A leading water ecologist from Charles Sturt University (CSU) believes the allocation of environmental water and various environmental works and measures designed to spread water across the wetlands will allow the environment of the Murray Darling Basin to adapt to climate change. “These works spread water across the wetlands, allow wetlands to drain, and allow fish to migrate,” says Professor Max Finlayson, director of CSU’s Institute for Land, Water and Society. “The ecological condition of the Murray River and its many wetlands has been the subject of much contention and many policy responses in recent years, including the current Murray Darling Basin Plan. This has included major concerns over ecological changes in major wetlands along the river.  I will use my experiences from the mouth of the Murray to illustrate some of the quandaries we face.” Professor Finlayson will present his views at the next public seminar in the Murray-Darling Basin Seminar series, titled ’Climate change adaptation for the Murray River’, at 4pm on Thursday 4 October at CSU in Albury-Wodonga.

Public health advocate Mr Tony Kolbe from Charles Sturt University (CSU) has welcomed the High Court’s rejection of a challenge to plain packaging laws in Australia. The High Court today ruled in favour of federal government legislation to put cigarettes in olive green packets without trademarks. The ruling could see the plain packs in retail outlets by December. As Director of the University’s Centre for Inland Health (CIH), Mr Kolbe said, “Not only is this a win for the health of Australians, it sets a welcome precedent for other countries contemplating plain packaging laws. Tobacco companies can no longer use their packaging as a branding tool to sell cigarettes in Australia.” Read more about Mr Kolbe’s views on the High Court challenge by major tobacco companies on CSU News here. The CIH is a research centre at CSU, focussed on improving the health of inland communities. Read more here.  

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is continuing to make tertiary education more available in regional Australia when it opens its latest Regional University Centre in collaboration with Goulburn Ovens TAFE (GOTAFE) in 2013. Head of CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Ms Sue Moloney, will formally announce the expansion today, Thursday 3 May, during the release of the Rural City of Wangaratta's South Wangaratta Urban Renewal Strategy at 10am during a Special Council meeting at the Council Chamber, Wangaratta Government Centre. “This initiative recognises the complementary and combined strengths of Charles Sturt University and GOTAFE, particularly in agriculture. Initially, students undertaking a GOTAFE diploma in dairy management can continue their studies with credits from their GOTAFE course to gain a CSU degree in agricultural business management. We are also looking to offer further opportunities for CSU courses through the Wangaratta centre, including postgraduate agriculture studies as well as nursing,” Ms Moloney said. The CSU Regional University Centre at Wangaratta will be established by CSU in collaboration with GOTAFE with the support of a Commonwealth Structural Adjustment Fund grant of over $7m.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff and students affected by recent flooding are being reminded to look after their emotional wellbeing.  The University is providing counselling to students both in person and via the telephone. Student Counsellor, Ms Katie Murrell-Orgill said she is expecting a demand for services once people are able to return to flood affected homes.  “It’s normal to experience a range of emotions in these kinds of situations and it can be really helpful to seek support to help process what has occurred,” she said. “With much of southern and central west NSW and northern Victoria affected by floods, the service is available to all students including those studying by distance education.”  Students can make an appointment for counselling by calling Student Central on 1800 275 278 while after hours support is available by phoning Lifeline on 13 11 14. Staff and members of their immediate families can access CSU’s Employee Assistance Program, which offers free short-term professional counselling services. Information is also available on the CSU 2012 flood website here.

Fresh into his new job, the new Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University (CSU) Professor Andrew Vann is clocking up the kilometres as he familiarises himself with the institution and its staff. During informal visits hosted by the Heads of Campus, Professor Vann will meet staff at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga in coming weeks. Professor Vann joined the University this month from James Cook University in Townsville, where he was Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor. He will meet with CSU staff in Dubbo this Friday 27 January, Bathurst on Thursday 2 February, Wagga Wagga on Monday 6 February, and Orange on Friday 24 February. Read more about Professor Vann on CSU News here.

The CSU Media team wishes you a safe and Merry Christmas. We look forward to working with you in the New Year.

With peregrine falcons known to fly at speeds of around 320 kilometres per hour, Rudolf has some tough competition this Christmas and the falcons nesting at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange are up for a challenge. “It’s been a great year for Orange’s FalconCam Project,” said coordinator Mr Scott Banks. “The purchase of new monitoring and surveillance software has meant around the clock recording and live video streaming of activities in the eyrie or roost, which has brought worldwide support.” Visitors to CSU in Orange can also enjoy a 24-hour public screen in the library's Learning Commons. “The first of the brand new high-definition IP cameras should be operational by the New Year and will replace the ageing nest view camera.” The observation of the falcons’ fourth breeding season has seen all three young peregrines successfully fledge, doubling the international average. The trio should be soaring through the local Orange skies until late summer before moving on to their own territories, which may include the North Pole if Rudolf doesn’t keep up his good work!

Students from a range of science degrees at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange will graduate at a ceremony on Tuesday 13 December. The Head of Campus at CSU in Orange, Dr Heather Robinson, said, “There are 67 students from allied health, medical sciences, and agricultural sciences graduating from Charles Sturt University in Orange this year, and a large proportion of these students will take up employment in regional NSW, contributing to our workforce and communities.” The Occasional Address will be delivered by Professor Brian Kelly from The University of Newcastle’s School of Medicine and Public Health. The graduation ceremony starts at 9.30am at the Derek Pigott Auditorium, Kinross Wolaroi High School in Orange.

More than 1 360 school leavers who successfully applied for courses at Charles Sturt University (CSU) through the Principal’s Report Entry Program (PREP) will be acknowledged during morning tea ceremonies in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo and Orange this Friday 9 December. Coordinator of the University’s early entry PREP scheme, Mr Matthew Evans, said the scheme has grown in size and prestige in recent years. “We received almost 2 000 applications for the PREP scheme this year and the standard of the applications continues to increase, meaning we can offer the best students early entry into degrees. The successful applicants can then start preparing for their university education. PREP is an early entry scheme designed to attract academically talented students from high schools and TAFE in non-metropolitan areas in NSW, ACT and Victoria.” This is the first year CSU has formally celebrated the PREP offers with a morning tea ceremony.