Three universities in New South Wales will bring an information road show about going to university to regional schools to give senior high school students a better understanding of tertiary education. The University Road Show comprises Charles Sturt University (CSU), Southern Cross University and the University of New England. Students will get the chance to discover more about university life and potential career paths when the University Road Show visits schools in the New England, North Coast, Hunter, Central West and Blue Mountains regions during March. Now in its tenth year, the University Road Show will visit more schools than ever before, sharing information with around 5 000 students at 120 schools. CSU Prospective Student Adviser Ms Katy Fardell said, “By pooling resources, Charles Sturt University, Southern Cross University and the University of New England are able to provide excellent advice to students in one visit, maximising the study options presented to students while minimising the amount of time students need to be away from the classroom.”

Ms Lara Cowling, an administration assistant in the Division of Student Administration at Charles Sturt University (CSU), may only have lived in Orange a short time, but she has fast become a local sports-figure and will represent New South Wales (NSW) at the International Sport Shooting Federation (ISSF) / Pistol Australia (PA) National Championships in April. Ms Cowling, gained recognition at the recent Australia Day ceremonies when she received a certificate of achievement in pistol shooting. She began the sport back in her home town of Gauteng, formally known as Johannesburg, in South Africa. “I’ve probably been involved in the sport for about 10 years. Besides personal protection in South Africa, I was a Reservist for the South African Police Service for about five years and that’s how I got interested in shooting.” Ms Cowling took up the sport in Australia when she arrived here three years ago, and will represent NSW in the national titles for the second time when she travels to Adelaide this Easter. “It’s a physical and mental test and I take it very seriously. Pistol shooting is approximately 90per cent mental and only 10 per cent physical.”

In time for the beginning of the 2011 school year, Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Information Studies lecturer Dr James Herring has published his new book, Improving Students' Web Use and Information Literacy: A guide for teachers and teacher librarians. The book is a practical resource about using the web effectively in order to enhance learning and teaching in schools. It covers topics such as learning and teaching in today’s schools, finding and using information on the web, evaluating websites, improving student use of the web, and developing learning websites for student use.

Year 10 and 11 students from Orange and the central west region in NSW will explore course options and university life when they attend the Allied Health and Dentistry MyDay at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange on Friday 25 February. CSU Prospective Student Advisor, Ms Katy Fardell, said, “MyDay provides high school students with a taste of the courses offered at Charles Sturt University in Orange. They will also learn about the pathways to the career of their choice and opportunities such as gaining an international experience through CSU Global  or financial assistance through a Charles Sturt University Foundation scholarship. The courses on show include the Bachelor of Clinical Science, Bachelor of Pharmacy, Bachelor of Physiotherapy, and Bachelor of Dental Science. MyDay Orange also provides an opportunity for students to get an understanding of the career paths available to them after they complete a university degree.”

The role of women in higher education is being celebrated at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst and at universities across the country during Bluestocking Week from Monday 13 to Friday 17 August. Dr Kristina Gottschall, a lecturer at the School of Teacher Education in Bathurst, and the newly-elected President of the Bathurst sub-branch of the National Tertiary Education Union, said two events are planned. “All ‘Bluestockings’ and their supporters are invited to attend a screening of the new Australian film The Sapphires at 6.40pm on Tuesday 14 at the Metro Cinema, Bathurst, and there will be a special lunch at Café Mitchell on the University’s Bathurst Campus from 12.30pm on Wednesday 15 August ,” Dr Gottschall said. “In addition to providing a place for women, their friends and supporters in Charles Sturt University to get together, we want to stress the importance of women’s contribution to academic life, advancing feminism and equality through education and collaboration, and subverting the social constructs that narrow social roles, and women’s creativity, expression and thought. It’s essential to reconnect through such events, particularly given the tightly regulated and compressed nature of academic work life today, especially for women who tend to have higher rates of casual employment.”

Emeritus Professor John Dwyer, AO, will deliver a public lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Wednesday 5 September in support of the University’s bid to establish a new rural medical school to boost the supply of ‘doctors for the bush’. Professor Dwyer is the founder of the Australian Health Care Reform, and has been working with CSU to establish a medical school in regional areas. He has championed the resurgence of clinician governance in Australia, is involved in efforts to create structural reform within the Australian health care delivery system, and is adamant that health outcomes for rural Australians are just not acceptable in such a wealthy nation. The Head of Campus at CSU in Bathurst, Mr Col Sharp, will host the free public lecture and says, “Bathurst Campus is delighted to host this presentation by Professor Dwyer – a national leader in health care provision, who speaks with authority on health care outcomes for rural Australians. This is a chance for the Bathurst community to hear first hand about the state of rural health care and what needs to be done - from someone who really knows. I urge everyone with an interest in this issue to attend to hear Professor Dwyer and to have their questions answered.” The public lecture will be at 6pm on Wednesday 5 September at the James Hardie Room, Centre for Professional Development at CSU in Bathurst. Refreshments will be served. RSVP by Friday 31 August to Ms Julie Brabham on (02) 6338 4645 or send an email. 

Students will get their first taste of their new life at university during Orientation Week next week. With the theme ‘Superher-O’, commencement activities for new students start on Monday 21 February at Charles Sturt University (CSU) on all its campuses, including Orange. More than 190 students have enrolled in undergraduate courses as varied as agricultural business management, clinical science, pharmacy, physiotherapy and dental science. Head of Campus at CSU in Orange, Professor Kevin Parton, said Orientation Week activities were vital to introduce the students to study and life at CSU. Orientation Week allows students to become familiar with their surroundings, staff and other students. CSU staff are ready to respond to queries about courses and subjects, help students find accommodation, and help them make the most of the cultural and sporting activities available in Orange,” Professor Parton said.

While Orientation Week at Charles Sturt University (CSU) gives new students a chance to familiarise themselves with their campus and each other, it will also raise funds for a worthy cause. Youngcare is a fundraising program assisting young Australians with full-time care needs. One such person is Mr Jock Watson who studied at CSU before a car accident left him with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). Mr Watson’s family was left with no option but to put him in a nursing home. Through Market Day raffles and gold coin donations at social events, the CSU students will raise money for Youngcare in the hope of helping people like Mr Watson gain more independence. CSU Orientation Week leader Ms Emily Heckendorf believes the cause is close to the students’ hearts. “This kind of injury could happen to any one of us and hopefully with Charles Sturt University’s support, we can be part of a solution.”

The independent federal member for New England, Mr Tony Windsor, MP, will be the guest speaker at the biennial Tony McGrane Memorial Scholarship Dinner at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Monday 24 September. The Acting Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo, Dr Patricia Logan, said, “We are delighted that Mr Windsor has agreed to speak at the dinner. As a rural independent like Mr McGrane, Mr Windsor brings a regional perspective and voice to policy deliberations, and his contribution as guest speaker at the dinner will provide insight into some of the topical issues confronting the nation.” Mr McGrane, OAM, was a former Mayor of Dubbo (1991-99) and was subsequently the independent Member for Dubbo in the NSW Parliament. The memorial scholarship fund was established in his name in 2010 to ensure that students from western NSW are able to gain a university education. Tickets for the dinner are on sale for $130 per head. To purchase, please contact Ms Christine Stewart at CSU on (02) 6885 7370.