are the subject of new research led by Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Dr Brian Spurrell from the School of Biomedical Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga. While the equine industry contributes up to $6.3 billion annually to the Australian economy, of which racing contributes around $3.9 billion and equestrian events $0.87 billion, the management of equine athletes and detection of injuries remains a significant problem. The relationship between a horse’s gait and the performance surface may contribute to the incidence of lower limb injuries. “As many as 70 per cent of two year-old thoroughbreds suffer stress related injuries in their lower limbs and up to 35 per cent of racehorses never resume racing as a consequence,” Dr Spurrell said. “The aim of the research is to develop a system which can be used in the field to measure important biomechanical parameters of a horse such as how hard the hoof hits the ground, the way the limb moves and how that relates to joint movement and muscle activity. The system will hopefully also indicate how quickly the horse is tiring, post-event recovery and a comparison to its last monitoring.” The research is expected to produce results in various stages by October 2011 and mid-2012.

With a strong collaborative relationship already established between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA), the partnership will be extended on Wednesday 21 April when APA representatives meet the first students at CSU in Orange. “Although the APA have visited Physiotherapy students at CSU in Albury for a number of years, we now offer Physiotherapy at the Orange Campus and the APA were eager to meet the new students,” lecturer Ms Kerstin McPherson said.  “A fourth year Charles Sturt University physiotherapy student is currently a member of the APA National Student Committee and we hope that a representative from the Orange Campus can be included on the committee in the future.” The APA visitors will meet with CSU students and lecturers, tour the CSU campus and enjoy a barbecue lunch.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) student Emile van Schalkwyk will soon be jetting to France for a three week International Business and Advertising program as part of his studies. Currently studying a double degree Bachelor of Arts (Communications/Advertising) and Bachelor of Business (Marketing), Emile believes the program is the perfect fit for his interests. “The course covers both the areas I’m interested in,” he says. “I haven’t really done much to extend myself beyond my course with regards to work experience so when I found this course, I didn’t hesitate to apply.” The three-week intensive program includes 50 hours of academic classes and seminars, five hours of conferences, and five hours of survival French. “I spent time travelling after I finished school before deciding on my current degree, which is something a bit different. To find a course that focuses on both the areas I’m studying is like it was made for me. It really struck a chord.” Emile will fly out of Australia on Tuesday 8 January and returns on Friday 18 February.

As part of its commitment to sustainability Charles Sturt University (CSU) will promote the use of bubblers and refillable water bottles, with the goal of phasing out the sale of bottled water on its campuses completely. The project has been coordinated by CSU Green to decrease the amount of bottled water purchased on campus and encourage the use of reusable bottles which can be refilled at bubblers and new refilling stations. “Disposable water bottles are a significant aspect of our environmental footprint,” says CSU Energy Manager Mr Edward Maher. “For example, the energy used in the production and delivery of one bottle of water results in emissions equivalent to driving a car a few hundred metres. The use of a reusable bottle also provides the University community with an everyday reminder about how the little decisions that we make on a day-to-day basis can collectively have a big impact on our environment..We will educate students and staff about the project, and encourage them to use the free water service.” CSU communications student, Ms Jessica Davis has developed an educational campaign to promote the initiative as part of her course. New water refilling stations will initially be installed on Bathurst and Orange campuses, with stations to be installed on other campuses later in 2011.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic says the recent wide-spread floods in Australia demonstrate the importance of home owners understanding whether their home and contents insurance covers damage caused by flooding. Senior lecturer in law at the CSU School of Accounting, Dr Bede Harris, says, “In many parts of Australia, insurers do not offer flood insurance because the risk is too great, and even where flood insurance is offered, the premiums tend to be high. The type of risks a policy-owner is covered for depends entirely on the wording of their policy, and this can differ from insurer to insurer.” Dr Harris also emphasizes that it is important to note that insurance policies distinguish between damage caused by rising waters (flood) and falling waters (for example, rain leaking through a roof). “In those cases, coverage will depend on what the immediate cause of the damage was,” Dr Harris said.

Awards for excellence in research, teaching, leadership, innovation and sustainability are just some of the honours to be presented to Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff by Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Andrew Vann during the coming week. The 2012 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards will be handed out at two ceremonies in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 15 August and in Bathurst on Monday 20 August. The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence will be presented to Dr Jade Forwood from the School of Biomedical Sciences in Wagga Wagga. Dr Stephen Bird from the School of Human Movement Studies in Bathurst will receive the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Professor Excellence. The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence will be presented to Dr Geoff Burrows from the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences in Wagga Wagga. The presentation ceremonies will be held from 1pm to 3.30pm on Wednesday 15 August, Convention Centre, CSU in Wagga Wagga and from 1pm to 3.30pm on Monday 20 August, James Hardie Room, Centre for Professional Development, CSU in Bathurst.

The Evocities campaign has been described as a useful tool for recruitment by Charles Sturt University (CSU) Director of Human Resources Partnerships, Ms Jennie Anderson. Launched in September 2010, the promotion of Evocities - centres of Energy, Vision and Opportunity (EVO) - encourages capital city residents to make the move to an Evocity and invest in the opportunities the cities offer. The Evocities include Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga. “Charles Sturt University has campuses in five of the seven Evocities so it made sense for the University to become a supporter of this campaign,” Ms Anderson said. “The Evocities campaign includes a website where interested parties can find out more about each city and look for jobs in that area. It’s a great recruitment tool but also a useful link for those who haven’t lived in the area before and want to find out more about each city.”

Academics from Charles Sturt University (CSU) have raised a record amount at the Orange Relay For Life, an overnight community event where teams participate in a relay-style walk or run on Saturday 13 March to raise funds for the NSW Cancer Council. Aiming to raise $2 000 for cancer research, the CSU team finished with over $6 000, the highest amount of the 74 participating teams. “Charles Sturt University has supported Relay For Life since its first event in Orange,” team captain and CSU lecturer in the School of Biomedical Science, Dr James Wickham said, “but this is the most we have ever raised, partly thanks to an anonymous donor who donated $2 000.” With 14 staff members in the team, CSU was recognisable on the track with CSU caps and ties to complement their tracksuits. “Everyone did a great job walking or running for their allotted time but we were all a bit sore the next day, ” Dr Wickham said.

Having raised more than $6 000 at last year’s Relay for Life, staff at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange with help from friends and family hope to donate another large sum to the NSW Cancer Council following this year’s event on Saturday 19 March. Relay for Life is an overnight community event where teams participate in a relay-style walk or run to raise funds for the NSW Cancer Council. Team coordinator and lecturer in anatomy and physiology in the School of Biomedical Sciences at CSU, Dr James Wickham, believes CSU staff’s commitment to the community plays a big part in their past success. “We had 15 people in our team last year and 14 will take part this year,” Dr Wickham said. “Charles Sturt University staff enjoy taking part in community events and being for a good cause we can always rely on our family and friends to help us donate money for cancer research, accommodation for patients, and to support the Cancer Council Helpline. Last year, we initially wanted to raise $2 000, so to raise such a large sum was fantastic. We will be thrilled if we can raise $5 000 this year.”