Two research projects at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange aim to assess the effectiveness of treatment options for people suffering diabetic neuropathy.Bachelor of Physiotherapy students Liam Abbey and Jack Archer are seeking participants for projects which will assess the effectiveness of therapeutic taping in the management of balance, pain and loss of sensation in lower limbs caused by diabetes."Diabetic Neuropathy is caused by damage to the nervous system which arises due to altered blood glucose levels," Mr Abbey said."My research aims to determine if kinesio tape (K-tape) can improve measures of functional balance and mobility confidence in diabetics. Diabetics have an increased risk of falls and reduced quality of life often due to impaired balance; K-tape may provide a means to improve a person's functional balance."Similarly, Mr Archer's research hopes to assess the effectiveness of therapeutic taping."Over 1.2 million Australians have diabetes, and of those, more than 30% have neuropathy," Mr Archer said."I hope to be able to show that the application of K-tape reduces pain, and improves patients' ability to sense touch through the skin of their legs. This will be an important step towards improved treatment options."Participants can be male or female, must be over 18 years of age, experience diabetic neuropathy and be able to attend the Orange campus for sessions during February.Participants can only select one study to join and are encouraged to contact the researchers for more information.Both projects have Ethics Committee approval and will be conducted under the supervision of CSU School of Community Health academics.

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Charles Sturt University (CSU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann will be taking part in a panel discussion on regional and rural issues next week, at an event with the Shadow Treasurer.Hosted by Labor candidate for Calare Dr Jess Jennings, the event will be a panel presentation by the Hon. Chris Bowen, Shadow Treasurer and Federal Member for McMahon, who will be joined by Professor Vann. Analysis of this critical election budget will be followed by Q&A from the public.The event will cover a range of issues affecting CSU, its communities, and rural and regional Australia more broadly. The event is open to the public and attendance is free.Professor Vann said, "I look forward to the chance to have a public discussion with a key political figure about some of the vital issues that are affecting not only Charles Sturt University but also our regional communities."In an election context, this is a wonderful opportunity to address policy areas that often get overlooked in the rough and tumble of campaigns."In particular I will be interested to hear from the Shadow Treasurer on the issue of doctor shortages in rural NSW and whether the Labor party would be willing to support our proposal for the Murray Darling Medical School," he said.

A group of 21 Charles Sturt University (CSU) MBA students has received a first hand account of the European business environment through a joint program with the University of Applied Sciences, Berne , in . Through a combination of classes taught by academics and business practitioners, as well as visits to world leading organisations in and , the subject Doing Business in Europe offers MBA students at the University the opportunity to experience the challenges and practicalities of conducting business in Europe. The two-week trip to in August included visits to the headquarters of Roche Pharmaceuticals, Credit Suisse, and Daimler Chrysler. “It is vital that MBA programs include the opportunity for students to experience the dynamics of other industries, and an insight into other cultures,” said CSU’s Professor Mark Farrell. 

A new journal to promote excellence in teaching, foster research and contribute to ongoing development of education of accounting professionals has been unveiled by Charles Sturt University (CSU). The bi-annual Australian Journal of Accounting Education (AJAE) is published by the University’s (CSU) Faculty of Commerce with sponsorship from CPA Australia. “There are only three other journals focusing in this area and they are based in the USA and UK,” said Editor and CSU senior lecturer Jenny Kent. “As the first journal of its kind in Australia-Asian region, this publication provides an important publishing opportunity for accounting academics interested in researching the scholarship of learning and teaching in accounting,” she added.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU)Communication student has won "Best Talk Presenter" at the prestigious Australian Commercial Radio Awards. Latika Bourke, a Broadcast student who is expected to graduate in 2006, also won the "Brian White Memorial Journalism Award" for her feature piece “21 Health Jobs Saved”. Ms Bourke has been hosting the 2BS Morning Wireless Program since December last year. Her 2BS Gold and BRock FM colleague, Chris Baskerville, a CSU Communication graduate, won the "Matt Ellis Encouragement Award for Best Newcomer On-Air". The gala event was held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Saturday 15 October and recognised excellence across all aspects of commercial radio broadcasting at metropolitan, regional and provincial commercial radio stations.

A leading telecommunications analyst heads the speakers list at a free seminar to be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Monday 31 October. Examining a critical issue for regional Australia, Paul Budde, Managing Director of BuddeComm, will draw on his company’s research to discuss the future of regional telecommunications from 9.25am to 10.25am in the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre near the CSU Winery, Wagga Wagga. His address will be followed by a roundtable discussion led by an expert panel including Dean of the University’s Faculty of Science and Agriculture, Professor Jim Pratley, Executive Director of the CSU Division of Information Technology, Mike Rebbechi and Managing Director of the Commercial Response Unit in Wagga Wagga, Gary Wells. The seminar will be held from 9.15am to 12noon and will cover a range of topics including the sale of Telstra, the $2 billion Regional Telecommunications Fund, broadband and new business opportunities as well as developments in telecommunications.

Diseases in one of Australia’s important rotational crops, canola, are the subject of a 12 month long research visit to the E H Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation by Professor Minquan Li from China. As Head of the Department of Plant Protection at Gansu Agricultural University in China, Professor Li will work alongside two E H Graham Centre researchers in Wagga Wagga, Associate Professor Gavin Ash from Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Doctor Gordon Murray, from the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI). The E H Graham Centre is a joint research venture between CSU and DPI. The management of bacteria and pathogens in the soil will be examined as they prevent the crop from reaching its full potential. “Professor Li’s trip demonstrates the scope for international co-operation in agricultural research and aims to increase the ties between Australia and China in the long term,” said E H Graham Centre Director Professor Deirdre Lemerle.

As the Federal Government urges innovation in housing and urban design to take Australia’s ageing population into account, one scenario could be acres of empty ‘McMansions’ as older people flee to smaller homes with easy access to healthcare and social ties. Community for All Ages – Building the Future seminars were recently held all over the country to discuss the topic. Facilitated by Dr Keith Suter, he will now put together a formal report and other findings and recommendations. Celia Bevan, senior lecturer in Gerontology at Charles Sturt University, says "one of the interesting things to come out of this circuit of conferences is that architecturally, we should be looking at housing which is adaptable", homes that are accessible for everybody, regardless of age or ability or mobility. It’s called Universal Design, but unlike architecture, the emotional needs of older Australians are anything but universal. "There are people who absolutely love retirement villages and that life suits them, but then there are other people who do not. To just look at an ageing population and say well, this is the kind of housing they would want would be as disastrous as leaving it as it currently is." But can governments successfully legislate for change? Probably not, according to Ms Bevan. "The will has to be there and the cultural shift has to occur. Obviously architects and the housing industry have to be able to see that there’s something in it for them, because our whole philosophy around housing is around profit as well. The industry has to be persuaded to see that it is in their interest to engage in a new form of housing."